The city, named after the goddess of Love, Beauty and Fertility, has been discovered during excavations in 1904-1905. The first settlements would date from 5800 b.C. and the city knew her golden years in the IInd-IVth century a.D. Later it was called Stravropolis (City of the Cross) and then by the Byzantines Caria, as capital of Caria. During invasions in the VIth and XXIth centuries, she was slowly depopulated and at last completely abandoned.
To be visited : temple of Aphrodisias, agora, hippodrome and museum with exceptional collection of sculptures (Aphrodisias used to be a worldwide known school for sculptures on marble of which some artifacts were found till in Spain. 

Thsi excursion can be combined with Pamukkale as a one or two-days excursions.