AydınislocatedinTurkey’sAegeanRegionandissurroundedbytheprovincesofDenizlitotheeast,İzmirandManisatothenorth,MuğlatothesouthandtheAegeanSeatothewest.Thecityis64mabovesealevelandspreadsoveranareaof8.007km2.ItisborderedbytheAydınMountainstothenorthandtheMenteşeMountainstothesouth.TheBüyükMenderesBasinliesbetweenthesemountainsandformsarichagriculturalareacoveredbysiltdepositswasheddownoverthousandsofyearsbytheBüyükMenderesRiver.ThislargebasinincludestheAydın,Koçarlı,SökeandBalatPlains.

DilekPeninsulaNationalPark

1

2

Present-dayAydınissituatedonthesiteoftheancientcityof‘Tralleis’,whichwasfoundedbyThraciantribeswhosettledalongtheWesternAnatoliancoastinthe13thcenturyB.C.Thecitywasdestroyedbyanearthquakein26B.C.andreconstructedwiththeeffortsofEmperorAugustus.ItwasthennamedCaesareiainhishonour.DuringthereignoftheSeljuks,Tralleiswasknownas‘AydınGüzelhisarı’,whiletheOttomansnamedit‘Nefs-iKaza-iGüzelhisarderLiva-iAydın’.Sincethe19thcenturythecityhasbeenknownasAydın.

History

3

ThefirsthumansettlementinAydınregionstretchesbacktotheChalcolithicAge.ItisalsothoughtthattheHittitedominationofAnatoliaexpandedtothearea.FollowingthedeclineoftheHittiteEmpireandtheDorianinvasions,theCariansfoundedthecitiesofAphrodisiasandKindyaandrenovatedAlabandaandAlindainthe12thcenturyB.C.Then,thePhrygiansfoundedthecitiesofNysaandMagnesiaandrestoredTralleisinthe8thcenturyB.C.DuringtheIonicdomination,citiessuchasMiletos,DidymaandPrienebecamethecentresofIonianCivilizationandhometothephilosophersThales,AnaximandrosandAnaximenesandtothearchitectHippodamos.UntilthePersianinvasionof546B.C.,theregionwasundertheruleoftheLydians.IthadanimportantpositionontheKing’sRoad,whichstartingfromMiletosandcrossingCentralAnatoliaviaTralleis.InthePersianPeriod,thecity’stemplesandworksofartweredestroyedorplunderedduetoeconomicandsocialproblems.TheHellenisticPeriodstartedintheregionafterthevictoryofAlexandertheGreatoverthePersiansin334B.C.AfterAlexander’sdeath,hisgeneralsquarrelledoverthespoilsofhisgreatempire,buttheSeleucidsgainedcontrolovertheareaandestablishedtheirsovereigntyin281B.C.Approximatelyonehundredyearslater,AydıncameundertheruleoftheKingdomof

4

Pergamon,whichlasteduntilRomansovereigntywasestablishedin129B.C.ChristianityachievedgreatpoliticalpowerduringtheByzantinePeriod,andtheAydınregionwasruledbytheAnatolianPatriarchate.MiletosandPrienebecamebishoprics.FollowingtheendofByzantinedomination,Aydınwasruledby

5

theSeljuks(1186),theMenteşeoğullarıPrincipality(1288)andtheAydınoğullarıPrincipality(1308-90)respectively.ItwasincorporatedintotheterritoriesoftheOttomanEmpirebyYıldırımBayezidin1426.HavingbeenoccupiedduringtheFirstWorldWar,AydınwasrescuedonSeptember7,1922andgrantedcitystatusin1923.Duringitslonghistorytheareahasexperiencedsparklingperiodsintermsofart,philosophy,socialservices,agricultureandarchitecture,andAydınisnowtheproudownerofmanyhistoricandculturaltreasures.TheprovinceofAydınhas16districts:BozdoğanNestledatthefootoftheMadranMountainsinthesouthernpartoftheBüyükMenderesBasin,Bozdoğandistrictis76kmfromAydın.Thedistrictishometomanyhistoricsights.AmongthesearetherelicsoftheRoman,ByzantineandSeljukperiods,suchascisternsinthevillagesofÖrtülüandKonaklı,thesinglearchedKemerBridgespanningtheAkçayCreekbetweenthevillagesofBozdoğanandAkhisar,ArmutalanBridgeontheBozdoğan-Altıntaşhighway,KörtekeCastleonahillbetweenthevillagesofKörtekeandÖrencikandtheancientcityofPiginda.Inadditiontothesehistorictreasures,therearemanyareasofgreat

6

TempleofApollo

naturalbeauty,suchastheenvironsoftheKemerDamReservoirontheAkçayCreekandtheMadranMountains,whicharefamousforthespringwaterbubblingupfromtheirfoothills.Buharkent86kmeastofAydın,theBuharkentdistrictisinthenorthernpartoftheBüyükMenderesvalley.Apredominantlyagriculturalarea,thedistrictishometotheKızıldereHotSprings.ÇineInthesouthernpartoftheBüyükMenderesBasin,38kmfromAydın,ÇinedistrictliesatthefootofMadranMountainsoverlookingthegreenfieldswateredbytheÇineCreek.Lendingitsnametothedistrict,theÇineCreekisatributaryoftheBüyükMenderesRiver.Itflowsthroughadream-likevalleywhichiscarpetedwithlilies.LegendhasitthatAthenawaswanderingalongthecreekandplayingherflute.Whenshe

7

Alabanda

lookedatherreflectioninthewater,shethrewthefluteawaybecauseitmadehercheekslookpuffywhensheplayedit.MarsyasfoundthefluteandlearnedtoplayitsowellthathechallengedApollotoamusiccontest.KingMidaswasappointedasjudgeandalthoughMarsyasmadeprettiermusic,Apollowonthecontest.Despitewinningthecontest,ApollowantedtopunishMarsyasbecausehethoughtMarsyasplayedbetterthanhim.ApollocutoffMarsyas’skinandchangedMidas’earsintoass’ears.Marsyas’bloodflowedintotheriver,whichisknowntodayastheÇineCreek.Çinewasanoldandimportantsettlement.Itboaststheancient

8

TempleofApollo

9

CariancitiesofAlabandaandGerga.TheAhmedGaziMosqueandtheAhiBayramTomb,belongingtotheMenteşeoğullarıPrincipality,andtheOttomanÇiftlikTomb,builtforthebodyofCihanzadeSafiyeSultan,arealsoworthvisiting.Didim106kmsouthwestofAydın,DidimisoneofthemostbeautifulholidayresortsontheAegeanCoast.Locatedonapeninsula,wheretheBüyükMenderesRiverreachesthesea,theresorthassecludedcoves,goldensandbeaches,naturalharboursandnearbyLakeBafaisahavenoftranquility.TheimportantIoniantownsofMiletosandDidyma,homeofthefamousprophetinancienttimes,arealsonearDidim.

10

MagnesiaadMeandrum

1111

GermencikInthenorthwestoftheBüyükMenderesBasin,25kmfromAydın,GermencikwasfoundedbyHıdırBey,anheiroftheAydınoğullarıPrincipality.Figsareaveryimportantlocalcrop,andfigtreesaregrownwidelyonthefertilelandsurroundingGermencik.Thedistricthastwohot-springs,AlangüllüandGermencik,andgreatpotentialforfurthergeothermaldevelopment.TheancientcityofMagnesiainTekinvillageisthemostnotablehistoricsiteinthedistrict.TheonlyIslamicstructureamongtheruinsofthisancientcityistheÇerkesMusaMosquewhichdatesfromthe15thcentury.İncirliovaİncirliovaislocatedontheflatandfertilelandoftheBüyükMenderesBasin,10kmwestofAydın.Ithasanactiveeconomybasedonproducefromlocalagricultureandrelatedindustries.Cotton,figsandcitrusfruitgrownlocallyaremarketedacrossthecountryandabroad.KaracasuKaracasuislocatedina40kmlongvalleybetweenBabadağandtheKarıncalıMountains.87kmeastofAydın,thedistrictismountainousandrugged.Itisreachedthrougholive,citrus

