Ephesus
Located at the mouth of what was once the Kastros River, Ephesus consisted of Greek and Roman settlements that retreated westwards along the coastline and were established in new locations. Excavations have revealed magnificent monuments from the Roman Empire, including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theatre. The famous Temple of Artemis, one of the "Seven Wonders of the World", attracted pilgrims from all over the Mediterranean, but few remains of the site. Since the 5th century, the House of the Virgin Mary - a domed cross-shaped church - located seven kilometers from Ephesus has been a major site of Christian pilgrimage. The ancient city of Ephesus is an outstanding example of a Roman port city, complete with a waterway and a harbor basin.