Basilica of St John
On Gingerguide's self-guided Ephesus audio tour, Basilica of St John is a stop worth about ~60 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type religious
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Ephesus Ephesus guide
About Basilica of St John
On Ayasuluk Hill, the roofless remains of Justinian's vast sixth-century basilica, raised over the grave that Christian tradition honours as the tomb of the apostle John, high above Selçuk.
The Basilica of St John stands on Ayasuluk Hill above the town of Selçuk, about 3.5 kilometres from the classical ruins of Ephesus. The Byzantine emperor Justinian I had it built in the sixth century, with work beginning around 548 and finishing by 565. It replaced a smaller fourth-century church on the same site. Laid out as a Greek cross and roofed with a row of domes carried on heavy piers, the church measured roughly 130 metres in length and ranked among the largest of its time.
The building was raised over what Christian tradition holds to be the tomb of St John the Apostle and Evangelist, marked today by a slab in the floor of the nave. After Ephesus passed to the Turkish beyliks in the fourteenth century, the church was converted into a mosque, and it was later ruined by earthquakes. The wider Ephesus area, including Ayasuluk Hill, is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Did you know? After the region passed to Turkish rule, the great church served for a time as a mosque, and records tell of muezzins climbing onto its roof to give the call to prayer.
How much time do you need at Basilica of St John?
Around ~60 min works well for Basilica of St John — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Basilica of St John?
Yes — Basilica of St John made the cut as one of 18 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Ephesus. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Ephesus
Day 2 of the Ephesus in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Basilica of St John
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