12

Aphrodisias

Aphrodisias

1313

fruitandpinetreesgrowingalongtheDandalasCreek,whichoriginatesfromDedelervillageandfeedsintotheBüyükMenderesRiver.Theareahasmanybeautifulnaturalsights,suchastheGörlecanyonsandtheSırtlaniniCave,whichisaninterestinggeographicalformationnearÇamarasıvillage.ThedistrictalsoboaststhemagnificentancientcityofAphrodisias.ItisalsohometoOttomanarchitecturaltreasures,suchastheHacıAliAğa(Çarşı)Mosquedatingfromthe16thcentury,theCumaönüMosquebuiltbyHacıAliÇavuşin1768andtheŞeyhSüleymanRüştüTomb,whichdatesfrom1834,andwherethefamousSheikhSüleymanRüştü,hissonMustafaNuriandSheikhSeyyitAliel-FilzioftheUşşakisectareallburied.KarpuzluKarpuzludistrictislocatedintheÇinebasin,56kmsouthofAydın.TheruinsofAlindaandthecityoftheCarianQueenAdaarethemostfrequentlyvisitedtouristattractionsinthedistrict.KoçarlıNestledonthebanksoftheKoçarlıCreekintheBüyükMenderesBasin,Koçarlıdistrictis22kmfromAydın.Asanoldsettlement,thedistrictisknownforitshistoricattractionssuchasAmyzonCastlefromtheCarianperiod,theCihanzadeMustafaBeyMosqueor‘ÇarşıMosque’anditstower,whichwerebuiltbyMustafaBeyinthe18th

14

CihanzadeMustafaBeyTower

Aqueduct,Alinda

1515

century,andan18thcenturycastleinCinCinvillage.KöşkKöşkdistrictisontheAydın-Denizlihighway,18kmeastofAydın.Alotofagriculturalproductsespeciallycitrusfruits,chestnuts,figsandolivesaregrownhere,andtherearelocalfestivalsdedicatedtothesefruits.Thelargestchestnutmarketoftheregionisinthedistrict.AmongtheinterestinghistoricsightsinKöşkareasmallsectionofthecitywallsbelongingtotheancientcityofEuhippe,whichisonthesouthernbanksoftheBüyükMenderesRiver.Thenameofthecitywasrevealedbyinscriptionsonthewalls.Thesquare-planAhmetŞemsiPaşaMosquewithitssingledomeisanotherlocalrelicthatwasbuiltinthe18thcenturyinYavuzköy.KuşadasıKuşadası(lit.BirdIsland)spreadsoverthecoastalplain,andalowplateaubehind,ontheeastandsoutheastofKuşadasıBay.Surroundedbymountainstotheeastandsoutheast,itis71kmfromAydın.ThedistrictgetsitsnamefromtheGüvercin(Dove)Islandfacingit.KuşadasıisoneofthemostcelebratedholidayresortsinTurkey.BorderedbySelçukandPamucaktothenorthandtheDilekPeninsulatothesouth,itisnearfascinatingtouristattractionssuchas

16

Kuşadası

KuşadasıHarbour

1717

Ephesus,theVirginMary’sHouse,Miletos,Didim,Pamukkale,MarmarisandBodrum.Kuşadasıoffersvivaciousandcolourfulmomentsinsummerwithitsbeaches,hotels,motels,campingsites,holidayvillages,yachtharbourandentertainmentfacilities.Çıban(Yavansu),Venüs,GüzelçamlıandDavutlarhotsprings,AslanlıandZeuscaves,theDilekPeninsulaNationalPark,withitscovesandmineralsprings,drawalotofTurkishandforeigntouristsineveryseasonexceptwinter.Tavşan,SuandSandalIslandsarepicturesquespotsonyachtexcursionsaroundtheDilekPeninsula.NeopoliswasthefirstsettlementintheKuşadasıregionanditwasfoundedbytheIoniansat‘YılancıBurnu’.Anareacalledthe‘AndızTower’atthefootofPilavHillwasinhabitedintheMiddleAge,butbecauseofthedifficultiesofseatransportationfromthissite,themedievalsettlementwaslatermovedtoaplaceknownas‘ScalaNova’(NewPier),whichistoday’sKuşadası.ThePanionion,theannualmeetingplaceoftheIonianLeague,canbevisitedatthefootoftheDilekHillonthenorthsideoftheDilekPeninsulaNationalPark.However,onlytherampartsandtheassemblybuildinghavesurvivedtothepresent.AVenetiancastle(KadıCastle)andtheancientcityofAnaia,whichis2kmsoutheastofthecastle,can

18

alsobevisitednearDilekHill.TheancientcityofPygelatothenorthofKuşadasıisanotherhistoricattraction.GüvercinIsland,homeofaByzantinecastlecarvedintotherock,andthe19thcenturyKüçükAdaCastlewereimportantdefencepointsagainstpirateraidsduringtheOttomanPeriod.TheKaleMosque,theoldestinKuşadası,thecaravanseraiandthecitywallsareotherimportantremainsfromtheOttomanPeriod.KuyucakKuyucakisatypicalTurkishsettlementinthefoothillsoftheAydınMountains,59kmeastofAydın.TheruinsoftheancientcityofAntiokheia,locatedonAsartepeHill,areamongthesignificanthistoricsightsinKuyucak.Withthe

19

GüvercinIsland

unificationoftwocity-states,namelySymaithisandKranaos,AntiokheiawasfoundedonthebanksoftheDandalosCreekduringthereignofSeleucidKingAntiokhosSoterI(281-261B.C.).ThankstoitslocationontheroutebetweenEphesusandAphrodisias,thecityhadbeenastopoverforbothmerchantsandmilitarytroopsoverthecenturies.TheonlyOttomanremaininthedistrictisthe19thcenturyÇarşıMosquewithafountain.NazilliNazilliis47kmeastofAydınontheDenizlihighwayandtheİzmir-Afyonkarahisarrailway.TheoldestsettlementintheNazilliregionisMastaura,whichwasfoundedbythe

20

Prienne

21

LydiansbetweentheBozkurtandEycelliplateausonthebanksoftheBüyükMenderesRiver.TheancientcitygainedimportanceduetoitslocationonthetraderoutesbetweentheAegeanSeaandMesopotamia.Itwasgrantedtherighttomintcoins.Thecityruinsincludetheremainsofthecitywalls,theatre,aqueductandvariousbuildings.AnotherancientsettlementinthedistrictistheHarpasainEsenköyvillage.ThiscitywasbuiltonterracesonAsartepeHill.Thenorthernsectionofthecitywallsarestillstandingtoalargeextent.ThecitytheatredisplaysarchitecturalcharacteristicsoftheHellenisticPeriod.ThetumulionthehillslyingtothenorthwerebuiltasaresultofLydianinfluence.The19thcenturyApazCastle,the18thcenturyAğaMosque,builtbyYahyaPasha,theKocaMosque,the19thcenturyYeşil(Green)TombandtheSinandedeTombarealsoamongthemostimportanthistoricbuildingsinNazilli.TheYeşil(Green)TombincludesthegravesofUşşakiSheikhMehmedZühtüEfendiandhisfamily,andderivesitsnamefromthecolourofthebuilding’sexterior.SökeFullofhistoricandnaturalsights,thedistrictofSökeis59kmwestofAydın,wheretheBüyükMenderesRiverpoursintotheAegeanSea.NearbyisLakeBafa,anaturalwondercausedby

22

DoğanbeyVillage

thesiltdepositsbroughtdownbytheBüyükMenderesRiver.Inthelakearetwoisletsonwhichmonasteriesandchurcheswerebuilt.Theceilingsandwallsofsomeofthemaredecoratedwithfrescoes.OnthelakeshoresaretheruinsoftheancientcityofMyus.AnotherancientcityfoundedintheSökeregionwasPriene.ItsruinsareontheslopesofSamson(Mykale)Mountain.Doğanbey(formerlycalledDomaçya),commandingaviewoftheDilekPeninsulaNationalPark,isalovelyvillagewhichwassettledbyGreekswhoheldTurkishcitizenshipuntil1924.Thevillage’sarchitecturehasbothGreekandTurkishelements.AmongtheremarkableexamplesofcivilGreekarchitecturearehouses,shops,achapelandahospitalbuiltofstone.The

23

narrowstreetspavedwithcobblestonesaretheworkofTurkishcraftsmen.InSöke,themosquebuiltbythelocalnotableHacıZiyaBeyin1896andtheİlyasAğaMosqueorKocaMosque,whichwasrenovatedbyİlyaszadeİlyasAğain1821,areTurkishworksofart.SultanhisarSultanhisarisintheBüyükMenderesBasin,32kmeastofAydın.TheancientcityofNysa,onthepicturesqueslopesoftheAydınMountains,isamongthetouristattractionsofthedistrict.NearSalavatlıvillageisAkharakawhichretainsamysteriousatmosphereandtheTempleofPluto(thegodoftheunderworld),whichwasusedinancienttimestogetnewsfromtheunderworldbysacrificingbulls.TheKharonCaveinAkharakahasbeenusedfortherapeuticpurposesthankstothesulphuricgasesandthecurativewatersthatbubbleupfromthegroundinside.YenipazarYenipazar,onthesouthernbanksofBüyükMenderesRiver,is41kmeastofAydın.TheruinsoftheancientcityofOrthasiacanbevisitedinthedistrict.

