As twilight descends on Ephesus, founded in the 10th century B.C. in Türkiye's Izmir province, lights will cast a captivating glow over the ancient city, offering a mesmerizing cultural experience for visitors until midnight.
The light show is part of the Night Museum project promoted by the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry, which aims to attract more tourists and promote the country's historical sites during summer.
The initiative brings some of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts' most extraordinary ancient sites, such as Ephesus, Hierapolis, Aspendos, Patara, Side, Phaselis, and Olympos, to life after sunset.
Mustafa Cevik, a first-time visitor, was profoundly impressed by Ephesus's nighttime illumination. "When I was a child, we saw pictures of Ephesus's columns in our books. Seeing them in person, under the combined lighting and moonlight, was beautiful. It's truly a place worth seeing," Cevik told.
Ephesus's grand structures, including the theater and library, were primarily built during the Roman period, particularly from the 1st century B.C. onward.
While the Night Museums project attracts more tourists, it has also boosted the number of visitors to the digital museums in the ancient cities.