Aegeanrental Ephesos- SELCUK

SELCUK

Selçuk, Izmir, Turkey

Selçuk is a very attractive town perfect for people who prefer to be away from the ‘package tour crowd’ with a population of 26.000 it is large enough to have all the facilities needed for a comfortable stay including plenty of nice restaurants, cafes, bars and interesting shops.

Selçuk is situated eight kilometers from the Aegean coast, one hour away from Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey and 45 minutes away from Izmir Adnan Menderes airport where there are many international and domestic flights daily. Selçuk train station has connections to Izmir and towards Denizli. There is a very decent bus services all over Turkey and the local mini buses run frequently to the local sites and towns.

Banking is very well catered for and there are supermarkets and plenty of shops selling all you should require. Every Saturday there is a beautiful weekly market which sells everything from wonderful local fruit and vegetables herbs and spices, clothes, footwear and much more.

The town has a decent hospital and dental services should they be required.

The local beach, Pamucak is situated eight kilometers from town a fourteen kilometer long sandy beach, quiet and virtually unspoilt.

There are many wonderful local sites within walking distance from each of the houses and many day trips from Selçuk including Pamukkale, Heropolis, Priene, Miletus, Didyma and many more, please go to archaeological sites page for more information.

If you would like airport transfers or to hire a car or minibus during your stay please state your requirements and we will be very happy to help.

The church of St John is set below the hilltop citadel in the center of Selcuk. After the death of Christ, St. John came with Mary to Ephesus living most of his life in and around the Ayasoluk Hill and spreading the word of Christianity as St Paul did before him. A 4th century tomb was believed to house his remains, so in the 6th century Emperor Justinian (527-65) erected a magnificent church on top of the tomb.

The Isabey mosque situated just down the hill from the St John’s Church at the foot of the Ayasuluk Hill the huge Isabey Mosque built in 1375 by the Emir of Aydin in a post- Seljuk / pre-Ottoman transitional style is well worth visiting

The Temple of Artemis is situated just 5 minutes walk from the center of Selcuk towards Ephesus, it used to earn sizeable sums of money from the pilgrims paying homage to the ancient fertility goddess Cybele/Artemis. In its prime it was larger than the Parthenon at Athens with 127 columns, all with figures carved around the base. Once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and today with little left to see but it is a beautiful setting with wonderful views to the Isabey mosque and St John’s Basilica.

Ephesus museum in the center of Selcuk houses a striking collection of artifacts from Ephesus and the surrounding archaeological sites, a small but fantastic museum.