Archaeology and the art of living.

The Greek and Roman cities on Turkey’s Aegean coast were once among the most powerful in the ancient world. The remains of these splendid cities are set in a breathtaking landscape of craggy limestone peaks, plunging valleys, olive groves, pine forests and flower-dotted meadows, with the turquoise-blue waters of the Aegean Sea in the background.

The Aegean coast has much to offer: ancient ruins and sites, beautiful beaches, a rich history, seaside villages adorned with bougainvillea and a relaxed atmosphere.

It’s also an opportunity to discover the “Turkish Tuscany”, with its vineyards and olive oil producers, its fishing villages and mills, and of course its delicious cuisine.

Here are the sites you can see in the area:

The Roman city of Ephesus, home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Other less-visited but equally interesting sites are nearby: Dydimes, Priene, Millet, Pergamon and Aphrodisias.

Also in the region is the site of Pamukkale, Turkish for “cotton castle”, an extraordinary geological curiosity created entirely by the hot waters that flow from the bowels of the mountain. This natural phenomenon leaves white layers on the stone, giving the mountain the appearance of a cotton fortress or a frozen waterfall.

Backing onto the site is the ancient city of Hierapolis, a healing town in Roman times.