Hemmed in by mountain vistas, the ruins of the Hellenistic city of Priene, about 40 kilometers south of Kusadasi, are thoroughly photogenic.
This ancient port had its heyday between 300 BC and 45 BC, when its harbors bustled with commerce.
The silting-up of the Meander River caused the city's demise, and by the 2nd century AD, Priene was abandoned. The star attraction here is the Temple of Athena, with its classical Ionian design, while the 6,500-seat theater is exceptionally well-preserved
