Ayasuluk Hill & St. John Monumental Site
Travel Point Overview
Located in the district of Selçuk, Ayasuluk Hill is one of the earliest settlement areas of ancient Ephesus. Excavations in this area have significantly changed what we know about the city's history, revealing that Ephesus was actually founded as early as
🏛️ Ayasuluk Hill & St. John Monumental Site – Selçuk / İzmir
📍 Address: İsa Bey Neighborhood, 2013 Street No:1, 35920 Selçuk / İzmir
🕗 Opening Hours:
• General Access: 08:00 – 18:00 (Ticket booth closes at 17:30)
• Ayasuluk Castle: 09:00 – 16:00
🎟️ Entry Fee: €6
🎫 Museum Pass is accepted
🌄 Journey to the Origins of Ephesus
Located in the district of Selçuk, Ayasuluk Hill is one of the earliest settlement areas of ancient Ephesus. Excavations in this area have significantly changed what we know about the city's history, revealing that Ephesus was actually founded as early as 3000 BC during the Bronze Age, much earlier than previously thought.
Ayasuluk Hill presents a multilayered history from prehistoric times to the Byzantine, Aydinid, and Ottoman periods.
✝️ St. John Basilica (St. John Monument)
Positioned on the southern slope of Ayasuluk Hill, the basilica marks the tomb of St. John, one of Jesus’ apostles. The wooden-roofed church built over his grave was later replaced by a large cross-planned, six-domed basilica by Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century AD.
The structure included a baptistery, treasury (skeuphylakion), chapels, and inner courtyards. The basilica has long been an important pilgrimage site for the Christian world.
🕌 Isa Bey Mosque
Built in 1375 by Isa Bey of the Aydinids, the Isa Bey Mosque is a rare example of twin-minaret mosques from the Anatolian Beylik period. Only the western minaret stands today.
Much of the marble used in the mosque was brought from the nearby Temple of Artemis, giving the structure added historical value. Its intricate stonework and architectural elegance are notable.
🏰 Ayasuluk Castle
At the very top of Ayasuluk Hill lies Ayasuluk Castle, originally built during the Byzantine era and later expanded and fortified during the Aydinid and Early Ottoman periods. It has 15 towers and includes remnants of a palace, mosque, bathhouse, and cistern. There are two main entrances: one on the west and another on the east.
📱 Plan Your Visit
With the Advisormapp mobile application, you can easily get directions to Ayasuluk Hill, access audio guides, and discover nearby restaurants, souvenir shops, and transportation options.
🌐 More info & travel planning:
👉 www.advisormapp.com
Ayasuluk Hill is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the spiritual and historical roots of Ephesus. Walking through this sacred site brings the past vividly to life—don’t miss this timeless experience!
