Ephesus

Hollywood actress Liv Tyler visited the ancient city of Ephesus in the Aegean province of İzmir with her family on July 15.

Tyler, best-known for her performance in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy directed by Peter Jackson, departed from the Mediterranean province of Antalya by helicopter and arrived in İzmir's Selçuk district.   

The statements in the basilica of the Smyrna Agora, the last ancient city in İzmir, reveals the historic rivalry among the ancient cities of Ephesus, Sardis and Tralleis. 

A fiery debate has been sparked in Turkey over the alleged use of the ancient city of Ephesus in the Aegean province of İzmir for wedding and circumcision ceremonies and other events, with the Culture and Tourism Ministry stressing that only cultural and touristic ceremonies are allowed at the site.

Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avcı has thanked daily Hürriyet for reporting on the poor condition of the Temple of Artemis, saying he gave the necessary orders for the protection of the ancient temple in the Selçuk district of the western province of İzmir. 

The Temple of Artemis in the Selçuk district of İzmir has turned into a swamp because of neglect and a lack of interest by authorities.  

The temple, which is among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and on the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List, draws millions of tourists each year. 

The ancient city of Uzuncaburç (Olba), one of the most notable tourism attractions in the southern province of Mersin, is a draw for visitors even in the winter months when it acquires an extra beauty under a blanket of snow.

Turkish officials are hopeful that the ancient city of Aizanoi in the inner Aegean province of Kütahya will soon become "a second Ephesus," according to Culture and Tourism Minister Nabi Avcı.

Travelers from French scientific missions to Anatolia brought back a sober and non-exoticized vision of the Orient during the 19th century. Now, the Arkas Art Center in İzmir is providing a glimpse at how sojourners saw the later Ottoman Empire.

Excavations carried out for more than 100 years by the Austrian Archaeology Institute in the ancient city of Ephesus in western Turkey have been cancelled two months before scheduled this season, through a decision by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. 

Iconic landmarks across Turkey, including the ancient city of Ephesus, Selimiye Mosque in the northwestern province of Edirne and Cappadocia's famous "Fairy Chimneys," will switch off their lights for the first time to support "Earth Hour."