KUSADASIA sleepy fishing village until only recently, Kusadasi has emerged as one of the most alluring spots for travelers along the Ionian Coast. Tourists from all over the world come to Kusadasi to visit Ephesus, one of the most fascinating archeological sites available to the modern-day traveler.

AN ANCIENT PEDIGREE OF LANDMARKS AND LEGENDSSettled by the Greeks, then captured by the Romans and made their capital of Asia Minor, Ephesus is a treasure of antiquity and historical legend. On its ancient streets paved in white marble and lined with colonnades, Mark Antony and Cleopatra rode in procession and St. Paul preached against the goddess Artemis. Excavations begun in 1869 have unearthed countless ruins proving Ephesus's reputation as one of the ancient world's wealthiest cities. Truly stunning are the Temple of Artemis, several times larger than the Parthenon, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan, and the Celsus Library, where 12,000 papyrus scrolls were displayed in moisture-proof niches.

HOLY LEGENDS
Legend has it that both the Virgin Mother and John the Evangelist lived in Ephesus in their final years. St. John is said to have written his Gospel here, and he is buried in the nearby Basilica of St. John.

A SHOPPER'S OASISSecond only in scale to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is the Bazaar in Kusadasi. Travelers from around the world have marveled at the quality and variety of goods available here, from antique oriental rugs to the finest of leather goods, jewelry, and handcrafted pottery.