The facade of the Library of Celsus at Ephesus

A stone's throw from Selcuk, the ruins of this classical city are among the most impressive in Europe.

The Greeks established Ephesus around 1000BC when it was the centre of worship for the fertility goddess Cybele. Ephesus shot to notoriety under Roman rule when it became a powerful Aegean port city, the capital of Asia and home to a quarter of a million people.

Ephesus also played a starring role in early Christianity - Saint Paul preached here for three years while Mary is supposed to have spent her last years in the city.

Today Ephesus lies 5km inland. While the city was essentially abandoned when the harbour filled up with silt, it remains one of the most visited sites in Turkey.

A constant stream of camera-toting tourists parade up and down its ancient main streets, amusing themselves by posing for photos at the communal toilets and marveling at the decadent lifestyle of the Roman elite.

Ephesus' most snapped site is the reconstructed facade of the Library of Celsus and the front niches of this imposing building contain the statues of Sophia (wisdom), Arete (virtue), Ennoia (intellect) and Episteme (knowledge).

Down the street, the Great Theatre (which once held up to 24,000 spectators) has lost none of its acoustic power.

Other key sites include the Temple of Hadrian (housing an eerie head of Medusa), Colonnaded Street (lined with Corinthian and Ionic columns) and the restored murals in the homes of wealthy Romans.

Back in Selcuk, the Ephesus Museum houses a fine selection of Roman artifacts.