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A monumental church over a venerated tomb
The sixth-century basilica built under Justinian transformed a long-venerated burial place into a major cruciform pilgrimage church. Six domes once covered its principal spaces.
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What survives on Ayasuluk Hill
Visitors can read the nave, transepts, baptistery, treasury and tomb zone while looking across Selçuk toward the Artemision. The setting explains the movement from Roman Ephesus to later Ayasuluk.
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Planning a focused visit
Thirty to forty-five minutes suits many private days. Pairing the basilica with the Temple of Artemis creates an unusually clear visual conversation between ancient and Christian sacred landscapes.
Sources and further reading
We prioritize official site authorities, excavation teams, universities, peer-reviewed research and established museum collections.
Continue planning
St. John and Ephesus Christian heritage tour
How this story connects to your day
Related destination: Basilica of St. John. Choose only the places that matter to you, or ask our Kuşadası team whether this story works best on the same day or a second day.
Frequently asked questions
Who built the Basilica of St. John?
The monumental sixth-century church was built under Emperor Justinian and Empress Theodora.
Is it part of the Ephesus archaeological ticket?
It is a separate archaeological site on Ayasuluk Hill; current admission arrangements should be checked for the visit date.