An Ancient Revolution
Founded in the 3rd century BC, Pergamon rose under the Attalid dynasty to become one of the most important cultural centres of the Hellenistic world.
PERGAMON The Ancient City of Bergama
"An ancient heritage on the summit."
HistoryCapital of Legends
Pergamon is an ancient city in present-day Bergama, in the province of Izmir, Turkey, carrying Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman and Ottoman layers one upon another. "Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape" was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.
The Birth of Parchment
Developed at Pergamon in answer to Egypt's papyrus embargo, parchment gave the written word a durability it had never had — and changed the course of human record. The word itself descends from the city's name: pergamena.
The Library of Pergamon
Holding some 200,000 scrolls, the Library of Pergamon was Alexandria's greatest rival and one of the largest repositories of knowledge in the ancient world.
Roman Provincial Capital
The first city to serve as capital of Rome's province of Asia, Pergamon reached its architectural and artistic height under Roman rule.
The Eastern Roman Era
A bishopric in the Middle Ages, the city was ringed with defensive walls and kept its core on the hilltop.
The Ottoman Legacy
Brought under Turkish rule in the 14th century, Bergama gained a many-layered identity as mosques, caravanserais and bathhouses rose amid the ancient remains.
MonumentsWhat to See in Bergama
From the Acropolis to the Asclepion, from the Red Basilica to the Ottoman monuments — the principal sights of the ancient city and of modern Bergama.
The Acropolis
Crowning the heights above Bergama, the Pergamon Acropolis holds the steepest surviving theatre of the ancient world. This feat of engineering seats 10,000 and looks out across the whole valley.
The Asclepion
One of the foremost healing centres of antiquity. Above its gate stood the inscription: "Death may not enter here."
The Red Basilica
A colossal temple dedicated to the Egyptian gods, and one of the most imposing works of Roman brick architecture anywhere in the world.
The Seljuk Minaret
This slender brick tower, standing since the 14th century, is among the oldest and deepest-rooted traces of the town's Turkish-Islamic identity.
The Great Mosque
Commissioned by Sultan Bayezid I in 1399, the mosque reflects the elegance of early Ottoman architecture and the character the Turks brought to the city.
The Historic Arasta
For centuries the beating heart of the town, the Arasta is a singular trading quarter of narrow lanes and traditional shops where history still breathes inside modern Bergama.
FoodWhat to Eat in Bergama
The kitchen of Bergama sits where the produce of the Kozak highlands meets the olive-oil tradition of the Aegean. Its protected-origin specialities, and the dishes never absent from a local table:
Bergama Köfte
The town's signature dish and a product of protected geographical origin. Its particular balance of spice and its grilling set it apart from the köfte traditions of the surrounding region.
Bergama Tulum Cheese
A protected-origin cheese made from the milk of sheep grazed on the Kozak highlands and matured in skins. The pasture up there gives it a sharp, unmistakable character.
Kozak Pine Nuts
Another of Bergama's protected-origin products. These nuts underpin the desserts, pilafs and stuffed vegetables of the region — and make the most lasting thing you can carry home from the town.
Chickpea Börek
A pastry particular to Bergama, filled with spiced chickpeas. It is the best-known product of the town's bakery and tradesmen's-restaurant culture, eaten from morning through lunch.
Çığırtma
An Aegean dish of aubergine and peppers cooked in olive oil. It appears on Bergama tables in different guises through the seasons, and sums up the vegetable-and-olive-oil tradition of the region.
Koruk (Verjuice)
A tart drink pressed from unripe grapes, taken cold against the summer heat and used in the kitchen to sour a dish — the grape country of Kozak, bottled.
FAQAbout Pergamon and Bergama
Where is Pergamon, and is it the same place as Bergama?
Yes. Pergamon is the name of the ancient city that stands within modern Bergama, a district of Izmir province in western Turkey. The name "Bergama" derives directly from Pergamon, and the ancient site and the modern town are woven into one another.
What is Pergamon famous for?
Pergamon is known for its library of 200,000 scrolls, for being the place where parchment was developed, for the Acropolis with the steepest surviving theatre of the ancient world, and for the Asclepion, a leading medical centre of antiquity.
What should you see in Bergama?
The Acropolis and its ancient theatre, the Asclepion, the Red Basilica, the Great Mosque, the Seljuk Minaret and the historic Arasta bazaar are the essential sights in Bergama.
What food is Bergama known for?
Bergama köfte, Bergama tulum cheese and Kozak pine nuts all carry protected geographical origin status and are the town's best-known specialities. Alongside them, chickpea börek, çığırtma and koruk — a tart drink of unripe grapes — are staples of the local table.
Is Pergamon a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes. "Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape" was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.
Why was parchment invented at Pergamon?
Egypt placed an embargo on papyrus exports to check the rivalry of the Library of Pergamon with Alexandria. In response the Pergamenes developed parchment, made from treated animal skin, which proved far more durable and secured the survival of written knowledge. The English word parchment descends from the city's name, via the Latin pergamena.