Around Ephesus : Temple of Artemis, House of Virgin Mary, Basilica of St.John, Ephesus Museum, Isa Bey Mosque, Seven Sleepers, Sirince Village, Hellenistic City Wall
Efes Ruins, which is the biggest open field museum of Turkey, has been located in Kusadasi Gulf in Aegean Region. After Jesus, the son of the Virgin Mary, had been stretched on crucifix, the Virgin Mary had come to Efes, then she completed the last days of her life here in Bulbul Mountain. This house recently has been transformed into a pilgrimage place and it has become a place that Christians coming from all over the world visit it by all means. Historical information sources has determined that the city had been settled by Hellens in XI. Century B.C. Big Artemis Temple, the symbol of the city, had been utterly destroyed by kimmers and then it had been constructed again by Krezus which was the king of Lidia. In IV. Century B.C. the city had entered into a regressing period, so much later, it had been invaded by Cyrus who was the King of Persians. In the time of Romans, especially under the power period of Augustus, Efes had become one of the five big important cities and it had been transformed into the biggest trade center of Aegean Region. In 1415, as a result of the conquest of Izmir by Prince I. Mehmet Celebi, Efes had been included in the Ottoman frontiers. Nowadays, Efes city and its surroundings form a scene showing considerable amounts of tourism activity, huge buildings such as Celcius Library, Kiiretler Street, amphitheater has being visited by admiring tourists. The elements such as Two Hercules sculptures have been placed at both sides of Herakles gate, the bust of Victory Goddess Tyche on forehead of Hadrianus Temple dated to II. Century A.C. and Medussa head located again on the same gate of the Temple have shown very important details of Archaic Efes city. The amphitheater that has been counted among the important Archaic construction of Efes, is one of the huge and magnificent theater of Archaic age. This theater which has a capacity of 24.000 person has been constructed in Hellenistic age then it has been enlarged with some additions and alterations in the time of Romans. The house of the Virgin Mary on Bulbiil Mountain has being visited by thousands of tourists every year, also it had been sanctified by Christians, so it has become a very important cult place.