Ayasouluk Castle

The well preserved Byzantine castle which stands on the hill of Ayasuluk  has withstood 1500 years.
As the castle was located at a significant point it was rebuilt and expanded in the Seljukian and Ottoman eras.
The main entrance gate of the castle was constructed from the stones of Roman buildings in the 6th century AD.
The castle has 15 towers and is surrounded by rubble stoned city walls reaching to1.5 km.

A church, -built into a former Byzantine church, a small mosque and several cisterns are within the borders of the citadel of Ayasuluk. Also, it was proved from the remains of sub-mycenean graves belonging to 14th century BC, that the hill was used as a necropolis.

Today the castle stands proud over the ever increasing town of Selcuk.

Saint John Basilica

It is believed that the evangelist St. John had spent his last years in the region around Ephesus and was buried in the southern slope of Ayosolug Hill. Three hundred years after his death, a small chapel was constructed over the grave in the 4th century. The church was changed into a marvelous basilica during the region of Emperor Justinian (527 -565 AD).

Isa Bey Mosque is one of the most delicate examples of Seljukian architecture, situated below the basilica of Saint John. The mosque was built by the master Syrian architecture Ali son of Mushimish 
al -Damishki, between the years of 1374 and 1375.  

The mosque was styled asymmetrically unlike the traditional style, The location of the windows , doors and domes were not matched, purposely. In the entrance of the mosque, an inscription from the god decorates the doorway. The columns inside the house of prayer are from earlier ruins in Ephesus, making an interesting contrast to the mosque . The domes are ornamented by turquoise and blue faience, revealing the characteristic of Ottoman style. Crown-like doors from Seljukian architectural style later combine with the specific decoration elements of architectural style. The mosque was repaired in 1934.    

The mystical atmosphere of "Isa Bey Mosque" must be experienced in the excursion around this region.