Selçuk

More than 20,000 people came together to watch the 40th Selçuk Camel Wrestling Festival held on Jan. 18 in the eponymous town in Turkey's Aegean province of İzmir, despite criticism from animal rights activists who claim that the big ruminants were abused and injured during the event.

The ancient city of Ephesus, three kilometers southwest of the present-day town of Selçuk in the western province of İzmir, is set to once again have a harbor on the Aegean coast, according to an ambitious new project.

Aegean province ?zmir's Selçuk district, home to the House of the Virgin Mary, which is a pilgrimage site for Christians, will soon have a massive statue of the mother of Jesus. 

Speaking at a tourism conference, Selçuk Mayor Zeynel Bak?c? said they had rolled up their sleeves for the construction of the structure. 

The Ephesus Archaeological Museum, which was temporarily closed in 2012 for the renewal of merchandizing, was reopened last month by Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik. The number of artifacts in the museum on display for visitors has increased five-fold. 

The ancient city of Ephesus near Selçuk in the Aegean province of ?zmir has begun counting down the days until its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the voting taking place on July 5. Selçuk Mayor Zeynel Bak?c? said they were expecting good news after the vote. 

The UNESCO Headquarters in Paris is presenting an exhibition from Turkey titled "Safe Harbor Turkey - Restoring Hope," an interactive photography exhibition highlighting Turkey's historic humanitarian support and current response to the Syrian refugee crisis.

A tender will be initiated tomorrow for the restoration of St. John?s Church, which is popular among tourists in the ?irince neighborhood of Selçuk in ?zmir.

The ancient city of Ephesus in western Turkey is expected to enter the UNESCO World Heritage List this year, after 22 years of efforts.