Red Basilica, Bergama
The Red Basilica in Bergama: a 2nd-century brick temple built under Hadrian, probably for Serapis, Isis…
Photo: Özge Kesgin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Asklepion of Pergamon
The healing sanctuary of Pergamon, where Galen worked and the sacred spring still flows.
Overview
Below the acropolis of Pergamon, a colonnaded road leads to a sanctuary where the sick came to sleep, bathe and be healed. This is the Asklepion, and its sacred spring still flows. Our Istanbul to Fethiye tour with a blue cruise stops at Pergamon on the way to the coast.
The Story of the Asklepion
The sanctuary of the healing god Asclepius was founded in the 4th century BC, on ground that was already sacred. It became the leading healing center of western Anatolia. Most of what you see today comes from the rebuilding under Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century AD. The doctor Galen came from Pergamon, and the orator Aelius Aristides described his own treatments here: sleep cures, the sound of water, mud baths, healing water, diets and music.
What to See in the Asklepion
You arrive along the Via Tecta, a paved sacred road about 1 km long. Through the gate, a large colonnaded courtyard opens, with a library on one side and a temple of Zeus Asclepius on the other. In the corner stands a theater for about 3,500 people. A tunnel leads to a round treatment building. The sacred spring still flows; Pergamon became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
The Bergama Museum and the Excavations
Excavations at the Asklepion began in 1927, and on 13 April 1934, Atatürk visited the sanctuary during his visit to Bergama. Two years later, on 30 October 1936, the Bergama Museum opened in town, so you can see finds from Pergamon after your walk. At the site, an audio guide is available. The entrance stands on Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Korte Caddesi in the Zafer neighborhood, on the edge of town.
Our notes for the Asklepion
- Founded4th century BC
- RebuiltUnder Hadrian, 2nd century AD
- TheaterAbout 3,500 seats
- OpenEvery day
Our suggestion Do the acropolis first in the cool morning, then the Asklepion after lunch, when the colonnade gives shade.
How to Visit the Asklepion
The site is on the edge of Bergama, below the acropolis of Pergamon. Yes. It opens every day; check current hours on the official museums portal before you go. In town, the Red Basilica is closed to visitors for now; check its status before you go. We arrange your entry to the Asklepion and the acropolis of Pergamon on the same day. Both sites fit into our Pergamon tour.
Would you like to see the İzmir coast with a private guide and driver? Our Pergamon and Asklepion tour joins the healing sanctuary with the acropolis of Pergamon, and the rest of the coast is in our İzmir guide.
Because this was a hospital two thousand years ago. Walk down the sacred road and into the tunnel to the round treatment hall.
Things to See & Do
-
-
Pergamon
Pergamon above Bergama: the steepest ancient theater, the Temple of Trajan, the healing Asclepieion of Galen…
Map
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab) Open in Apple Maps (opens in a new tab)
Frequently asked questions
What was the Asklepion?
A healing sanctuary of the god Asclepius, the leading healing center of western Anatolia.
How were patients treated?
The orator Aelius Aristides described sleep cures, mud baths, healing water, diets and music.
Is the Asklepion open?
Yes. It opens every day; check current hours on the official museums portal before you go.
Is there an audio guide at the Asklepion?
Yes. The site offers an audio guide at the entrance.
