Kus¸adasİ
Kus¸adasİ is one of Turkey’s largest and most
cosmopolitan resorts
and a stopping off point for the big cruise-liners. It is
a good all round
resort, offering great beaches, excellent shopping and some
serious
nightlife. Kus¸adasİ literally means ‘Bird Island’
and takes its name
from the tiny islet known as Güvercin Adasİ or Pigeon
Island, which
is attached to the mainland by a causeway and boasts a 14th
century
Genoese fort. There are a number of sandy beaches in the area.
Kadİnlar
Plajİ or ‘Ladies Beach’ is central but can get
crowded so it is wiser in
high season to head a little further out of the centre where
the beaches
are just as sandy but offer more space. Kaleiçi is
the old centre of the
town and is a popular shopping and entertainment area. The
Ottoman
Kervansaray or traveller’s inn is now in private hands
but is an impressive
building and a landmark in the town centre. Today’s
travellers can find comfort in a full
range of accommodation
in all categories and
of all sizes.
Kus¸adasİ’s setting also makes it a good base
for those wanting
to visit Ephesus which is only approximately 30 minutes’
drive
away.
It is also surrounded by some of Turkey’s most beautiful
national
park including the Kalamaki National Park, which lies on the
Dilek Peninsula, approx. 30 kms to the south. Dense pine trees
cover the mountains which plunge dramatically down to beaches
and crystal-clear sea. Some of Turkey’s rarest wild
animals can
be found here including the Anatolian cheetah and wild horses.
Sundays are often busy with local visitors.Another stunning
spot
in the vicinity is Lake Bafa which is approx. 80
kms south east of Kus¸adasİ.
 Ephesus
Ephesus is the most famous of Turkey’s ancient cities.
It was the
site of the Temple of Artemis, to whom the city was dedicated,
which was one of the SevenWonders of theAncient
World. During Roman times it was the most important port on
theAegean and a commercial
centre, which also played a significant role in
the spread of Christianity. It has been well
excavated and gives the visitor a real sense
of the scale of the city and of what life may
have been like in Roman times. As well as the
grand public buildings such as the impressive
Library of Celsus, the theatre and the Temple
of Hadrian, the remains include streets, private
houses, public toilets and even a brothel. Most
of the remains date from the 4th century BC,
although there was probably a city on this site
as far back as 1000 BC.
The Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her
last days in Ephesus, which was one of the
Seven Churches of theApocalypse mentioned in
Revelations. The other churches too are around
this area of Turkey. For further information
see page 44.
Nearby in Selçuk is the Basilica of St. John,
dating from the 6th century and a Byzantine
citadel.
 Pergamum
Pergamum, modern-day Bergama, is another
of the Seven Churches. It is one of Turkey’s
most impressive sites, the ruins of the ancient
city set high on a
hillside dramatically
overlooking themodern
town. It was a great
centre of culture with
a famous library and the renowned Asclepion,
dedicated to the god of health. The theatre is
well-preserved and set into a steep hillside and
the other remains include themonumental altar
of Zeus, a gymnasium and the agora.
IÏzmir
IÏzmir is the third largest of Turkey’s cities and
the second largest port after IÏstanbul. Known in
ancient times as Smyrna, it has had a long and
illustrious past, and today, has a reputation as a
relaxed, cosmopolitan city and cultural centre.
It has no beach but it certainly merits a day-trip
from any of the resorts nearby. It is good for
shopping and there is plenty of cultural and
historic interest including the superb Archaeological
Museum, the Fine Arts Museum and
the Ethnography Museum. Some of the best
views of the city are to be enjoyed from the
vantage point of the Kadifekale (translated as
‘velvet castle’), the ruined castle which stands
high above the city and was built during the
reign of Alexander the Great. The Agora or
marketplace is a remnant of the Roman city,
and there are a number of significant Ottoman
buildings including: the Konak Clock Tower
(saat kulesi) which has become a symbol of
the city; the Kİzlaragğasİ Han, a restored travellers’inn,
which is now a craft market; and the
Asansör, a working elevator.
Çes¸me
Çes¸me is a charming, sleepy resort town,
dominated by the 14th century castle of St.
Peter. It has two main streets, where shops,
restaurants and a couple
of bars are situated. Most
of the hotels are set on the
beaches outside the centre.
Ilİca is one of the most
impressive, with its fine,
white sand, andAltİnkum
(golden sand) beach
is also renowned. The
peninsula has excellent
conditions for windsurfing
and Alaçati beach is one
of the best spots for this.
Çes¸me means ‘spring’,
named after the natural
springs found in the area. Ilİca is still a popular
centre for thermal treatments. For further details
see page 46. Ferries run between ports in Italy
and Çes¸me as well as between Çes¸me
and
the Greek island of Chios. See the factfile
for details.
Ayvalİk
Ayvalİk is an attractive port, surrounded by
pine forests, with charming stone houses and
cobbled streets. It is popular with local Turkish
holidaymakers and a great place for those who
want to escape the crowds and soak up the
authentic atmosphere. There are good sandy
beaches approx. 6 kms south of the town in
the area of Sarmİsaklİ.
Altİnkum
Altİnkum literally means ‘golden sand’an apt
description of the beautiful beach in this relaxed
resort. Popular with families it has a range
of accommodation and plenty of restaurants
and bars for entertainment. There are lots of
shops and an attractive street market in the centre. It is
popular with both Turkish and
international holidaymakers. It is also a
good base from which to visit the nearby
sites of Priene, with its superb stadium,
theatre and Ionic Temple ofAthena;Miletus
with its 15,000-seater theatre and Baths of
Faustina; and Didyma. The impressive site
of the temple of Apollo at Didim, ancient
Didyma, is well worth a visit. It was one of
the ancient world’smost sacred places, one
of the fore-most oracles of the Greek world.
It was originally built in the 7th century BC
and then restored by Alexander the Great.
The early Christians converted it to a church.
It has been well preserved and the head of
Medusa is of particular interest.
Foça
The resort of Foça is popular with Turkish
holidaymakers living in nearby IÏzmir. Its
historic sites include a Genoese castle and a
small ancient theatre. The resort is split into
two bays with beaches in each. Yenifoça
or ‘new Foça’is just 23 kms away by boat
and has even better, and more secluded
beaches.
 Gallipoli
The Gelibolu peninsula, which forms the
western border of the narrow straits known
as the Dardanelles, was the scene of one of
the bloodiest campaigns of the FirstWorld
War. In 1915 the Allied forces (British,
Australian, New Zealand, French and
Indian) tried to seize the straits, but were
fought off by the Turkish army, inspired
by the young officer,Mustafa Kemal, later
to become Atatürk, who defended the area.
500,000 soldiers lost their lives during the
9month battle with its bitter trench warfare.
The Gelibolu (Gallipoli) National Historic
Park is dedicated to those who died and it
includes a number of cemeteries,memorials
and museums. Most visitors stay in the
attractive town of Çanakkale nearby.
Troy
For further information on the ancient site
of the legendary city of Troy see page 32.
 Pamukkale
The stunning white terraces of Pamukkale
and the neighbouring site of Hierapolis
are situated inland, close to the town of
Denizli. They can be reached from most of
the coastal resorts on a one or two day trip
but Kus¸adasİ is the closest – approximately
4 hours drive away. For further information
on Pamukkale see page 32. |
