Red Hall Basilica, or Kızıl Avlu, is a vast red-brick ruin in Bergama’s Old Town, between the Acropolis and the Asklepion. Built in the 2nd century as a temple to the Egyptian god Serapis, it was later converted into a Byzantine church. The main building and its two round towers show the scale of the complex; inside, look up at the dome and notice the remaining columns and walls. If the site is closed, you can still view parts of the structure from outside the fence.
A temple to Serapis in Bergama
Red Hall Basilica, also called Kızıl Avlu or the Red Courtyard, was built in the 2nd century as a temple to Serapis, an Egyptian god. Its enormous scale made it one of the major structures of ancient Pergamon. The red brickwork gives the ruin its familiar name; the building was originally covered with marble, according to accounts of its construction.
The complex has a main building and two round towers, set within a large sacred precinct. Its scale is clearest when you walk around the remains and compare the walls and towers with the surrounding streets of Old Bergama.
From temple to church
The building was later converted into a Byzantine church. The site is also associated with a synagogue structure within the precinct, and accounts of its later use describe it as a mosque as well. These successive uses make the complex more than a single-period ruin: its history includes religious communities from different eras.
The basilica is counted among the early Christian sites of Anatolia. Today, the surviving brick structure, towers and courtyard offer a sense of how a major religious complex occupied this part of Bergama.
What to look for on site
When access is available, explore the main building and its surrounding remains, then look up at the dome from the tower. The remaining columns and walls are among the most striking details as you move through the site. Some signs explain the building structures, though visitors looking for a fuller account may prefer to arrange a guide.
The basilica sits in Old Bergama, close to shops and restaurants. The road from here climbs toward the Acropolis, while the Asklepion is nearer to town. If restoration work has closed the grounds, views through gaps in the fence can still give you a look at the exterior. Check access before planning your route around an interior visit.
Perguntas frequentes
How long does a visit to Red Hall Basilica take?
Allow less than an hour to walk around the basilica and its remains.
What was Red Hall Basilica built for?
It was built in the 2nd century as a temple to Serapis, an Egyptian god, and was later converted into a Byzantine church.
Can you see Red Hall Basilica if it is closed?
You may be able to view and photograph parts of the building through gaps in the fence. Check whether the site is open before you go.
What can you see inside Red Hall Basilica?
The main building, two round towers, remaining walls and columns, and the dome. Access to the site can depend on restoration work.
