Sardis

Sardis lies at the village of Sart, near Salihli in Manisa province, on both sides of the İzmir-Uşak highway. One ticket covers two separate areas: the gymnasium and synagogue beside the road, and the Temple of Artemis, roughly a kilometre to the south in a side valley.

In the roadside area the first thing you see is the Marble Court of the gymnasium, reconstructed to its full two-storey height. Next to it is a large ancient synagogue with floor mosaics and marble wall panels, the most striking part of the site. In front of both runs a row of Byzantine shops along the old street. The Temple of Artemis is a huge Ionic temple, never finished, set against the hill of the Lydian capital's acropolis; two standing columns and piles of drums give a sense of its size. You can walk to the temple, but the road carries traffic and has no shade, so most visitors drive. An hour and a half to two hours covers both areas.

Sardis works as a day trip from İzmir or Manisa, on the road towards Salihli. The plain gets very hot in summer, so avoid midday and bring water. Crowds are rarely a problem here. Check the hours on the museum page.