The second and third chapters of the Book of Revelation contain letters to seven Christian communities in the Roman province of Asia. All seven cities lie in what is now western Türkiye, and a journey between them is one of the most rewarding ways to see the region.
The seven cities today
- Ephesus, near Selçuk: one of the largest excavated cities of the Roman world.
- Smyrna, today's İzmir: the Roman agora survives in the modern city.
- Pergamum, today's Bergama: a hilltop acropolis and the vast Red Basilica below it.
- Thyatira, today's Akhisar: a small excavated area in the town centre.
- Sardis, near Salihli: the Temple of Artemis, a later church beside it and a large ancient synagogue.
- Philadelphia, today's Alaşehir: the massive piers of a Byzantine church.
- Laodicea, near Denizli: an extensively excavated city close to Pamukkale.
What to expect at the sites
The sites are very different from one another. Ephesus and Laodicea are large open-air excavations that need several hours; Thyatira and Philadelphia can be seen in a short visit. Many groups read the relevant passage of Revelation at each site, which gives the journey its rhythm.
Planning the route
Most journeys begin in İzmir, travel north to Pergamum and then inland through Thyatira, Sardis and Philadelphia before reaching Laodicea and returning to Ephesus. The order can be reversed, and the journey combines well with the House of the Virgin Mary and the Basilica of St John near Selçuk.
