Ephesus, Turkey

The Basilica of St. John was built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century over the traditional tomb of John the Evangelist. The site became a major pilgrimage destination in the Early Middle Ages.

These well-preserved dwellings provide an important window into the lifestyles of the Ephesian elite in Roman and Byzantine times.

This attractive Roman imperial temple was constructed in 118 and reconstructed in the fifth century. Its tympanum bears an interesting frieze that may represent Medusa.

In ancient times it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, but today the Temple of Artemis is represented by a single column standing in a swamp.

The facade of the Library of Celsus is one of the most spectacular sights in Ephesus. Built by a Roman in memory of his father, it faces east so the reading rooms receive the morning light.

One of the main Roman roads in ancient Ephesus, named for its marble pavement.

Discovered in a vision by a bedridden German nun in 1812, this stone building is believed by many Catholics and Muslims to be where the Virgin Mary lived her last years. It includes a healing fountain.

According to legend, seven Christian boys were locked in this cave by the Romans in c.250 AD, fell asleep, and woke up in the 5th century. It became a place of burial and pilgrimage.

One of the ancient Roman roads in Ephesus.