A three-hour car drive away is Ephesus, the best-preserved classical city on the Mediterranean. Dating as far back as 2000 B.C
The city was taken by the Kingdom of Pergamon after 190 B.C., by Rome in 133 B.C., and later by Byzantium, Ephesus maintained its importance during the period of Christianity, and the apostle St. Paul arrived there during the years of 50 A.D. It is also a known fact that St. John was buried on the hill of Ayasuluk (Selcuk) at the beginning of the 2nd century. Ephesus lived through its third glorious period during the reign of Justinianus in the middle of the 6th century A.D. and, at this time, the Church of St. John was built by the Byzantine emperor.
As a strategic coastal gateway to the Eastern World, this Ionian refuge grew to be the second largest city in the Roman Empire, the site of a Christian shrine, and with the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary, accompanied by St. Paul, came to Ephesus at the end of her life. Also the Basilica of St. John is located near Ephesus; St. John is said to have lived the last years of his life here and after his death, a shrine was located over his grave.
One of the magnificent buildings of Ephesus is the theatre, largest in Asia Minor, which had a capacity of 24.000+ people and is in a rather well preserved condition. The construction had started during the Hellenistic period but it could only be completed during the time of Trajan (98-117 A.D.). Festivals are still celebrated in this theatre today. St. Paul was dragged into this theatre to face the crowd because of his famous letter to Ephesians, but rescued by the security corps of the city.