Terrace Houses

The ruins of the ancient city of Ephasus are located in Selcuk, Turkey. The city was a major port city in its time, but the port has since silted over and the shoreline is quite a distance away. One of the important sections of the ruins are the Terrace Houses, which are on a hill across from the Hadrian Temple. There are six units on three terraces, the oldest dating back to the 1st century BC. It was used as a residence until the 7th century AD. 
Two of the houses are now open as a museum, and they give visitors a glimpse at what family life might have been like during the Roman Period. The houses contained mosaics on the floors and frescoes on the walls, which are now protected. They had central interior courtyards, and although most of the houses were two stories tall, the second levels have collapsed over time.

Practical Info

The Terrace Houses and the Ephasus ruins are located about 5 minutes by bus from the main bus station in Selcuk. Opening hours are 8am to 7pm in the summer and 8am to 5pm in the winter. Admission is 30TL for Ephasus plus 15TL for the Terrace Houses.