Wowzers. The ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus are really something to behold.

If you’re a lover of culture, history or of walking around in sensational sunshine then you simply must visit Ephesus.

A city bubbling over with ancient history which has been preserved wonderfully and provides a real sense of walking around an ancient site. What I knew about Ephesus before seeing it, was that it was the setting of Shakespeare’s breakneck paced ‘Comedy of Errors’.

I would recommend starting at the top gate, and walking down through the city. Not only does this make the walk a more pleasant downwards gradient, but also saves the best til last.

Columns and old drainage pipes are littered about at the top entrance. A good spot to catch up on the general history of the city before setting off to see the magical set pieces.

The streets themselves are something special - walking on them with sandals on gives you the feeling of strolling to the senate. The first really exciting bit is the ampitheatre, which is actually only a small ampitheatre and was probably the city consul. Half is reconstruction due to the damge done by hasty excavation work trying to discover the Temple of Artemis.

As you descend the hill the library of Celsus comes into view and it is breathtaking. I can’t explain how magical it is to stand in front of it.

Then you turn a corner and walk down the market street towards the main ampitheatre. Wowzers! Boom! Bang! It’s so impressive! It’s massive! And wonderful!

Apparently the largest outdoor theatre in the world, and according to my hotel’s newletter has played host to Diana Ross and Stings (sic).

I think Ephesus is a beautiful, magical place and I cannot recomend it enough to history/culture lovers.