How to visit and what to see in Aphrodisias (Türkiye): schedules, prices

Less than 100 kilometers away from Pamukkale, there are the remains of the ancient city of Aphrodisias.

Although it is not well known, it is undoubtedly one of the great remains of antiquity in Türkiye and, in fact, the Unesco included it in the list of World Heritage in 2017.

If you do not have your own transportation, it is best to hire an excursion with or without a guide en Pamukkale the previous day.

The trip between both places this way lasts approximately one hour and 20 minutes, but it becomes very complicated on public transport.

Until the 60s of the last century, remains of Aphrodisias They were scattered around the village of Geyre, and in fact many of its houses had been built with materials obtained from the ancient city.

Its inhabitants were moved to a newly built town two or three kilometers away.

There are still several houses standing and the Aphrodisias museum It is located in the old square; All this gives a unique character to the place.

History of Aphrodisias in Türkiye

The archaeological excavations They have found remains of different settlements, some so old that they date back to almost 8000 years ago.

However, almost everything that is of interest to the visitor belongs to the Roman age.

In this place there was a shrine dedicated to Ishtar, Babylonian goddess of fertility and beauty, predecessor of Afrodita.

Over time a sanctuary was built at the greek goddess of love and from here, for centuries, his cult spread throughout the Greco-Roman world.

You have to remember that Afrodita was the mother of Aeneas, the hero of Troy, from whom they descended Romulus and Remus, legendary founders of Rome.

Thats why he sanctuary of Aphrodite It became a place of great importance for the Romans when they conquered this region.

Evidently. The name of the city refers to the goddess.

The existence of a marble quarry of excellent quality within a short distance led to the creation of an important artistic center in Aphrodisias.

It is very likely that some teachers of Pergamon came here after the fall of the attalid dynasty in 133 BC

It is not an exaggeration to say that in Aphrodisias is one of the best collections of roman sculpture, especially of reliefs, of all the world.

How to visit and what to see in Aphrodisias in Türkiye

Whether you come by rented car or on an excursion bus, you must leave the vehicle in a parking lot next to the road, approximately one kilometer away from the archaeological site itself.

Un shuttle service on a free little train it continually ensures the transfer.

The visit can be done following a circular itinerary, and while most guides recommend doing it counterclockwise, we suggest doing it the other way around, clockwise, for a reason.

Thus we leave the most beautiful monument for last and finish the visit on a high note.

After passing through the ticket office, you reach the old town square where the museum and a cafe with a small souvenir shop.

Museum with sculptures and reliefs in Aphrodisias

Whether at the beginning or the end, you must not stop visit the museum its extraordinary collection of sculptures and reliefs.

The large room stands out with a collection of about 70 reliefs, many of them coming from friezes of different buildings.

Topics vary from greek mythological scenes a military and worldly scenes.

A detail that will catch your attention is that when scenes of conquest are represented, the subjugated peoples always appear represented by women.

Of all of them, the relieve What we like the most is the one that represents Achilles and Penthesilea.

This was a queen of the Amazon who goes to Troy to defend the city against the Greeks, Achilles He fights with her and mortally wounds her.

The relief reflects the moment in which penthesilea he loses his strength and his ax slips from his hand while Achilles He holds her because, precisely at that moment, when the Amazon is dying, the Achaean hero falls in love with her.

Sebasteion Sanctuary in Aphrodisias

The tour of the archeological site can start in Sebasteion, a sanctuary dedicated to emperor Augustus and his deified successors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.

It must have been a spectacular space 90 meters long bordered by a three-level portico decorated with friezes.

Part of one of the sides has been reconstructed, placing some reliefs again, which allows you to imagine a little what it would have been like in its moment of splendor.

Theater of Aphrodisias

We then move on to Theater, which was built taking advantage of the slope of a hill.

At some point it was modified to allow gladiatorial and wild animal combat, and the venue could accommodate almost 10.000 spectators.

Right next to it are the remains of the Theater and Tetrasoon Hot Springs, a plaza that had four porticos and a circular altar.

From the top of the hill, above the last steps of the theater, you have a view of the entire city.

Towards the outside of the complex, a little separated and isolated now, are the remains of some buildings scattered around the area.

Portico of Tiberius in Aphrodisias

If we descend in the opposite direction, towards the center of the ancient city, we will find the Portico of Tiberius.

It was probably the most original construction in Aphrodisias and consisted of an immense rectangular plaza 211 meters long and 60 meters wide, which ran parallel to the agora, which is located to the north.

A portico with 71 marble columns separated both spaces. On our last visit, access to this area was not allowed.

At the west end of the portico is a group of buildings known as the Hadrian's Baths, which include all the characteristic dependencies of this type of installations.

We then skirt the end of the agora and arrive at an interesting group of buildings.

El Episcopal palace It was probably originally the residence of the Roman governors.

Bouleterion in Aphrodisias

A few meters away is the Bouleterion, One treasures of Aphrodisias.

It was the meeting place of city ​​council, but it also served as an auditorium.

Its magnificent state of preservation is due to the fact that it was covered by earth for more than a thousand years, and many of the statues that were discovered in this place are now in the museum.

Temple of Aphrodite in Aphrodisias

Next we come to Temple of Aphrodite, the main sanctuary of the city.

It was a temple with eight columns in the front and 15 on the sides.

Of the group there are now 14 standing, almost all with ionic capitals, and the building was converted in the 5th century into christian basilica.

Aphrodisias Stadium

A walk of a few minutes following a perfectly marked path allows you to reach the Stadium, one of the best preserved in the ancient world, which is spectacular.

The track is 262 meters long and could accommodate about 30 spectators; Being located at one end of the city, the buttresses on the north side were incorporated into the defensive enclosure.

We then return to the central part along another path that leaves in an oblique direction to the one we took to reach the Stadium, and we then arrive at the Tetrapylum.

Tetrapylus in Aphrodisias

This is the monumental gate that united the fear us (the sacred space) dedicated to Afrodita with the maximum thistle and, therefore, would mark the beginning of the processional route to the temple.

It is one of the most original and beautiful buildings in Aphrodisias.

The interesting thing is that it has been restored using the original marble blocks.

It is one of the most beautiful monuments that can be found anywhere. archaeological site of Türkiye.

From here you immediately reach the place where we started the visit, where the museum and the cafeteria are located.

Aphrodisias schedules and ticket prices

El archaeological site of Aphrodisias Opens every day.

El Aphrodisias visiting hours It is, in summer (from April 1 to September 30), from 10 a.m. to 19 p.m., and in winter, from 08,30:17,30 a.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.

El price of tickets to visit Aphrodisias It is 30 liras, about 3,60 euros.

Here you can consult the updated information of schedules and ticket prices to visit Aphrodisias.