24

Historic and Cultural SightsAydın MuseumFoundedin1959,AydınMuseumwasmovedtoitscurrentbuildingin1973.Sarcophagi,tombstones,columncapitals,steleswithinscriptionandvariousarchitecturalobjectsthatwerecollectedintheprovinceofAydınareondisplayinthemuseumgarden.TheartefactsaredividedintoarchaeologicalandethnographicexhibitsandareorganisedinchronologicalorderfromthePrehistoricAgetotheOttomanPeriod.

25

26

Aphrodisias MuseumOpenedin1979,AphrodisiasMuseumhousesoneofthelargestcollectionsofanylocalmuseuminTurkey.ItislocatedwithintheancientcityofAphrodisias,12kmfromKaracasu.Themuseumhasondisplayadazzlingcollectionofartefactsunearthedduringthearchaeological

27

excavationsintheancientcity.Thecollectionishousedin8exhibitionhalls,aninnercourtyardandthegardenandmostoftheartefactswerefoundintheAcropolis,PekmeztepeMoundandaroundtheTempleofAphrodite.Theyaremainlyfrom6periods:theAncient,Classical,Hellenistic,Roman,ByzantineandEarlyIslamic.TheyincludeLydianceramics,statuesandotherartefacts.ButtheAphrodisiasMuseumismainlyastatuemuseumboastingpreciousworksofartcarvedbytheAphrodisiasschoolofsculpture,whichwasactiveinthecitybetweenthe1stcenturyB.C.andthe5thcenturyA.D.

28

Tetrapylon,Aphrodisias

29

30

YörükAliEfeMuseum

Milet MuseumTheMiletMuseumisintheancientcityofMiletos,22kmfromDidim.Itremainedopentovisitorsbetween1973and2000.Fossils,ceramics,geometricalobjects,floormosaics,amphora,theatremasks,oillamps,metalandglassitems,statuettes,coinsandtombstonesareallondisplayinchronologicalorderinthemuseum’sthreeexhibitionhalls.AlltheseartefactswerebroughttolightduringtheexcavationsatMiletosandnearbyDidyma.MiletMuseumiscurrentlyclosedtovisitors,butthereareplanstoreopenitinthenearfuture.Lionstatues,

3131

architecturalcomponentsbearingreliefs,columncapitals,sarcophagiandhugestatuesareexhibitedinthemuseumgarden.Yörük Ali Efe MuseumLocatedintheYenipazardistrict,thistwo-storeymuseum-housedisplaysthepersonalbelongingsofYörükAliEfe,whodiedin1951andwhowasaherooftheWarofIndependence.Themuseumconsistsofbedroomsontheupperfloorsandalivingroomandkitchenonthegroundfloor.Attheentranceofthegarden,thestatueofYörükAliEfeandhisassistant‘Kızan’,carvedbythesculptorProfessorDoctorTankutEkrem,welcomesvisitors.AlabandaAlabandaisaCariancityinDoğanyurt(Araphisar)village,10kmwestofÇine.TheByzantineStephanosrecordedthatinhonourofKingKar’ssonAlabandos’victoryinahorserace,thecitywascalledAlabanda,whichisacombinationoftheCarianwordsforhorse(ala)andrace(banda).InearlytimesAlabandamintedcoinsbearingthebasereliefoftheGodAlabandosononesideandawingedhorse,thesymbolofthecity,ontheother.ThecityjoinedtheCarianUnioninthe3rdcenturyB.C.ItwascolonizedbytheSeleucidKingAntiochosIIIandnamedAnthiokheiaKhrysaorlaterinthesamecentury.FollowingtheBattleofMagnesia,AlabandabecameindependentuntilRomanrulewasestablished.

32

TheruinsofAlabandathatcanbevisitedtodayincludetwotemples,atheatrewithtwodiazoma(walkway,passage),abouleuterion(thebuildingofthecitycouncil),thecitygateandanagora.Thememorialtombs,anaqueductandrampartsarealsoremindersofpastthatarewellworthseeing.AlloftheruinsbelongtotheHellenisticandRomanPeriods.Theitemsunearthedduringthearchaeologicalexcavationsinthecityareexhibitedinarchaeologicalmuseumsofİstanbulandİzmir.Alinda AlindaislocatedonahillinKarpuzludistrict.Hekatomnos’daughterAdawithdrewtoAlindain340B.C.after

33

Alabanda

shewasexpelledfromHalicarnassosbyherbrother.ShemadeithercapitalcityandnegotiatedwithAlexandertheGreattobecometheQueenofCaria.KnownasthemostfortifiedoftheCariancities,AlindamintedcoinsbearingthelikenessofHeracles.AfterthedeathofAlexandertheGreat,AlindawasincorporatedintothebordersoftheKingdomofPergamon.Then,itbecamesubjecttoRomanrule,butitmaintainedtherighttomintcoinsinitsownname.ItisrevealedinhistoricalsourcesthatAlindabecameabishopricduringtheByzantinePeriodbutitgraduallylostitsformerimportance.

34

Stadium,Aphrodisias

OneofthemostimpressivestructuresinAlindaisthe100mlongagora.Thecitywallsarebuiltofrectangularstoneblocksandaremostlyundamaged.Onthesouth-westernsideoftheacropolishillisatheatrewith35rowsofseatsandaseatingcapacityof5,000.Theremainsofanaqueductcanbeseenonthenorth-westernslopeoftheacropolis.Thepalace,sarcophagiandatwo-storiedtowerarealsoamongthebest-preservedruins.Themagnificentguestroom,sarcophagusandjewelsofQueenAdaareondisplayinthemuseuminBodrumCastle.

35

Amyzon (Mazın)Amyzonknownas‘MazınCastle’islocatedinAkmescitvillage,30kmsouthofKoçarlı.ItservedasanadvancepostforthreelargeCariancitiesnamelyHerakleia,EuromaosandKhalketor.ThemoststrikingruinsinthecitybelongtothetemplewhichissupposedtohavebeenbuiltinhonourofApolloandArtemis.Ontheacropolisaretheremainsofatheatre,anagoraandafountain.Thestonerampartsoftheacropolisdatefromthe3rdcenturyB.C.andaremagnificentexamplesofskilledworkmanship.

36

Aphrodisias

3737

AphrodisiasTheancientcityofAphrodisiasislocatedatthefootofBabadağMountain,nearthevillageofGeyre.Themagnificentancientcityis600mabovesealeveland12kmsoutheastofKaracasudistrict.AccordingtotheByzantineStephanos,Aphrosidiaswasfoundedinthe13thcenturyB.C.andwascalled‘Ninoe’(awordderivedfromNinos,theKingofBabylonia).However,archaeologicalexcavationsstartedin1904revealedthatthefirstsettlementinAphrodisiasstretchedfarbacktotheChalcolithicAge,around4000B.C.Theclearestinformationaboutthecityisfromthe11thcenturyB.C.historianAppian,whorecordedthatAphrodisiasmintedsilverandbronzecoinstogetherwiththeneighbouringcityofPlarasa(Bingeç).AphrodisiasreacheditsheydayunderRomanrule.Thecity’sartisanscarvedwonderfulstatuesandconstructionelementsfromthemarblefromthequarriesatthefootofBabadağMountain.TheysenttheirbeautifulworksallaroundtheRomanEmpireandfoundedanartschoolfamousforits‘Aphrodisiasstyle’.AsaresultofintensivesettlementduringtheRomanPeriod,whichlastedforfivehundredyears,thecityisdottedwitharchitecturalfeatsofbrilliance.DuringtheByzantinePeriod,Aphrodisiasgraduallyleftitssparklingdaysbehindduetoreligiousandpoliticalreasons.Destroyedby

38

AphrodisiasMuseum

fires,earthquakesandSassanidandArabraids,thecitywaseventuallyabandoned.AphrodisiaswasfamousfortheritualsinhonourofAphrodite,goddessofloveandfertility.Itbecameanimportantcentreofarchitecture,artandworshipinAntiquity.ScientificresearchconfirmedthatAphrodisiasalsoplayedhosttomajorstudiesperformedinthefieldsofmedicine,mathematicsandastronomy.MedicalscientistXenocrates,novelistChartitonandphilosopherAlexander wereallfromAphrodisias.

39

Theruinsofinterestinthecityincludethe2ndcenturybathcomplexbuiltduringthereignofEmperorHadrian,theagorawhichhasalargepool,atempleerectedinhonouroftheGoddessAphroditeinthefirstcenturyB.C.andastadiumfor30,000people.Thetheatrewithaseatingcapacityof10,000,thecitywalls,theacropolis,theodeon,thebishopricpalaceandtheschoolofphilosophyalsojustifyavisittothecity.

