Ephesus

At its height under Roman rule, Ephesus was home to an estimated 200,000 people, making it one of the largest cities of the ancient Mediterranean world. The Artemision — the Temple of Artemis dedicated there — was counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, drawing pilgrims from across the known world; only a single re-erected column now marks the site. The Marble Street, the Library of Celsus facade, and the Great Theatre seating 24,000 survive in remarkable condition and together convey the scale of urban life in antiquity. Designated part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins rank among Turkey's most visited archaeological sites, yet active excavations continue to uncover previously unknown city quarters. Arriving at dawn, before tour groups descend, transforms the marble-paved alleys into an almost private encounter with a vanished metropolis.