Selçuk, Türkiye: Hilltop of Empires and Faith

In the heart of western Türkiye, the town of Selçuk rests beneath Ayasuluk Hill—an ancient stronghold where religion and empire converged. At the summit, two powerful remnants tell the story of centuries past: the Ayasuluk Fortress and the Basilica of St. John.

Ayasuluk Fortress (Selçuk Castle)

Dating back to the late Roman or early Byzantine era, this fortress was expanded by the Seljuk Turks and later fortified under the Ottomans. With its 15 towers and sturdy walls, it once safeguarded a bustling hilltop community and overlooked the strategic roads to Ephesus, one of the great cities of antiquity.

The fortress served both as a defensive outpost and a symbol of control—its layered architecture reflecting the many cultures that shaped this land.

Basilica of St. John the Evangelist

Built in the 6th century CE by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, the basilica honored St. John the Apostle, believed to be buried here. Designed in the shape of a cross and once topped with six domes, it rivaled Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia in grandeur.

But the centuries were not kind to this sacred site.

• Powerful earthquakes, especially in the 14th century, caused devastating structural damage.

• The decline of nearby Ephesus led to neglect and abandonment.

• Over time, building materials were looted, reused in new construction, and the church fell further into ruin.

• Parts of the site were later repurposed for military use during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods.

What remains today is open to the sky—fragmented columns, a solemn baptistery, and the symbolic tomb of St. John, still visited by pilgrims and travelers. Standing among the ruins, one can imagine the church’s former splendor and the enduring spirit of the apostle whose gospel it once celebrated.

From this sacred hilltop, visitors can look out across the Temple of Artemis, ancient Ephesus, and the green fields of the Aegean coast—where stories of faith, empire, and time still echo in the stone.