House of the Virgin Mary

Selçuk, Turkey

Freely accessible

Public space — no opening hours to check.

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The House of the Virgin Mary is a Catholic shrine and archaeological site on Mt. Koressos near Ephesus, 7 kilometres from Selçuk in Turkey, built in Byzantine architectural style. Discovered in the 19th century by following descriptions from the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824), a Roman Catholic nun whose writings were published by Clemens Brentano, the stone house is traditionally believed by Christian and Muslim pilgrims to be where Mary, mother of Jesus, lived after being brought there by Saint John. Though the Catholic Church has not formally pronounced on its authenticity, the site has sustained steady pilgrimage since its discovery and has received papal visits and apostolic blessings from popes including Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI. The shrine holds significance for interfaith devotion, and was highlighted during the Second Vatican Council as a point of shared spiritual interest between Christians and Muslims. The site is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.