Although St. John’s Basilica has lain in ruins for over 600 years, the towering pillars and grand arches of the cross-shaped church still impress. Tours, including shore excursions, generally depart from Kusadasi, Izmir, or Bodrum and cover a mix of area sights. Ancient Ephesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, always figures; Christians often add the House of the Virgin Mary and the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers; Muslims often include the 14th-century Isa Bey Mosque; while other popular attractions include Sirince, a village known for fruit wine, and the scant remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Basilica of St. John sits on the eastern fringes of the little town of Selcuk, close to the Temple of Artemis and Ayasuluk Castle. Selcuk is about a 12-mile (20-kilometer) drive northeast of the Aegean Coast resort town of Kusadasi; the nearest airport, Izmir, lies about a 50-mile (80-kilometer) drive to the north.
The site is open from early in the morning until evening during the summer months, with shorter hours in winter (November through March). It’s a large site and rarely overly busy, so plan your day to beat the crowds at Ephesus and slot this one in when it suits.
Set on a mound overlooking modern Selcuk and ancient Ephesus, Ayasuluk Castle, also known as Ayasuluk Fortress or Ayasuluk Kalesi, has a history dating back to Stone Age times. Today’s vast ruins come from the Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman periods. Besides the impressive encircling wall, the castle is home to a mosque, a hammam, and the remains of a palace.
