We stopped at Aizanoi on the drive back to our home in Konya. This ancient city sits in and around the present-day town of Çavdarhisar, and walking through both the archaeological area and the town was part of the appeal for us. The bridge, the Temple of Zeus and the stonework scattered among the houses made the detour memorable.
Our quick take: Go for the remarkably preserved temple and the pleasure of finding ancient remains throughout a living town. Allow time to walk beyond the temple. Check current opening hours, admission and access before you travel; our notes describe what we saw on our visit.
Where is Aizanoi?
Aizanoi is at modern Çavdarhisar in western Turkey. Here is the location of Aizanoi on Google Maps. We visited while travelling back toward Konya. If you are making a similar road trip, check the route and site access before setting out.
1. Walk across the old bridge
The bridge over the Penkalas River was one of the first things that caught our attention. I liked seeing how the historic stonework is still part of the town rather than isolated in an archaeological park. Look closely at the surface: we could see grooves worn into the stone. We also noticed a modern inscription at the bridge.
2. Explore the Temple of Zeus
For me, the Temple of Zeus was the most impressive structure at Aizanoi. Its scale is striking even before you get close. On our visit we could descend beneath the building into underground rooms, which made the experience more interesting than simply viewing the columns from outside. Access to individual areas can change, so check what is open when you visit.
3. Look for ruins throughout Çavdarhisar
Aizanoi did not feel like a single neatly contained monument. The modern town occupies part of the ancient site, and we noticed old stones and columns among its buildings. We enjoyed walking around and finding details that would have been easy to miss if we had visited only the temple.
Near the temple we also spent time looking at carved stone reliefs. The photographs below show some of the details that stood out to us.
Is Aizanoi worth a stop?
Yes, especially if you like ancient sites where you can explore both a major monument and smaller traces of the past. We came for the temple but found the bridge and the walk through Çavdarhisar just as interesting. Give yourself enough time to notice the details instead of treating it as a quick photograph stop.
If your trip is focused on Bible-history sites, be clear about the distinction: Aizanoi is not named in the Bible, and I cannot establish that Paul visited it. Our Bible History Travel guide covers places with documented Bible connections, while the Seven Congregations route can help plan a separate journey through western Turkey.
These are our firsthand impressions from the day we visited. Opening hours, entrance fees and access may have changed; confirm current details with the site before travelling.
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