40

TempleofApollo

4141

DidymaDidymais18kmsouthofMiletosinthedistrictofDidim.InancienttimesamarblepavedsacredroadconnectedDidymawithMiletos,whichhadareputationasthecityoforacles.Statuesdepictingsittingmenandlyinglionswerelineduponbothsidesoftheroad.Inthesameperiod,DidymahadaharbournamedPanormos.Itwasnavigablebylargeshipsbutitisnow4kminland.ItisthoughtthatDidyma,whichmeans‘twins’or‘twinhills’,tookitsnameinhonourofApolloandArtemiswhoseenchantingtemplesstoodinthecity.The Temple of Apollo:Thebuildingwasfirstconstructedattheendofthe8thcenturyB.C.andwasenlargedintoahugetempleforBranhidoraclesin560B.C.,whenitwasdedicatedtoApollo,sonofZeus.TheTempleofApollowasveryfamousinAntiquitybutwasfinallydestroyedbythePersiansin494B.C.AfterthevictoryofAlexandertheGreatagainstthePersiansin334B.C.,DidymabecameindependentandtheTemplewasrebuilt.Theconstructioncontinuedduringthe3rdand2ndcenturiesB.C.,butby250A.D.theTemplebegantoloseitsimportanceandduringthereignofTheodosiusIitwascompletelylost.WhenChristianityspreadintotheregion,achurchwasbuiltnearthesiteoftheTemple.TheancienthistorianHerodotusnarratesthataround600B.C.Egyptian

42

TempleofApollo

KingNekhoIIandLydianKingCroesusmadeofferingsintheTempleofApollo.Merchantsanddepartingsoldiers,youngbrides-to-beandemperorsallwantedtobeinformedaboutthefutureandmadeofferingstothegodsintheTemple.StrabostatesthattheTemplewasdecoratedwiththemostexpensiveofferings.ThestatuethatwasworshippedintheTemplewascarvedbythefamousartistKarnakhos,however,theotherstatuesandthearchitraves

43

bearingthefamousreliefsofMedusaandbull’sheadwerecarvedbythetalentedcraftsmenofAphrodisias.Onemarbleblock,erectedbetweenthedoorsleadingtothesacredcourtyard,isregardedasthebiggestarchitecturalcomponentintheworld.Itweighs70tonsandissurroundedby124columnsstandingintworowsonasteppedplatform-evidenceoftheformergrandeurofthecity.

44

TempleofApollo

HeadofMedusa,Didyma

45

Tetrapylon,Aphrodisias

4646

GergaEastoftheancientcityofAlabanda,nearthevillageofOvacık,aretheruinsofGerga.Thesettlementisdefinedbyapieceofrocknearly1mhighwhichisinscribedwiththeword“Gerga”.Itisalsoscatteredwiththeremainsofbuildings,statues,statuepedestals,monuments,tombsandtemples.Amongtheseremnants,whichwonderfullyexemplifytypicalCarianart,themostattractiveonesarethefragmentsofhugehumanstatueswhichhaveslidofftheirpedestalsandthesmallstonestructureswithopenfacadesbearingtheterm‘Gerga’.Oneimportantstructurebuiltfromhugehewnblocks,whichisthoughttobeatemplebecauseofitsarchitecturalcharacteristics,remainsstanding.ItisthoughtthatthestatueunderthisstructurebelongstothegoddessCybele.Magnesia ad Meandrum (Magnesia of Menderes) TheancientcityofMagnesiaislocatedintheOrtaklarareaofGermencikdistrict.Accordingtolegendandhistoricsources,thecitywasfoundedbyatribecalledtheMagnetsfromThessaly.Thefirstsiteofthecityisnotknownexactly,butithasbeeninferredfromancientsourcesthatupontheprophecyofApollo,theMagnets,undertheleadershipofLeukippos,landedatthebayofBafa,whichisalaketoday,andsettledonthebanksoftheBüyükMenderesRiver.TheMagnetsrebuiltthe

47

Magnesia

cityintoday’slocationnearGümüşçayaround400B.C.becausetheyneededamorefortifiedcity,whichtheycoulddefendagainstthePersians.TheyalsowantedtodistancethemselvesfromtheproblemscausedbytheMenderesRiverchangingitscourseandoverflowingitsbanks.IntheHellenisticPeriodthecitywasruledbytheSeleucidsandtheKingdomofPergamonrespectively.ItmaintaineditsimportanceduringtheRomanPeriodandbecameabishopricunderByzantinerule.MagnesiawasthehomeofthefamousarchitectHermogenes.TheancientwriterVitruviusstatesthatthemasterpiecesofHermogeneswereitstempleandtheAltarofArtemisLeukophryeneinMagnesia.ThetemplewasbuiltontheruinsofanancienttempleofArtemis(6thcenturyB.C.)intheHellenisticPeriod(3rdor2ndcenturiesB.C.).TheIonicstyletemplehas8columnsontheshortsideand15columnsonthelongside.

48

Miletos

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TheagoraandtheTempleofZeus,whicharesupposedtohavebeenbuiltbyHermogenes,arealsoamongthebest-preservedruinsinthecity.TheotherremainsbelongtotheRomanandsubsequentperiods.Theseareagymnasium,thebaths,whicharelikeasmallcopyofFaustinaBathsinMiletos,anodeonbetweenthetheatreandtheArtemision,astadiumwithaseatingcapacityof25,000,anaqueduct,abasilicaandthecitywallssurroundingtheArtemision(thetemplebuiltinhonourofGoddessArtemisintheByzantinePeriod).Miletos ThefirstsettlementnearBalatvillageinDidimdistrictwasfoundedasaMycenaeancolonyin2000B.C.AccordingtotheancientgeographerStrabo,theMinoansfoundedthesettlementwhileHomer’sIliadstatesthattheIoniansundertheleadershipofNeleus,sonofAthenianKingKodros,werethefoundersofMiletos.Withitsfourharboursandconnectedbya24kmsacredroadtoDidyma,MiletoswasoneofthemostimportantportsinIonia.MiletosbecameanimportantAegeancentreoftrade,culture,artandsciencefromthe7thcenturyB.C.ItwasoccupiedandtotallydestroyedbythePersiansin546B.C.WiththeendofPersianrulein479BC,thecitywasrebuiltaccordingtothegeometricplanofHippodamos,thefirstcityplanner

50

Miletos

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inhistory.AftertheruleofAlexandertheGreat,theSeleucidsandtheKingdomofPergamon,MiletosgainedindependenceintheRomanPeriod.Atthattimethecitywasdottedwithmonumentalstructures.MiletoswasalsohometothefamousphilosophersThales, Anaximandros and Anaximenes,thehistorianHekataios andoneofthearchitectsofHagiaSophia,Isidoros.However,itwasturnedintomarshlandanditsconnectionwithseawascutbysedimentationfromtheBüyükMenderesRiverintheMiddleAge.Itlostitsformerimportance,butthesettlementcontinuedwiththearrivaloftheTurks,existingasPlataia(Balat)untilthe18thcentury.BalatharbourbecameimportantfortheexportofproductsbroughtfromAnatoliaandAsia.MiletosisamarvelloussitewithitsDelphinion(theopenairtempleofApolloDelphinius),a140mwide,30mhigh15,000seatamphitheatre,andthewell-preservedFaustinaBathswithitspalaestra(trainingandwrestlingschool).TheancientcityalsoboaststhetempleofSerapis,abishopricchurchandtheremnantsoftombs,anagora,a100mlongceremonialroadandtheharbourgatesattheeasternendofthisroad.TwotemplesdedicatedtoDemeter,thegoddessoffertilityandtoherdaughterKora,themonumentalfountain(nymphaion),gymnasium,bath,stadium,temenosofOlympianZeus,bouleuterionandtemenosofEgyptian

52

Library,Nysa

Nysa

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Godsarealsoamongtheruins.Onthehilltothesouthoftheagora,thestrikingcolumnsoftheTempleofAthenaarethemostdistinguishedstructureinthecity.MyusTheancientcityofMyusis18kmsouthofSökeontheshoresofLakeBafa.Itis15kmeastofMiletos,nearAvşarvillage.AccordingtoStrabo,thecitywasfoundedbyKydrelos,sonofanAtheneanKing,Kodros,andwasanimportantcoastalcityinPanionian.ThearchaeologicalexcavationsintheancientcitybroughttothelightawhitemarbletempleofDionysus,whichwasmentionedintheancientsources.Today,theremnantsofthetemple,citywallsandaByzantinecastlecanbeseen.NysaTheancientcityofNysaisnestledontheslopesoftheAydınMountainsinthenorthernpartoftheSultanhisardistrict.HistorianStephanusrecordedthatNysawasestablishedbyAntiokhosSoterI,sonofSeleukosinthefirsthalfofthe3rdcenturyB.C.inthenameofhiswife.AccordingtothegeographerStrabo,thecitywascomposedofthreevillagesfoundedbybrotherscalledAthymbros,AthymbradosandHydreleos.Foundedontheslopesofasharpvalley,Nysaisdividedintotwocitiesjoinedbythreebridges.Onthewestsideofthewatercoursearetheremainsofagymnasium,astadium,aByzantine

