Sardes

Sardes

Sardes is a visitable archaeological site in Salihli, Manisa, Türkiye, with surviving remains visible on site.

Photo: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany · CC BY-SA 2.0

Country
Türkiye
Region
Salihli, Manisa
Civilisation
Anatolian heritage
Period
Lidya–Pers–Hellenistic–Roman–Byzantine
UNESCO
World Heritage

Through time

Prehistorybefore 3000 BCEBronze & Iron Age3000–800 BCEClassical800–323 BCEHellenistic & Roman323 BCE–400 CELate Antique & Medieval400–1500 CE

The story

Sardis or Sardes ( SAR-deess; Lydian: 𐤮𐤱𐤠𐤭, romanized: Sfar; Ancient Greek: Σάρδεις, romanized: Sárdeis; Old Persian: 𐎿𐎱𐎼𐎭, romanized: Sparda) was an ancient city best known as the capital of the Lydian Empire. After the fall of the Lydian Empire, it became the capital of the Persian satrapy of Lydia and later a major center of Hellenistic and Byzantine culture. Now an active archaeological site, it is located in modern day Turkey, in Manisa Province, near the town of Sart.

Sardis was also mentioned as the campsite of Brutus and Cassius in William Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar (1599). In 2025, Sardis was listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Adapted from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

What you will see

  1. Artemis Tapınağı
  2. Gymnasion-Baths kompleksi
  3. Sinagog

Before you go

  • Check opening hours and ticket rules shortly before your visit — they change seasonally.
  • Plan for the heat. Most ancient sites have little shade; go early or late.
  • Respect the barriers. Fragile surfaces are protected for the next visitors.

Discoveries from Sardes

No discoveries yet. Be the first to share a photo from here.

Nearby ancient places