St John Basilica, Selçuk, Ephesus

The impressive ruins of the Byzantine Church of St John mark the spot where St John the Evangelist was buried.

The church is on the slopes of Ayasoluk Hill near the center of Selçuk (the town next to Ephesus), just below the fortress.

St John is believed to have spent the last years of his life in Ephesus writing his version of the Gospel. Emperor Justinian (527-565 AD) believed that a tomb dating from the 300s was John's, so he built a great church above it in the 500s.

In later centuries the ruined church was pillaged for building materials, but restoration allows you to see its extent and to imagine its beauties.

Plan to spend about 30 minutes here. You can easily walk here from the center of Selçuk.

Just down the hill from the basilica is the 13th-century Isa Bey Mosque, recently restored, open for free (it's a working mosque) and worth a look.

To the southwest, look for the ruined Temple of Artemis between the St John Basilica and the Ephesus archeological site.

St John Basilica is about 3.5 km (2 miles) from the Ephesus archeological site.

Ephesus Museum, Selçuk

Ephesus Archeological Site

Pamucak Beach

Selçuk Town

Sirince

Priene-Miletus Didyma Tour

Aegean Region

Where to Go

Portal, St John Basilica, Selcuk, Turkey

Above, the monumental Roman portal into the basilica enclosure.

Below, partially restored Byzantine ruins of St. John Basilica, Selçuk.

St John Basilica, Selcuk, Turkey