54

Agora,Nysa

55

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buildingandalibrary.Atheatretothenortheastofthelibraryisdistinguishedbyfriezesandreliefscarvedintothestageandithasaseatingcapacityofapproximately10,000.Theagora,abouleuterionandaRomanbathcomplexareontheeastsideofthewatercourse.ThenecropolisisontheroadtoAkharaka(Salavatlı),thesacredwesternpartofthecity.Orthasia Orthasia,inthevillageofDorduran,is5kmeastofYenipazar.StraborecordedOrthasiaasbeingaCariansettlement.Inthe7thcenturyB.C.thecitywasdominatedbytheLydiansafterthevictoryofKingAlyattesovertheKimmers.ItjoinedtheIonianLeagueinthe6thcenturyB.C.beforecomingunderthesovereigntyofthePersianslikemanyotherAnatoliancities.Amongthemostnotablestructuresinthecity

5757

arethetheatreandaByzantinebuilding.Expertworkmanshipcanbeobservedonthesarcophagiandtombroomsinthenecropolis.PigindaFoundedasasmallCariansettlement,Pigindaislocated7kmnorthofÇamlıderevillageintheBozdoğandistrict.ItwascomposedofthreeacropolisesandtherampartsfromtheHellenisticPeriodcanbeeasilyseentoday.ThetheatreandthesacredbuildingwhichissupposedtobeaHeraion(templeofHera)areamongthenotablestructuresinthecity.ItisinferredfromtheinscriptionsfoundinthissacredbuildingthatthecultofZeusPigindenoswaspracticedandaTempleofZeuswasstandinginthecity.Priene OneofthemostfascinatingancientcitiesinAydın,PrieneisfoundedonanaturalplatformonthesouthernslopesofSamson(Mykale)MountainnearGüllübahçetown.Itis12kmfromthetownofSöke.ThefirstsettlementinPrienewasprobablyonthepeninsulajuttingintoLatmosBayandhadtwoharbours.Electroncoinsmintedin500B.C.andbearingtheheadofAthenahavebeenpreserveduntilthepresentday.ThecityofPrienewasfoundedinitspresentlocationin350B.C.andwassurroundedbywell-builtwalls.Today,attractiverusticworkmanshipcanbeobservedonsomepartsofthewalls.

58

TempleofAthena

5959

Builttoagrid-likeplanintroducedbythearchitectHippodamosofMiletos,thecitywassetonfourterraceswiththebuildingsbuiltofgrey-bluemarbleuniquetotheregion.ThecouncilsofthePanionian,whichwasformedbythe12IoniancitiesofMiletos,Priene,Myus,Ephesus,Colophon,Erythrae,Clazomenae,Phocaea,Samos,Chios,TeosandLebeduswereheldinPrieneandconductedbythepeopleofPriene.Prienehadaharbourcalled‘Naulocho’butsiltdepositsbroughtdownbytheBüyükMendereseventuallycutitofffromthesea.ThecitythenlostitsimportancetowardstheendofRomanPeriod.ItbecameanimportantbishopriccentreintheByzantinePeriodbutwastotallyabandonedinthe13thcentury.Surroundedbyramparts,thecityhasthreebigentrancegates.Prieneboastsoneofthemostbeautifulancienttheatres.Builtinthe4thcenturyB.C.,thetheatrehadacapacityof5,000.ThecityalsohaswonderfultemplesdedicatedtotheEgyptianGodsAnubisandSerapis.TheruinsofPrienealsoincludetheagora,asacredstoa,thetemenosofZeusOlympios,thetemenosofDemeter,abouleuterionwithacapacityof640,achurch,astadium,AlexandertheGreat’shouseandaprytaneioum(guesthouse)whereprominentguestswerehosted.AnIonicTempleofAthenawasstandingatalocationcommandingthecity.Ithad6columnsonthefrontand11columnsontwosides.Therewasa

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Tralleis

goldandivorystatueofAthenainthecellaofthetemple,whichwasbuiltbyPytheos,thearchitectoftheMausoleumatHalicarnassus,oneoftheSevenWondersoftheAncientWorld.Onlypartofthetemple’saltarhassurvivedtothepresent-day.PygelaPygelaislocatedtothenorthofKuşadası.LegendhasitthatthecitywasfoundedbysoldiersfromAgamemnon’sarmy,whowereabandonedherebecauseofillness.AccordingtotherecordsofStrabo,there

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wasatempleofArtemisMunykhiainthecity.ItisalsooneofthesettlementswhereMycenaeanceramicshavebeenfoundbyarchaeologists.Tralleis Tralleis,1kmfromAydın,wasfoundedbytheArgiansandtheThracians.ItwashandedbackandforthfrequentlybetweentheHellenistickingdomsfollowingtheconquestofAlexandertheGreatin334B.C.ItreacheditszenithinsculptureandtheartsundertheruleoftheKingdomofPergamon.Twogreatsculptors,ApolloniosandTauriskos,who

6262

werechargedwiththeconstructionofthefamousaltarofZeusinPergamon,weretrainedinTralleis.Strabomentionedtherichnessofthepeopleinthecity.Theruinsofthe2ndcenturygymnasium,called‘threeeyes’bythepopulace,andthebaths,theagora,theatreandastadiumfromtheRomanPeriodcanbeseentoday.Tralleiswasfamousforitsleatherproductsandredpottery,‘terrasigillata’.StatuesoftheFarneseBullandtheYoungAthlete(Ephebos)carvedbytwoworldfamoussculptors,ApolloniosandTauriskos,wereunearthedinTralleis.Ahmed Gazi Mosque and Ahi Bayram TombLocatedinthevillageofEskiÇineinÇinedistrict,theAhmetGaziMosquewasbuiltbyAhmedGaziBey,sonofİbrahimBeyfromtheMenteşeoğullarıPrincipality.ThismosqueandtheAhiBayram(İbrahim)Tombinthebackcourtyardarebothfromthe14thcentury.Thesmallandsimpleprayernichedecoratedwithhoneycombcarvingsandthepulpit,whichexemplifiesthebeautifulwoodcarvingoftheperiod,areworthseeing.Thelowerpartsofwallsofthetomb,whichiscoveredbyapyramidalroof,aremadeofmarble,whereastheupperpartsarebuiltofbricks.Cihanoğlu Külliye (Building complex adjacent to a mosque)TheCihanoğluKülliyeissituatedinAydın’scitycentreintheKöprülü

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FountainofCihanoğluMosque

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quarter.In1756itwasbuiltbyCihanzadeAbdulazizEfendi,whowasateacherinamedrese.TheKülliyeconsistsofamosque,medrese(theologicalschool),tomb,bazaarandfountain.ItisoneofthebestexamplesofTurkisharchitecturewithbaroqueandrococodecoration.Eski-Yeni (Hasan Çelebi) MosqueTheEski-Yeni(HasanÇelebi)MosqueislocatedinAydın’scitycentreintheHasanEfendiquarter.ItwasconstructedbyHasanPasha,sonofMuhittinEfendiBeylerbeyiofEgypt(akindofgovernor).Itscarvedmarbleprayernicheandpulpitarewellworthseeing.İlyas Bey KülliyeTheİlyasBeyKülliyeinDidimincludesamosque,tomb,dervishlodge,caravanseraiandbaths.ItwasbuiltbyİlyasBeyoftheMenteşeoğulları

64

ÖküzMehmetPaşa(Castle)Caravanserai

İlyasBeyMosque

65

Principalitybetween1403and1404.ItisneartheruinsofMiletos.Itisamagnificentworkofartwhichhassurvivedtothepresentwithitsoriginalarchitecturalcharacteristicsanddecorationintact.MarblepiecesgatheredfromtheruinsofMiletoswereusedinitsconstruction.TheattractivenorthernfacadeisoneofthemostdistinctivefeaturesoftheKülliye.Theportalhasthreepartssurroundedbyabigarchlikeaniwan.ColourfulinlaidstonesandmarblesurfacesreflecttheuniquearchitecturalstylethatwasintroducedintheperiodoftheTurkishprincipalities.AmarbleprayernichedecoratedwithgeometricalmotifssplendidlyexemplifiestheearlyTurkishartofstonedecoration.ThemedreseandsoupkitchensurroundthecourtyardandthetombofİlyasBeyisinfrontofthemosque.Atwostory,rectangularcaravanseraiiscomposedofacourtyard,roomsandastable.Coveredbyabarrelroof,theroomsandstablesurroundthecourtyard.Öküz Mehmet Paşa Mosque and CaravanseraiTheoldestmosqueinKuşadası,theÖküzMehmetPaşaMosquewasbuiltwithacaravanseraiandabathcomplexbyGrandVizierMehmetPashain1618.Toppedbyaleaddome,themosquewasdesignedinaccordancewithOttomanarchitecturaltraditionsandincludeswoodcarvingandgeometricaljoints.Thesejointsweredecoratedwithbeautifulsilver,mother-of-pearlandivoryinlays.Thetwo-storycaravanseraiiscentredonacourtyardandserves

