Selçuk near Izmir - Isa Bey Mosque

Saturday, 05 November 2022 08:31
Written by Portal Editor

Selçuk, a small town near the Aegean Sea, is a meeting place of different civilizations, cultures, languages and religions. Selçuk is about 73 kilometres south of İzmir and only 17 kilometres from Kuşadası.

The history of the city can be traced back to the 6th millennium BC and has always been an important centre for three religions, which include u. from here spread all over the world.

The mountain village Şirince in the immediate vicinity

In addition to the historical values of Selçuk and its surroundings, a visit is always worthwhile because of the multitude of surrounding squares and the indescribable beauty of nature.

The village of "Şirince" is one of the many magnets to visit with a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and the beautiful wooden houses scattered in them.

The huge Pamucak coast with its fine sandy beach is also of great importance.

Just as you enter Selcuk there is a wonderful jogging path along ancient blackberry bushes - impressive terrain with ideal conditions for relaxation.

The shopping markets, where one can purchase a variety of souvenirs of Ephesus, line the small, picturesquely winding streets of the town.

It is very easy here to bargain for interesting old jewellery, any kind of clothing, hand-knotted carpets, wine, dried figs and grapes.

If you are looking for large leather markets, jewellery and carpet stores, you need to go to the outskirts.

Another shopping option is the twice-weekly open-air markets, where you can buy an incredible variety of foods, textiles and crafts.

We guarantee that the friendliness of the local traders will also make your shopping a real pleasure.

Food, textiles and handicrafts

The evening is best spent over a delightful dinner in one of Selcuk's many welcoming restaurants, enjoying the local specialty 'Cöp Shish' or one of the other classic Turkish dishes.

Selçuk is also well known for the annual festivals here, the International Ephesus Festival in May and the Camel Fighting Festival on the third weekend in January not only attracts many visitors but also many participants. The Wine Festival in Şirince Village is well known for the many types of homemade fruit wines offered here.

The dedication ceremonies at the House of the Virgin Mary, held each year on the morning of August 15th, also draw many visitors.

Selçuk has always been of particular importance due to its geographical and therefore strategic location. This is also one of the reasons why Selçuk has always had a fascinating appeal over the centuries. The name Selçuk comes from the settlers of the same name who settled here in the region around 1200.

Dedication ceremonies at the House of the Virgin Mary

Christianity was spread further from Selcuk by Saint John and his followers. John wrote the Bible in Ephesus and died there. One of the seven churches mentioned in the Bible is in Selcuk. One of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis, the first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built in Ephesus. The famous Ecumenical Congress of 431 was also held here. The fountain of the 7 sleepers is on the way to the house of the Virgin Mary. These sights, along with the many handicrafts, have made Selçuk famous.

The ancient city of Ephesus, which was founded 8,000 years ago, alone covers an area of 18 square kilometres.

Excavations, which have been going on at Ephesus for more than 130 years, have so far uncovered only 10% of the ancient city. For example, there are numerous synagogues that are still hidden underground.

Isa Bey Mosque - sights on the side?

Along the way to the house of the Virgin Mary

* The Isa Bey Mosque, built in 1375, shows typical elements and structures of Seljuk architecture.

* The Castle Mosque was designed in the shape of a square and dates from the 14th century.

* The Ishak Mosque is located at the intersection of the expressways and dates from the 16th century.

* The Saadet Hanim Bath was built by order of Saadet Hatun in the 14th century. Today this bath has been converted into a museum, incidentally the only bath museum in Turkey.

* Located between the Basilica of St. John and the Temple of Artemis, Isa Bey Bath was built in the 14th century.

* The monumental stone tombs (türbe) are found throughout the region and are the focal points of Islamic architecture in this region.

Please also read:

Kemeralti market - old caravanserai in the centre

An afternoon in Sirince - a different wine village!