Selçuk Aqueduct and the Storks

Selçuk's aqueduct is the sight you walk past rather than plan to visit, and that is its charm. Its tall, broken arches run through the middle of town, and the best-known stretch stands beside Inönü Caddesi, across the road from the train station. Another section runs along St. Jean Caddesi, the street that leads up towards the Basilica of St John. The aqueduct is usually described as Byzantine, and it is a reminder that Selçuk, then known as Ayasuluk, was an important settlement long after the grand harbour city of Ephesus declined. Its arches are a favourite nesting site for white storks, and the huge, untidy nests on top are one of the most memorable sights in town, particularly in spring and early summer when the birds are most visible. After dark the arches are lit, which turns an evening walk through Selçuk into a photographic stroll. Because the aqueduct lies along the main streets it is free, always accessible and can be visited at any hour.

Here is how to enjoy it. Treat the aqueduct as a stop on a walk, not a destination, and pair it with the town's other sights, which cluster in a compact area: the Ephesus Museum, the Basilica of St John, the Isa Bey Mosque and the Temple of Artemis are all within a short walk.

The best light is at sunrise and sunset, when the stone glows and the storks are active, and the lit arches after dark add an evening atmosphere. Stand back across the street for the classic view, with the nests silhouetted against the sky.

In spring and early summer you may see adult storks feeding young, which is a delight for children and for anyone who likes wildlife photography, and you will often hear the clatter of their bills.Practical points are simple. There is no ticket, no fixed hours and no queue, which makes the aqueduct ideal for travellers on a tight budget or arriving late in the day after the ruins have closed. Traffic runs close to the arches, so take care crossing roads and do not climb on the stonework.

Stork numbers vary through the year, with the greatest activity in spring and early summer, so if birds matter to you, time your visit accordingly. In winter the nests may be empty, but the arches are still handsome. A good plan is to start with the aqueduct on arrival at the station, walk up to the basilica, and finish with dinner in the old town.Who is it for? Everyone who walks around Selçuk, and especially families, photographers and couples looking for a free evening stroll.

It will not occupy more than fifteen or twenty minutes, so it suits an unhurried, low-key addition rather than a main sight. If you are interested in how the settlement shifted from Ephesus to Ayasuluk and then to modern Selçuk, the aqueduct is a useful marker on that story. Even for a short stay, it gives you a sense of the town as a living place with its own history, rather than just a gateway to a ruin. It costs nothing, takes almost no planning and is open whenever you are passing.