66SüleymanÇelebi(Bey)Mosque

ŞemsiPaşaMosque

6767

asahoteltoday.Itsexteriorwallsarehighlikecastlewallsandtoppedwithbattlementsforprotectionagainstattackbypirates.Şemsi Paşa MosqueLocatedinAydın’scitycentreintheGüzelhisarquarter,theŞemsiPaşaMosqueisalsoknownas‘Ağaçlararası’(betweenthetrees)or‘KırmızıMinare’(RedMinaret).ItwasbuiltbyAhmetŞemsiPashain1759.Süleyman Çelebi MosqueLocatedinAydın’scitycentreinİstasyonSquare,theSüleymanÇelebiMosquereflectsthecharacteristicsofclassicalOttomanarchitecture.BuiltofhewnstonebySüleymanBeyin1683,thesquaremosquehasapolygonalminaretwithasinglebalcony.Itistoppedbyadomeonatambourwith16edgesand16windows.Theinteriorofthedomeisembellishedwithengravings.Theprayernicheissimple,whilebeautifulcarvingsdecoratethemarblepulpit.Nasuh Paşa Külliye TheNasuhPaşaKülliyeissituatedinAydın’scitycentreintheKöprülüquarter.ItwasbuiltbyNasuhPashafromAydınin1708andcontainsabathcomplex,amasjid,amedresenamed‘Osmanağa’andaninncalledthe‘Zincirlihan’.Üveys Paşa MosqueTheÜveysPaşaMosqueissituatedinAydın’scitycentreintheKöprülüquarter.ItwasbuiltbyÜveysPasha,BeylerbeyiofEgyptin1568.Thesquaremosqueistoppedbyadomestanding

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RamazanPaşaMosque

6969

onahightambour.Ithasaninscriptionabovethemarbleentrance.Ramazan Paşa MosqueTheRamazanPaşaMosqueislocatedinAydın’scitycentreintheRamazanPaşaquarter.ItwasbuiltbyRamazanPasha,brotherofÜveysPasha,in1595.Asquarebuildingofhewnstone,theMosqueiscoveredbyasingledome.Itswoodenentranceisdecoratedwithintaglios,while10longwindowsandsmalldrop-shapedwindowsletthelightin.Woodcarvings,plasterreliefsandcolourfulglassworkareallattractivefeaturesoftheMosque.Kurşunlu MonasteryItisthoughtthattheKurşunluMonastery,10kmfromDavutlarinthedistrictofKuşadası,wasconstructedbytheByzantinesinthe11thcentury.InsidetheMonasterywereadininghall,alarder,akitchen,roomsforthemonks,aninfirmary,achapel,acemeteryandrampartswithacellaranddefencerooms.TheceilingofthechapelwasdecoratedwithfrescoesdepictingsymbolsandgeometricmotifsfromtheIconoclasticPeriod.Inthesecondhalfofthe9thcentury,whentheIconoclasmended,religiousstories,imagesandidolswerealsoportrayedinthefrescoes.Arpaz Castle (Arpaz Beyleri Mansion)ThiscomplexislocatedinEsenköyvillagenearNazilliandisbuiltonthelowerpartoftheCarianHarpasaCastle.ArpazlıHacıHasanBey,theownerofalargefarmontheAkçayCreek,hadthebuildingconstructedinthe19thcentury.

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HebroughtworkmenfromRhodesfortheconstruction.Withamansion,securitytower,granary,stablesandauxiliarybuildings,thecomplexislikeachateau.Amongthe18thcenturystructuresinAydın’scitycentrearetheAlihanBabaTomb,builtforİsmailbinAlihanfromKhorasan;afountainandtombbuiltin1774byAtikeHanım,daughterofAbdullahPasha;theHacıÖmerDedeMasjid;theFatmaHanımSübyanMektebi(PrimarySchool)andfountain;the‘BeyBath’or‘CemalBeyBath’andtheEğriKümbet,whichwasdamagedbyanearthquakein1899.Nature and ActivitySea TourismAydınisanexcellentplacetoenjoytheseabecauseofitsgreatclimateandlongtouristseason.SeatemperaturesbetweenMayandOctoberareidealforwatersportssuchasdiving,sailing,surfing,parasailingandwaterskiing.Besidewatersports,thearea’spristinebeachesofferendlesshoursofrelaxation.Easytransportationtothepublicbeachesmakesthemaccessiblefordayorweekendtrips.ThemostpopularbeachesareTusan,Pigale,Kadınlardenizi,Güvercinada,Yavansu,AslanburnuandGüzelçamlıinKuşadasıandAltınkum,Tavşanburnu,GevrekandAkbükinDidim.

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Yacht TourismKuşadasıoffersendlessshoppingandaccommodationopportunitiesforvisitors.Withitsmarinaandwonderfulharbour,itisalsotheperfectplaceforyachtsandcruiseships.Asthesecondmostimportantportofentryforcruiseships,Kuşadasıhastwopiersandayachtharbourwhichaccommodatesapproximately350yachts.TherearedailyboatsfromtheharbourtotheGreekIslandofSisam(Samos)andtootherplacesallyear-round.CharterboatsarewaitingintheharbourtotakevisitorsonaBlueVoyage-anunforgettableexperienceonthecrystalclearandchillywaters.Thermal TourismAydınisrichinhotsprings.TheAlangüllüHotSprings,theGermencikHotSpringsandtheGümüşHotSpringsinGermencikdistrict;theDavutlarHotSpringsinKuşadasıdistrict;theİmamköyHotSpringsandtheKızıldereHotSpringsinBuharkentdistrictandtheSalavatlıHotSpringsinSultanhisardistrictallofferhealthandbeautytreatments.Thesulphuricwatersofthesehotspringsareknowntobeeffectiveinthetreatmentofrheumatoiddiseases,sciatica,backpain,kidneystones,calcification,polyneuritis,stress,atherosclerosis,arthritis,osteoporosis,vitiligo,eczema,hairloss,impotency,infertility,haemorrhoidsandulcers.Thewatersalsohelppeopleloseweightinahealthyway.

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Plateau TourismThemostpopularplateausareKahvedereinKaracasu,BulgurinBozdoğan,SarıcaovaandÖmürinKuyucak,MadraninÇine,andPaşawhichis22kmfromAydın.Mountain and Nature WalkingTherearewalkingrouteswhichpassthroughareasofgreatnaturalbeautyandhistoricinterest.TheregionlyingbetweentheDilekPeninsula,Karina,theBüyükMenderesRiverandLakeBafaoffersexceptionalopportunitiesforadventureanddiscovery.TheroutefromAphrodisiastoBabaMountain(2380m);BüyükMenderesRiverDeltaNationalParkandtheÇineValleyareperfectrouteswithhistoricremainsamidstuniquenaturallandscapes.Anotheralternativefornature-loversistheroutealongtheDandalasRiverinKaracasuonthePaşaandMadranPlateaus.

75LakeBafa

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Nature-Walking in the Beşparmak Mountains:AshortdistancefromBafaTown,thevillageofGölyaka(Bucak)isthebestpointfromwhichtostarttrekkingintotheBeşparmakMountains(1367m).A45-minutewalkfromthevillageisacavewithwallpaintingsdatingfromthe7thor8thmillenniumB.C.Inancienttimes,thispathwasusedforwalkingtothesacredsiteoftheairandraingodonthemountain’ssummit.Todayitisusedbypeoplewalkingtoothervillagesortotheirolivefarms.ThoseseekingadventurecanalsofollowthepathtoseveralByzantinemonasteries.Another45-minuteswalkfromthecavetakesyoutotheso-calledYedilerMonastery,whichincludescavesandsheltersthatbelongedtothemonks.

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Nature Walking in the Dilek Peninsula National Park:TheroadbetweenSökeandGüllübahçepassesthevillageofDoğanbey,whichis2or3kmfromtheBüyükMenderesRiverDelta.Atanaltitudeofnearly70mabovesealevel,thevillagecommandsawonderfulviewofthesurroundingarea.AmesmerizinglandscapeawaitsvisitorsontheslopesofthemountainsthatloomabovetheBüyükMenderesRiverDelta,withBafaandAzapLakes,BeşparmakMountains

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LakeBafa

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Doğanbey Village

79KuşadasıYachtHarbour

andtheancientcitiesofMiletosandMyusallvisibleonaclearday.Thesouthernslopesofthemountainarewooded.A2or3hourclimbcanbeenjoyedalongapathamidawiderangeofplantssuchaspine,laurel,redbud,oliveandcarobtrees,wildstrawberryandryegrass.Theroutebackpassesthroughawonderfulcanyon,anaturalcypressforest(oneoftwoinTurkey),splashingfountainsandAnatolianplanetreesandreachesaroadintheDilekPeninsulaNationalPark.

