The 18 km of road from
Kusadasi to Selcuk pass
through spectacular
beach and mountain
scenery. The pretty town
Selcuk is famous with
its being a fascinating
mixture of all
historical periods. The
strategic
location of Selcuk has
provided to be a popular
place to settle down
during the centuries.
The name Selcuk comes
from the Turkish tribes
settled in the region by
the 12th century.
Selcuk has been reputed
well for its closeness
to the ancient Ephesus,
Virgin Mary's House and
Seljukian works of art.
Besides the historical
richness around the
area, Selcuk is
worth-seeing with the
places of superb natural
beauty surrounding the
town. The village
Sirince is the one
that attracts every
visitors with its
spectacular view from a
mountain in the 8km east
of Selcuk. The beach of
Pamucak is also of
interest, 9km away from
the town. A very nice
jogging road covered by
the old raspberry trees
just in the entrance of
Selcuk, also makes an
impr
essive
setting and an ideal
location for relaxation.
Selcuk is rich and
famous with the lively
festivals scattered
almost in every seasons.
The Ephesus
International Festival,
held in May; The Camel
Wrestling Festival,
performed in the third
weekend of January
lasting in one day,
attract both
participants and
visitors. Also the Rite
ceremonies at the House
of Virgin Mary are held
every year on the 15th
of August from 10:00 in
the morning.
There are many good buys
in the charming
boutiques and colorful
bazaars situated in the
picturesque narrow,
winding streets of the
town. Also the town
market on Saturdays
offer an enjoying
shopping to the
visitors
with the great variety
of food and textile.
Relaxing with a
delicious meal in an
inviting restaurant is a
popular way to spend the
evening hours in Selcuk.
Visitors may sample the
famous chop-shish -a
meat variety, or
classical Turkish
cuisine. Selcuk is also
serving with its good
and clean
accommodations, suitable
for all visitors.
Finally, it is
guaranteed that the
hospitable people of
Selcuk will make your
holiday comfortable and
enjoyable.
TRANSPORTATION IN
SELCUK
Motorway: As the
town on Aydin-Izmir
highway, there are
direct links to the
cities in the western
and middle Anatolia as
well as the touristic
towns by buses.
Minibuses to the nearby
places from Selcuk, are
also on service from the
bus terminal. Izmir the
third biggest city of
Turkey, is 75km away
from the town and buses
are available in every
15 minutes. Touristic
seaside town, Kusadasi,
is 18km away and can be
reached by the minibuses
in every 15 minutes.
Airway: Izmir
Adnan Menderes Airport
is 60km away from Selcuk,
where national and
international
flights
are performed. Also
Ephesus Airport is
approximately 3km far
from Selcuk. The airport
is for small planes and
short distance flights
such as Bodrum, Izmir
and Istanbul are
performed. Ephesus
Airport is also giving
pilotage and parachuting
training as an
alternative facility.
You can, compare cheap
flights to Kusadasi
online..
Seaway: The town
is 20km away from
Kusadasi Harbor and 75km
away from Izmir Harbor.
Railway: Trains
are running to
Selcuk-Izmir and
Selcuk-Denizli (Pamukkale)
on certain hours.
SIGHTSEEING OF SELCUK
1)
The Basilica of Saint
John
The church is
constructed in the
burial place of " Saint
John the Divine. Then
,the original mausoleum
is changed into a
marvelous Basilica
during the reign of
Justinianus 1.
(527-565AD) The church
is destroyed by the
serious earthquakes, so
some artifacts of the
church has still hidden
in the dark, and some
parts of the criss-cross
planned construction has
been repaired carefully.
The monograms
Justinianus 1 and his
wife Theodora strike on
some capital of columns.
The Gate of
Persecution is the
entrance of the
Basilica. It takes its
name from a relief
displaying Archilles
dragging the dead body
of Hector.
2) Isa Bey Mosque
Isa Bey Mosque is one of
the most delicate
examples of Seljukian
architecture, situated
below
the
Basilica of Saint John.
It was constructed
between the years of
1374 and 1375. An
inscription from the God
decorates the doorway.
The mosque is built by
the master builder Ali,
son of Mushimish al-Damishki.
Crown-like doors from
the Seljukian
architectural style,
later combine with the
decoration elements of
Ottoman style. The
influential details
including the plant
motifs and the beautiful
marble workmanship with
the variety of faience
mosaics create the
marvelous atmosphere of
Isa Bey Mosque. Some
parts of the mosque is
repaired in 1934.
3) The Citadel of
Ayasoluk
It is built in the
Byzantine period and
expanded by the
Seljukians. The citadel
has 15 towers
approximately in the
length of 1.5 km and
surrounded by the stone
ramparts. The citadel
also includes the remain
s
of a Byzantine church, a
small mosque and several
water cisterns.
4) The Selcuk
Archeological Museum
Housing some very
important artifacts from
around the region,
Archeological Museum
offers a glimpse of the
areas rich history. The
two statues of Artemis,
a tableau of Odysseus
blinding the Cyclops,
erotic statues from
Ephesus brothels and
exquisite statue of a
boy riding a dolphin are
the most admired pieces
in the Selcuk
Archeological Museum.
5) Turkish Bath
Museum
Dating back to 16th
century, it reveals
Turkish life at the
hamam and exemplifies
the best of Seljukian
architecture. The museum
is located at the
backside of the
courtyard of The Selcuk
Archeological Museum.
6)
Ephesus
Once the commercial
center of the ancient
world, Ephesus is a must
see in your any trip to
Turkey. The extensive
remaining reveal the
citys former importance
and attract throngs of
visitors every year.
Also the Cave of Seven
Sleepers, where
legendary seven young
men had slept for about
two hundred years, is
located in the area of
Ephesus.
7) The Temple of
Artemis
It is one of the
highlights of ancient
sites in Turkey, that is
once considered as one
of the Seven Wonders of
the ancient world. The
main part of the
Artemision Temple is
displaying in the
British Museum of London
today, but only the
foundation part and some
columns are enough to
prove its former
magnificence.
8) The House of
Virgin Mary
It is a popular place of
pilgrimage for
Catholics, where Virgin
mary spends the rest of
her life and dies.
Located on top of Bulbul
Mountain, it also gives
the visitors a panoramic
view over the town.
9) Belevi Mausoleum
After the Mausoleum of
Hallicarnassos-one of
the seven wonders of the
ancient world, Belevi
Mausoleum is considered
to be the largest tomb
of the ancient Anatolia.
The total height of the
tomb is approximately
23meters except the roof
part. The exact size of
the tomb is not certain,
as the whole roof has
not been unearthed yet.
The lion and griffon
statues, on top of the
roof are now displaying
in the Ephesus and Izmir
Museums. Dating back to
the Hellenistic Age,
Belevi Mausoleum is
worth seeing with its
impressive architectural
ornaments as well as the
Corinth heads.
10) Sirince
It is a pretty authentic
village, with a
panoramic view and
breezing air. A narrow
mountain road with the
gardens of peach and
grape vines reaches to
Sirince Village. The
typical village houses
decorated traditionally,
attract all visitors.
11) Camlik Museum
Camlik, housing a TCDD
open-air Steam
Locomotives Museum, is
set in idyllic natural
surroundings, inside the
pine trees. The area is
also an ideal place for
relaxation.
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