Ephesus

Of all the ancient cities embellishing Turkey’s Aegean coast, Ephesus is the mother-of-pearl in the country’s ancient western heritage. The ruins in this 10th-century BC Ionian settlement are so well-preserved that they were acknowledged by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2015. Scholars and admirers flock to the site each year even if it is just to lay eyes on the legendary Temple of Artemis. But beyond that, nuggets of history pepper its thousand acres, where you will experience mythology, culture, and architecture at their best. 

Once a member of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, The Temple of Artemis single-handedly delivers what many hail as the epitome of ancient Greek brilliance. Although deprived of much of its structure, the temple manages to captivate visitors. One look is enough to get one’s share from its illuminating aura. But, should imagination falls short, a well-created model depicts what it looked like in its days of glory. Further down the path, the spectacular Great Theatre overwhelms as the most photogenic site in all of Ephesus. Take a seat to visualize the theatre in its Greco-Roman times, and revel in history old and older.

If one word could describe the look of the Library of Celsus, it would be “magnificent.” It was the third-largest library in the Roman world. Sublime architecture embraces mythological symbolism on its ornate facade, offering a once-in-a-lifetime photography experience. The replica statues of the four virtues are the highlights of the library. If you come during sunset, you will witness the site come to life under ethereal golden lights.