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Kuşadası

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Mountain BikingTherearegreattrailsformountainbikingbetweentheDilekPeninsulaBüyükMenderesDeltaNationalParkandbetweenDidim-Akbük.Thesetrailsarestabilizedandslightlysloping.CavingWithitsspectacularcaves,Aydınisanidealspotforcavingandpot-holing.Ittakes45minutestowalktotheSırtlaniniCavefromYukarıÇamarasıvillagenearKaracasu.Thecavehasaverynarrowentrancebutafter4-5metersthemaincavehallisreached.Thishallisdividedinto5or6sectionsbycolumnsstandingside-by-side.Allofthechambersopeningoffthehallarefullofstalactites,stalagmitesandpillars.Whentheoutsidetemperatureis28˚Candtherelativehumidityismeasuredas44%,thetemperatureinsideis17˚Candtherelativehumidityremainsat85%.Thecaveis348mlongand32mdeep.OntheroadtotheDilekPeninsulaNationalPark,theZeusCaveisanothergreatcavetoexplore.Itisveryimpressiveonaccountofitssinkholecarvedbyundergroundwaters.TheArslanlıCaveor‘YarenCave’isreachedbya30minutewalkalonga3kmdirttrackfromDereboğazı,ontheKuşadasıroad.Thecaveis110minlengthand36mindepth.Camping and CaravanningTheregionisanidealsettingforcampingandcaravanninginnatural

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LakeBafa

surroundings. The area is especially popular with young people.Sport Line FishingLake Bafa, with its slightly salty water, is excellent for sport line fishing. The waters are rich in fish species due to the high levels of zooplankton and water plants. Besides Lake Bafa, fishing can be enjoyed in Lake Azap, which is surrounded by an idyllic landscape. 35 km from Söke, the lake is surrounded by trees and the Beşparmak Mountains. Between the foothills of the Samson Mountains and the Büyük Menderes River Delta, Lake Karina is another ideal spot for fishing with many different fish species. The lake has every possible shade of blue and is surrounded by beautiful scenery. With a total area of 4 km2, the lake has both hot and cold water springs. Grey mullet, bass and lidaki (little gilt headed bream) exist in abundance in the water. Kemer, Topçam, Karpuzlu, Yaylaova Dam Lakes and Avşar, Yatır, Karacahayıt, Kocagöl and Karagöl Lakes are all suitable for sport line fishing. WindsurfingThe Dilek Peninsula has excellent conditions for windsurfing and is famous among enthusiasts.

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Bird WatchingTheBüyükMenderesDeltahasalargebiologicaldiversity,andprovidesasuitablehabitatfor250birdspecies,70ofwhichnestinthearea.Theregionisanimportantnestingareaforendangereddalmatianpelicans(pelecanuscrispus)andpygmycormorants(phalacrocoraxpygmeus).5typesofduckhavepopulationsofover30,000,andthereareover6,000flamingosinthearea.Littleegrets(egrettagarzetta),white-tailedeagles(haliaeetusalbicilla),short-toedeagles(circaetusgallicus)andlong-leggedbuzzards(buteorufinus)breedintheregionduringthewintermonths.TheNationalParkCentreforVisitorsand

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Informationoffersexitingandinformativebirdwatchingtours.TheLakeBafaNatureAreaisanimportantbirdarea(ÖKA),whichshelterscollaredpranticole(glareolapratincola)andspur-wingedplovers.Someofthespeciesover-winterintheareaincludethewhite-tailedeagle(haliaeetusalbicilla),littlegrebe(tachybabtusruficollis),black-neckedgrebe(podicepsnigricollis),cormorant(phalacrocoraxcarbo),gadwall(anasstrepera),pochard(aythyaferina)andcoot(fulicaatra).Dalmatianpelican(pelecanuscrispus)andpygmycormorant(phalacrocoraxpygmeus)fromtheBüyükMenderesRiverDeltacanalsobeseenintheareathroughouttheyear.

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Plant ObservationTherichfloraoftheprovinceprovidessignificantopportunitiesforplantobservationbybotanistsandenthusiasts.OnthenorthernsideoftheBüyükMenderesDeltaNationalParkthereisarichvegetationcoverwhichisveryrarelyseenthesedaysintheMediterranean.ThepeninsulaboastsnearlyalltheplantspeciestypicallyfoundintheMediterraneanmaquisaswellasdaphneandchestnuttrees.GrownintheforestedareasofnorthernAnatolia,chestnuts(castaneasativa)canalsobegrownintheprovince.Theguelderrose(viburnumtinus)isarareplantthatcanbeseengrowinginAydın.Theprovincealsohasthefollowingtreespecies:holmoak(quercusilex),Phoenicianjuniper(juniperusphoenica)andtheMediterraneancypress(cupressussempervirens).Wildlife and Hunting TourismTheheavilyforestedareasofAydınprovidesuitablehabitatsfornumerouswildanimalspecies.Commonlyfoundbirdspeciesincludethekestrel,blackkite,littlebustard,greatbustard,snipe,andseaeagle,whilethepochardandcootarethemostcommonwaterbirds.Wildanimalsoftheregionincludethebear,wildboar,jackal,lynx,wolf,wildcat,hyena,androdentssuchasrabbit,lesserweasel,otter,andmarten.Herbivorousanimalsincludewildgoats,fallowdeerandroedeer.TheBüyük

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DilekPeninsulaNationalPark

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MenderesDeltaNationalParkisanaturalhabitatformammalssuchaswildox,wildboar,lynx,fox,marten,jackal,wolf,wildhorseandrabbit,andpredatorybirdspeciessuchaseagle,sparrowhawk,falcon,andthevulturewhichhasrecentlybecomeextinct.TheNationalParkistheonlyhabitatoftheendangeredAnatolianLeopardinWesternAnatolia.ItalsoprovidesnestingandbreedingareasforawiderangeofanimalssuchasseaturtlesandMediterraneanmonkseals,inadditiontoplentyofreptiles,mammals,birdsandfishspecies.Conservation AreasLake Bafa Natural Park TheLakeBafaNaturalParkissituated25kmfromSöke.Surroundedbymountainousterrain,thelakehasajagged,rockycoastline.LakeBafacoversanareaof65km2,26km2ofwhicharewithinthebordersoftheprovinceofAydın,whiletherestisinMuğla.DeclaredaNationalParkin1994,thelakeisnowaprotectedconservationarea.Olivegroves,pinetreesandtamarisktreessurroundthepark,whichsheltersplentyofbirdspecies.The Dilek Peninsula - Büyük Menderes Delta National ParkTheNationalParkis28kmfromKuşadasıand34kmfromSöke,andisreachedbytheKuşadası-Sökehighway.TheDilekPeninsulaisformedbyan

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extensionoftheSamsonMountainsintotheAegeanSea.ItsgeologicalstructureincludesPaleozoicschists,Mezozoiclimestonesandmarbles,andNeogenesedimentaries.TheNationalParkcanbediscoveredwiththeaccompanimentofatourguidebyvisitorswhocanalsoenjoyjeepsafaritoursorganizedinKuşadası.Regional CharacteristicsAydınisidentifiedwiththe‘Zeybek’,whoarehistoricheroesofWesternAnatolia.TheheadoftheZeybekwascalledan‘Efe’.TheseZeybeksbecamerebelsagainsttheOttomangovernmentduringthedeteriorationofcentraladministrationattheendof16thcenturyandinthemid17thcentury.TheyorganizedthemselvestofightagainstinjusticeandwereidentifiedwithAydınatthistime.TheyalsofoughtvoluntarilyintheTurkishIndependenceWar.SomeofthefamousZeybekwereYörükAliEfe,GökçenEfe,CaferEfe,KınalıDokuzEfeandMestanEfe.Handcrafts and SouvenirsDisplayingexceptionalmotifsandcolours,thehand-wovencarpets,rugsandshoulderbagsoftheregion,especiallyinTurkmenandYörükdesigns,areeye-catchingandmakeexcellentsouvenirs.Yörüksackswovenwithaspecialtechnique,knownassumak,arealsocommonlyfoundintheregion.AnotherlivingtraditioninAydınistheweavingofgoathairtents,whichcanbeusedunderallclimaticconditions.

