Selcuk is a small town in western Turkey that exists, for most visitors, as the base for the ancient city of Ephesus — one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Mediterranean. The ruins are just 3 km away and include a 25,000-seat theatre, the Library of Celsus, marble-paved streets, and remarkably well-preserved terrace houses with frescoed walls.
But Selcuk has more than just Ephesus. The remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, stand as a single reconstructed column on the edge of town (the rest is long gone). The Basilica of St John, on Ayasuluk Hill above the town centre, is where the apostle John is believed to be buried. The 14th-century Isa Bey Mosque, just below the hill, is a fine example of Seljuk architecture. The town's small archaeological museum holds excellent finds from Ephesus, including the famous Artemis statue.
Selcuk is a pleasant, walkable town with a relaxed pace, good pensions, and a Friday market. It is easily reached by train or bus from Izmir (about an hour) and makes a more agreeable base than the nearby resort of Kusadasi.