Mention ancient ruins in Türkiye and most people think of Ephesus. Aizanoi, in the small town of Çavdarhisar in Kütahya province, has a temple that rivals anything on the coast and a fraction of the visitors. The ancient city is spread among fields, village houses and a river on the high inland plateau, and on many days you can photograph its main monument with nobody else in sight.
The monuments
Temple of Zeus
The temple is the reason to come. It is among the best preserved Roman temples in Anatolia, with long rows of Ionic columns still standing on a raised platform and a vaulted chamber beneath. It sits on open ground, so it can be photographed from all sides and from a distance, with sky filling the frame behind the columns. A large carved stone acroterion displayed nearby is another well-known detail.
Theatre and stadium
North of the temple, a theatre and a stadium were built as a single connected complex, an unusual arrangement. The seating has partly collapsed into a tumble of blocks, giving a rougher, more atmospheric setting than the temple.
Roman bridges
Stone bridges of Roman date still cross the river that runs through Çavdarhisar, known in antiquity as the Penkalas. They sit among the houses of the modern town and give a pleasant combination of water, old stone and everyday village life.
The macellum and colonnaded street
A round market building carries an inscribed copy of the emperor Diocletian’s edict on prices, and a stretch of colonnaded street has been excavated nearby. These are smaller-scale spots for detail and close portraits.
Permission comes first
Aizanoi is an archaeological site with ticketed areas. Across Türkiye, professional and commercial photography at such sites generally requires official permission, and that often covers wedding and engagement sessions as well as advertising work. Ask what is required before you fix a date, and leave time for the paperwork. Climbing on walls, columns or seating is not acceptable regardless of permission; excavations and restoration are ongoing and the stone is fragile.
Drone flights also require registration and permission, with additional sensitivity around protected heritage sites.
Light, seasons and conditions
Çavdarhisar lies at around a thousand metres on the Anatolian plateau, so the climate is continental. Winters are cold with snow and frost; the temple under snow is a striking sight, though sessions need to be short. Spring comes late and brings green fields and wildflowers around the ruins. Summer days are sunny and dry with cooler evenings, and the surrounding farmland turns gold after harvest. Autumn is clear and crisp.
There is very little shade at the temple. Midday sun in summer is flat and harsh on pale stone, while early morning and late afternoon bring out the fluting of the columns and long shadows across the platform. Check seasonal opening hours, since they limit how early or late you can be inside the fenced areas. Wind is common on the open ground.
Sessions that suit Aizanoi
- Couple and engagement portraits with the colonnade as a clean, monumental backdrop.
- After-wedding sessions for couples from Kütahya and neighbouring provinces.
- Travel portraits for visitors crossing inland Anatolia who want something other than the usual coastal scenery.
Simple, solid-coloured clothing works best against the pale grey stone. The ground is uneven grass and rubble, so bring flat shoes. Facilities in Çavdarhisar are modest; carry water and anything you need for styling.
Getting there
Çavdarhisar is reached by road from Kütahya, roughly an hour’s drive to the south-west. Most visitors come by car, and the monuments are close enough together to walk between once you arrive.
Booking a photographer
There are few, if any, photographers based in Çavdarhisar itself, so expect to work with someone from Kütahya, Eskişehir, Uşak or another nearby city. Points to raise:
- Have they photographed at Aizanoi before? Ask for a full gallery from the site.
- Who applies for permission, and is any cost for it included?
- What is the travel fee to Çavdarhisar?
- How many edited images will be delivered, and by when?
- Is there a written contract covering deposit, cancellation and a new date in case of bad weather?
Use our photographer directory to find photographers in the region; if you are one, add a free listing so visitors can reach you. We also publish more Türkiye photography guides.
Cover photo: Temple of Zeus, its construction started in 92 AD and continued during the reign of Hadrian, Aizanoi, Turkey (37853409502).jpg by Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
