Priene is an ancient Hellenistic city which has picturesque ruins include several columns of Temple of Athena , much of the city walls ,a well – preserved theater and a council chamber ( Bouleuterion ) The city was an important trading port of the Ionian League of Greek settlements and was first established in the 11th century BC upon cliffs rising to almost 400 meters above the Aegean Sea. The city changed many hands and Priene was flourished in the Hellenistic system during the reign of Alexander the Great. And he commissioned the reconstruction of Temple of Athena in 334 BC as agift to the city. After countless struggles and invasions became a Roman province in 129 A.D. The city regained its prosperity under the Emperor Augustus in spite of having a population of only seven thousand. Priene became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century. The streets of Priene are unusual in the way that they are all horizontal and vertical, parallel and perpendicular, like a chess board.

Miletus was also a prosperous and successful port city in ancient period. It is considered to have been the most powerful city of what were the twelve Ionian cities and is known to have greatly influenced the intellectual and philosophical development of the Aegean region. The city encouraged erudition and founded several schools attracting scientists, architects, philosophers and geographers. The first coins were minted in this city, exact weight measures were established and the Phoenician alphabet perfected. From the results of excavations, it appears that Miletus was actually the Hittite settlement Millawanda and it was certainly a Mycenaean colony by the fourteenth century B.C.

Didyma, a small village which is famous for its golden sandy beaches will be your next destination. When you see the Temple of Apollo, a superb example of architecture dating from the Graeco-Roman period, and a sign of grandeur of this area, outstanding for culture and art you will understand that the sea is not the only attraction in Didyma. This temple in Didyma was very important and divine like the one in Delphi in Greece. And most probably it was considered divine because of the existance of a fresh water spring upon which the Temple of Apollo was constructed Even before the arrival of the Ionians, Didyma was a holy place and its oracle was much feared and much attened. Christianity put an end to pagan rites and festivals and prevented the temple from being completed. Indeed, in one atrium of the temple a basilica was built. No matter the temple is completed or not what remains today is impressive and it is worth to visit.