Didim Today

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have been exploring the ancient history of Turkey this week, with a visit to the ruins of the city of Ephesus. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were pictured walking around the remnants of the once great city, which belonged to the Ionians in what used to be ancient Anatolia.

After being informed of the fascinating history of the former metropolis, Charles and Camilla were treated to a performance by a dance troop from the nearby town of Izmir.

One of the most impressive sights in the ruins of Ephesus is the remains of a grand amphitheatre, once capable of holding 40,000 people, and the Duchess ensured that she and Charles would have some mementoes of their trip by capturing some pictures.

Ephesus is one of Turkey`s most popular tourist attractions, with many visitors coming to see its gladiator graveyard.The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived in Turkey following a recent visit to Uganda, where they attended a Commonwealth heads of government meeting before enjoying a riverboat cruise on the Nile.

Ephesus was one of their first stops in the Mediterranean county, where they were pictured strolling among the ruins and being informed of the ancient city’s history by local guides.

The couple were also treated to a performance by a dance troop from the nearby Turkish town of Izmir. Situated on the coast of the Aegean Sea in western Turkey, Ephesus is a popular spot for tourists and includes a gladiator graveyard among its ruins.

The remnants of the metropolis also comprise an amphitheatre once capable of seating 40,000 people, which was eagerly photographed by the Duchess of Cornwall as she and her husband explored the remains of the ancient city.

During their stay until Thursday, the couple is to dine with President Abdullah Gul and visit also the historic central city of Konya, the Aegean port city of Izmir and Istanbul, Turkey’s economic hub and home to some of its most prominent historic sites, diplomatic sources said.

Prince Charles last visited Turkey in April 2005 for commemorations at the Gallipoli peninsula marking the 90th anniversary of the ill-fated Allied campaign there against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.

In 2004, he attended the reopening of the British consulate in Istanbul, which was the target in 2003 of one of four massive Al-Qaeda bomb attacks that claimed dozens of lives, including the British consul.