Sardis in Salihli of Turkey

The Aegean region in the west of Turkey is one of the regions in this country that has a long history and witnessed many civilizations. Today, the remains of previous civilizations are of great value, and areas such as Sardis in Salihli, which has the ruins of the Lydian capital, it was the place where the world's oldest coins were minted.

Getting to Know the City of Sardis

Today, the ruins of "Sardis" are located in a small town called "Sart" in the province of "Manisa," which was once the significant capital of the kingdom of "Lydia" in the Aegean region. Lydia civilization on top of a hill overlooking the valley of "Pactolus River" was conquered in the flourishing Iron Age and in 546 BC by Cyrus the Great, the Achaemenid king of Iran.

Such happenings were repeated in the next two centuries by Alexander the Great, the Romans, and then the Byzantine Empire, and after that, the competition with the Seljuk Turks began, causing the decline of Sardis. In 1402, when Timur/Tamerlane conquered the city, everything was destroyed and hidden from view until it was discovered in the 19th century.

Note: Due to the many tourists who come to this region to visit the historical attractions of Sardis, you can also book a flight ticket to Izmir, and "Adnan Menderes Airport" as the closest airport to Manisa and then come to Sardis.

History of Sardis

As mentioned earlier, Sardis is one of the oldest cities in Turkey, whose history can be broadly divided into the following two categories:

1.       Sardis in the Ancient World

Sardis, located in the west of Turkey and near the city of Izmir, about 97 kilometers east of it, is the residence of the first tribes living there, dating back to 1500 BC. This city was under the rule of the Lydians until 546 BC, and after that it was under the Achaemenid Empire, and from 188 BC, it was in the hands of the rulers of Pergamon.

2.       Sardis Under Roman Rule

The city of Sardis has always been of great interest due to its strategic location and being on the path of several commercial highways, and it has witnessed numerous and powerful rulers. Among these rulers, we can mention the ancient Roman Empire, during which Sardis returned to its past prosperity and glory.

In this regard and according to the historical evidence left over from this era, in 133 BC, Sardis was added to Asia Minor by the Roman Empire and witnessed many changes and developments. Among these things, the construction of many buildings, temples, public spaces, and city expansion can be mentioned.

Coin Discovery in Sard

The civilization of Lydia was one of the most advanced countries in Asia Minor, and it was the government's capital under the same name. It is believed that the idea of ​​minting metal coins was created around the 6th century BC during the reign of "King Alyattes" and was made from "Electrum," an alloy of gold and silver.

Of course, there are many arguments against this theory, but according to a statement by the famous historian "Herodotus," the people of Lydia were among the first civilizations to establish retail shops; therefore, considering that the first gold coins called "Croeseids" were made and introduced in ancient Greece during the time of "King Croesus," this claim may not be false.

Sardis Tourist Attractions

As mentioned earlier, Sardis has many historical and natural attractions, and because of its age, the historical attractions of this place are more famous. Note, if you travel to Sard with tours, you can see most of the following attractions and enjoy your trip; the most famous of these attractions are:

·         Temple of Artemis: The Temple of Artemis in Sardis, with a height of about 15 meters, was one of the largest temples of its time. This temple, which is made of marble and with many columns, has intricate and beautiful carvings and details. The interior of the Temple of Artemis has various parts, such as a large central nave, numerous small rooms for worship or religious rituals, and a large treasury for storing gold and silver.

·         Tumulus Tombs: The Lydian Tumulus Cemetery at " Bin Hill (Bin Tepe)," with more than 100 Tumuli, was built by the Lydians. This cemetery, which is built on top of hills of soil and stone, is considered a place to bury the rich people of the society; following the discoveries made in the tumulus tombs in Sardis, they all contain expensive objects such as works of art, jewelry, pottery, and weapons, which indicate the social status of the people buried in them.

·         Bath-Gymnasium Complex: The Sardis sports and bath complex dates back to the ancient Roman era and has been a place for performing various sports, educational and social activities; in this way, the people who came to this place, in addition to exercising, could sit and talk together or take a bath; usually, the structure of these buildings includes parts such as: a large and enclosed rectangular outdoor space for sports activities (sometimes on two floors), a covered space for rest and conversation, and finally, a part for getting clean and bathing.

·         Great Synagogue: This synagogue, belonging to the third century AD, has been one of the most important religious centers since ancient times and was built by the Jewish merchants of the city. The "Great Synagogue of Sardis", whose most noticeable feature is its size and the large number of worshipers it can accommodate, has different parts; these include: a large central hall with numerous columns, beautiful decorations (mosaics and frescoes), and intricate carvings and inscriptions in Hebrew and Aramaic.

How to Go to Sardis

To go and visit the ancient city of Sardis, which is located 90 kilometers from Sart, you can come to this historical area on the way to the village of Sartmustafa; also, you can come to Sardis with tours that bring visitors by minibus from Izmir or Kusadasi.

Note: Considering that Izmir is the closest important city to Manisa, you can rent a car in Izmir to easily access any tourist attractions in this region.

Distance between Sardis to Izmir

Access to Sardis from Izmir, which they have located at a distance of about 90 kilometers from each other, is possible in four ways; these methods are: 1- take a bus from Izmir terminal (2 hours and 42 minutes), 2- take a train to Sart (2 hours and 52 minutes), 3- take a taxi or rent a car (1 hour and 8 minutes).

Note: No matter what method you choose to travel to Sardis, by booking a hotel in Manisa, you can not only relax in a suitable accommodation with excellent facilities but also benefit from the services you like.

Distance between Sardis to Istanbul

Considering the distance of about 427 kilometers from Sardis in the south of Istanbul, the following methods can be used to go to this ancient city; this issue can include renting a car from Istanbul and driving to this area:

Car Rental from Izmir to Sart

As you know, using a private car or taxi is one of the fastest ways to reach your desired destination; this is while most travelers and tourists in Turkey do not have the opportunity to travel by their own car for various reasons while taking a taxi is also not affordable due to its high fares. In other words, most of the time in Turkey, you can rent a car for a whole day and go to several different destinations for the same price as you would pay for a taxi.

Therefore, one of the best ways to go to the desired places in Turkey, which is also very economical, is to rent a car in Turkey to explore the city or go to other cities of this country; thus, by renting a car in Izmir and with the help of routing applications, you can easily and quickly go to the city of Sart and visit Sardis and enjoy your sightseeing.