Didyma

Didyma was never a town, only a sanctuary: an oracle of Apollo reached from Miletus along a sacred way lined with statues, and a temple begun on a scale that outran the money to build it. Work continued for centuries and stopped unfinished. What survives is still overwhelming at close range - column drums the height of a person, two shafts standing to their full lift with an architrave across them, a forest of stumps marking where the rest were meant to go, and a colossal carved Medusa head lying at ground level where you can look it in the face. Stairs and vaulted ramps lead down into the open inner court where the oracle's spring once ran.

What to look for

• The standing columns - full-height shafts carrying a fragment of architrave.
• The Medusa head - a monumental carved gorgon fallen to ground level.
• The inner court - the unroofed adyton reached by vaulted ramps.
• The column bases - carved bases and drums showing how the work was abandoned.

When to go

Spring and autumn suit it best; marble throws heat back at you in midsummer and there is no shade at all. Late afternoon light picks out the carving. The site is small, so an hour is usually enough, and it slots naturally into a morning that ends at Miletus or Priene.

Practical notes

The temple sits ringed by cafes, souvenir stalls and holiday apartments, which flattens the atmosphere. The site is compact and quickly walked, and there is not much interpretation. Surfaces are polished stone and slippery after rain. Nearby Altinkum is a straightforward package resort, so plan to stay elsewhere.

Nearby

The ruins of Miletus and Priene, both within an hour by car.

Key facts