İzmir Essentials

İzmir serves as a gateway to some of the Aegean's most significant archaeological sites. This collection features the UNESCO-listed remains of Pergamon and the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Beyond Greco-Roman ruins, the list includes the sacred House of the Virgin Mary, the 14th-century İsa Bey Mosque, and the coastal fortifications of Çeşme. Visitors can explore ancient medical centers like the Asclepion or visit the thermal-fed Ilıca Beach.

CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0

A

Virgin Mary's House;House of Virgin Mary

This house is believed to be the dwelling of Virgin Mary when she had lived in Ephesus.

Ingo Mehling / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Pergamon

Pergamon or Pergamum, also referred to by its modern Greek form Pergamos, was a rich and powerful ancient Greek city in Aeolis.

Klaus-Peter Simon / CC BY-SA 3.0

C

Ephesus Archaeological Museum

This museum is dedicated to the Ephesus excavations. The findings are truly impressive.

Francisco Esponda / CC-BY-SA

D

Temple of Artemis (Artemision)

This Greek temple was dedicated to the Goddess of the Hunt Artemis and it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Mr. Vehbi Moğol / CC BY-SA 3.0

E

Asclepion

Bergama is a municipality and district of İzmir Province, Turkey. Its area is 1,544 km2, and its population is 105,754.

Roh Ricky / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Çeşme Castle

Six-towered Ottoman fortress built in 1508 by Sultan Bayezid II to defend the coast against pirate attacks. It currently houses the Çeşme Archaeology Museum, displaying artifacts from the nearby ancient city of Erythrai.

Michal Jack Mašek / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

İsa Bey Camii

Constructed in 1374–1375, this mosque is a prime example of Anatolian Beylik architecture. It features an asymmetrical design and columns repurposed from the ruins of Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis.

Michal Jack Mašek / CC BY-SA 4.0

H

Red Basilica

The "Red Basilica", also called variously the Red Hall and Red Courtyard, is a monumental ruined temple in the ancient city of Pergamon,…

Roh Ricky / CC BY-SA 4.0

I

Ilica Plaji

A two-kilometer stretch of white sand known for its shallow, warm waters. Natural thermal springs bubble up from the seabed here, providing mineral-rich waters and a higher sea temperature than surrounding areas.

Karl Thomas Moore / CC BY-SA 4.0

J

Pergamon Acropolis

Situated on a steep hill overlooking Bergama, this site contains the remains of the Altar of Zeus and the world's steepest ancient theater. It once housed a library containing 200,000 scrolls.