:: Isa Bey Mosque Details ::

:: The Castle ::

St.John's Basilica

According to multiple sources, JOHN, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, lived in the Selcuk / Ephesus area "on and off", was exiled from there to Patmos and was finally buried on Aya Soluk hill. In the 6th Century AD, Byzantine Emperor Justinian (also a patron of Aya Sofya in Istanbul) built a massive church from the remains of the Temple of Artemis over his marked grave . 98 feet / 32 metres high, it would have been the seventh biggest church on earth had it remained but was flattened in an earthquake in 14th Century. The stones were promptly taken to build the Isa Bey Mosque and other buildings. Its the best-preserved Byzantine ruin in the Aegean. Beautifully restored and its noted for its lovely atmosphere, don't miss the cross-shaped Baptistry with the baptismal pool with steps ! A highly popular site with most visitors.

AYA SOLUK CASTLE: Selcuk's landmark, a grand Byzantine fortress with walls that stretch down to protect St. John's, is known locally as "The Castle on the Hill". It has been closed to the public for several years as excavators declared it unstable and in 1999 a wall did collapse. There are no plans to reopen. Wonderful views are avaialble, however, from the Sirince and Meryemana roads