If you’re looking for a holiday destination that offers both sunshine and ample heritage sites to explore, Dalaman is the perfect choice. Located in Turkey’s south-western coast, it is just a short distance from the country’s most prevalent historical towns. Once you’ve booked your flights, packed your bags and reserved the transfers from Dalaman Airport, get ready to experience an unforgettable historical adventure in the nearby archaeological site of Ephesus.
Ephesus is steeped in history, showcasing ancient streets and monuments from its glorious past. Under the Roman Empire during the first and second centuries AD, this city flourished as the capital of the Roman province of Asia, even welcoming Saint Paul, who preached in Ephesus on his second missionary journey and lived there for three years. The eventual conquest of the city by Tamarlene’s Mongols and the ensuing conflict crumbled it to the iconic ruins we see today.
Great Theatre
Impressively well-preserved, the Great Theatre was completed during the reign of Trajan, around 117 AD. The building could accommodate an audience of about 25,000 people, and Saint Paul actually used the premises to preach against the cult of Artemis. The Great Theatre is a true architectural masterpiece, and even today it remains decorated with the remnants of columns and niches for statues.
Serapeum
Also known as Serapeion, this monument is the temple of Serapis, the Egyptian god. Its 29 metre-long facade constitutes monolithic columns which are 15 metres high. Its cella was accessed by a colossal doorway, which even had doors that moved on wheels. The Serapeum was converted to a Christian Basilica in the Byzantine era.
Library of Celsus
Although it was originally three storeys high and entirely covered with coloured marble, all that remains of this library is a two-storey facade with several columns and cornices – it was restored by Austrian archaeologists in the 1970s. Below its central niche where parchment books and scrolls were stored lies the grave chamber home to a Sarcophagus containing the Governor of the province of Asia, Titus Julius Celsus Polemaeanus. His son built the library in his honour in the early second century AD.
Church of the Virgin Mary
Also known as the Double Church or the Council Church, the Church of the Virgin Mary constitutes a strip of 260-metre-long remains. Originally a centre of research and teaching, it was also used as a meeting place for the Third Ecumenical Council in AD 431. Today, you can see the ruins of a pillared Basilica that was inserted in the fourth century.
How to Get There
The best way to reach Dalaman is to fly to its international airport, and from there take a private transfer to your accommodation to save time. Transfers from Dalaman Airport should ideally be booked in advance to ensure you are able to arrive at your destination without any hassle and begin your exploration of Ephesus.
For a truly unforgettable holiday, choose Dalaman – besides enjoying the excellent seaside weather, you’ll also have wonderful memories of visiting the historical town of Ephesus.
Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for affordable transfers from Dalaman Airport, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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