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Localcostumes,suchasheadscarfs,skullcaps,fezes,shirtsmadeofsilkorcottoncrepe,cepkenmadeofbroadcloth(ashortembroideredjacketwithfullsleeves)andşalvars(loosetrouserswhicharetightaroundtheankles),üçetek(adresswornovertheflalvar),andwovenbelts,arecolourfulanddazzling.Woodcarvingisanothercommonlocalhandicraftintheprovince.Cigaretteholders,cradles,smallornamentsandtoysaresomeofthepopularlocallyproducedwoodenitems.TurkmenandYörükcradlesdrawtheattentionofvisitorswiththeirdesignsandbeautifullycarvedmotifs.TheKaracasudistrictisknownforitsredcolouredearthenwareitems,suchasjugsandbowls.Regional CuisineTheprovincehasarichregionalcuisine.Dishescookedinoliveoil;fishspeciessuchasgilt-headbream,greymullet,redseabreamandredmullet;citrusfruits,figs,grapes,sourorangejamandthelocalwineareallworthtasting.AmongthetraditionaldishesofAydınaretarhanaçorbası(atraditionalsoupmadefromamixtureofsundriedyoghurt,tomatoandpimentopeppers),kulakçorbası(soup),acılıgüveç(meatandvegetablestewwithhotpeppers),zeytinyağlıkırlıkızartma(friedvegetablesinoliveoil),zeytinyağlıtazeandkurubörülce(freshordriedblack-eyepeascookedinoliveoil),patlıcankavurma(braisedeggplant),sarmaşıkandkedirgenkavurma,yapraksarma

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(meatandricewrappedinvineleaves),etlinohutyahnisi(meatstewwithchickpea),nohutlukereviz(celerywithchickpea),arapsaçı,ciğersote(liversauté),keşkek(lambwithcrackedwheat),cilav-ayranböreği(pastry),patlıcanbibertaratoru-turşusu(pickledeggplantandgreenpepper),börülcetaratoru(black-eyedpeasaladwithasauceofflour,onion,oliveoilandgarlic),turpotusalatası(radishsalad),semizotusalatası(purslanesalad),andçingenepilavı(pilaf).Sweetsanddessertsoftheregionincludeirmikhelvası(semolinahelva),zerde(saffronricedessert),muhallebi(puddingwithriceflourandrosewater),sütlaç(ricepudding),aşure(dessertwithwheatgrains,nutsanddriedfruit-knownasNoah’sPudding),lokma(friedbatterdippedinsyrup)andpelvizetatlısı.ThemostdeliciousfigsaregrownintheAydınregionthankstosuitableclimaticandgeographicconditions.Themostfamousfigtypesare‘sarıtop’,‘bardacık’,‘göklop’,‘morgül’and‘karayaprak’.Local ActivitiesLocalactivities,especiallycamelwrestling,bull-fightingandcockfightsareverypopularamonglocalandforeignvisitors.

Average Water Temperatures in Kuşadası

Jan Feb March Apr May June

15,3 14,8 15,0 16,3 19,2 22,4

July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

23,8 23,2 22,3 20,0 17,7 16,3

Year Average 18,8

Average Air Temperatures in Aydın

Jan Feb March Apr May June

7,9 8,9 11,2 15,2 19,9 24,5

July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

27,4 26,6 22,5 17,8 13,0 9,3

Year Average 17,0

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Kuşadası Harbour

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ClimateThelocalclimateisMediterranean,withhotanddrysummers,andmildandrainywinters.Snowfallisrare.TheprevailingwindsinAydınarefromtheeastandsoutheast,butwindsfromthewestandthesouthwestarealsoexperiencedintheprovince.TransportationBy Road:ThecityofAydınisontheE-24Denizli-İzmirhighway.Aydın’scitycentreissituatedatadistanceof100kmfromİzmir,930kmfromİstanbul,and530kmfromAnkara.Kuşadası,oneofthemaintouristattractionsintheprovince,islinkedtothesurroundingdistrictsandcitiesbythreemainroads:Kuşadası-Selçuk,Kuşadası-SökeandKuşadası-Söke-Davutlar.By Rail:TheextensionoftheSökerailroadwasthefirstrailwaylineinTurkey,anditpassesthroughtheprovinceinaneast-westdirection.Söke,Ortaklar,Germencik,İncirliova,Aydın’scitycentre,Köşk,Sultanhisar,Nazilli,KuyucakandBuharkentarealongtherailway’sroute.By Sea:ItispossibletoreachAydınbyseaandKuşadası’sharbouristhebusiestharbourinTurkey.DailyferriesareavailablefromDidimtoBodrumduringthesummerseason.Visitingthesurroundingcovesandislandsbytouryachtsisalsopossible.ThereareregularferryservicesfromKuşadasıtoSamosbesidesthecruiseshipsthatbringforeigntouriststoEphesusfordailyexcursions.

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Don’t Leave WithoutVisitingtheancientcityofAphrodisiasandtheTempleofApolloinDidyma,WatchingtheKuşadasıGoldenDoveMusicContest,Tastingdishescookedinoliveoil,whichareaspecialityoftheAegeanRegion,aswellasfigs,grapes,citrusfruitsandthewineproducedwithlocalgrapes,Buyingsomesourorangejam,Eatingdeliciouslocalfishsuchasgilt-headedbream,graymullet,redseabreamandredmullet,Enjoyingtheelegantshopsthatsellcarpets,rugs,leatherclothes,jewelleryandsouvenirs,GoingswimmingatDidim,Tastingthedeliciouskarhelvası(snowhelva)...

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Useful Phone NumbersProvincialDirectorateofCultureandTourism(+90-256)2128506-2135006DirectorateofStateFineArtsGallery(+90-256)2130166KuşadasıTourismInformationOffice(+90-256)6141103DidimTourismInformationOffice(+90-256)8115707Governorship (+90-256)2124259Municipality (+90-256)2266380Hospital (+90-256)2139000Police (+90-256)2196120Gendarmerie (+90-256)2310106BusStation (+90-256)2196120RailwayStation(+90-256)2251824Harbour (+90-256)6141580

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REPUBLIC OF TURKEYMINISTRY OF CULTURE AND TOURISM

General Directorate of Information©www.kulturturizm.gov.tr

www.goturkey.com

TextNesrin Taşer

Graphic DesignCanan Bayram

Translation and RedactionGamze Sağdinç, Aygül Özdemir

PhotographsAbidin Özkan, Ali Murat Coruk, Akın Özbekligil,

Ahmet Hikmet Turan, Bünyad Dinç,Cabbar Ayyıldız, Canan Atatekin,

Christina Deleunay, David Odale, Erem Çalıkoğlu, Erdal Yazıcı, Erdoğan Tekin, Faruk Akbaş,

Gültekin Çizgen, Haluk Özözlü, Hasan Yücel, İbrahim Zaman, Kadir Kır, Kenan İnanç,

Murat Öcal, Mustafa Arı, Nazım Timuroğlu,Necmi Erol, Nurdan Eren, Rauf Miski, Salim Koç,

Selçuk Kızılkayak, Serdar Yalçın, Sıtkı Fırat, Şemsi Güner, Orhan Turgut, Refik Ongan,

Tahsin Aydoğmuş, Tansu Gürpınar, Turgut Salgar, Timurtaş Onan, Uğur Ayyıldız, Volkan Tuncay,

Yusuf Tuvi, Zeki Şahin, Zeynel Yeşilay, Archive of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism

PrintBaşak Matbaacılık ve Tanıtım Hiz. Ltd. Şti.Tel: 0312 397 16 17 Fax: 0312 397 03 07

Ankara, 2011For Free Distribution

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Cultural Heritage is Fragile

Theworld’sculturalheritageislikeabigpuzzle.Eachmonument,eachobject,isanirreplaceablepartoftheoverallpicturewhichgivesusinsightintoourorigins,ourdevelopmentandourlivestoday.Ithelpsustounderstandandappreciateothercultures.Eachdiscovery,eachnewinterpretationaddstothepuzzleandmakesthepictureclearer.Wemustensuretheprotectionofeverysinglepiecetoday,sothatfuturegenerationsmayhavetheopportunitiestoenjoythepuzzle.

Manypeoplearenotawarethatourculturalheritageisunderstressfromnaturaldisasterssuchasearthquakesandfloods,andfromsloweractingprocessessuchaspollutionorhumanactions.Eventhemostinnocentgesturessuchascollectingancientpiecesofpotteryormosaicsassouvenirshaveadestructiveimpactifrepeatedbythousands.Touchinganobjectofstone,metalortextileleavestracesofgrease,acidorsweatonitssurface.Climbingamonumentwearsdownthestructureunderneathandcandismantleit.Writingorengravingnamesinflictspermanentdamage.Strollingaroundnarrowcrowdedplaceswithbulkybagsorbackpacksmightknockoveranobjectorscratchamuralpaintingandruinit.Therearecountlesswaysinwhichonecanunknowinglycontributetothedestructionofculturalheritage.

In2020therewillbe1.6billionvisitorsperyearworldwide.Letusraiseawarenessofthisissuesothatwemayjointogethertoprotectandenjoythediversityandrichnessofourculturalheritage.

International Organization for Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM)

EUROPE