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Aydin - Turkey
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AydınislocatedinTurkey’sAegeanRegionandissurroundedbytheprovincesofDenizlitotheeast,İzmirandManisatothenorth,MuğlatothesouthandtheAegeanSeatothewest.Thecityis64mabovesealevelandspreadsoveranareaof8.007km2.ItisborderedbytheAydınMountainstothenorthandtheMenteşeMountainstothesouth.TheBüyükMenderesBasinliesbetweenthesemountainsandformsarichagriculturalareacoveredbysiltdepositswasheddownoverthousandsofyearsbytheBüyükMenderesRiver.ThislargebasinincludestheAydın,Koçarlı,SökeandBalatPlains.
DilekPeninsulaNationalPark
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Present-dayAydınissituatedonthesiteoftheancientcityof‘Tralleis’,whichwasfoundedbyThraciantribeswhosettledalongtheWesternAnatoliancoastinthe13thcenturyB.C.Thecitywasdestroyedbyanearthquakein26B.C.andreconstructedwiththeeffortsofEmperorAugustus.ItwasthennamedCaesareiainhishonour.DuringthereignoftheSeljuks,Tralleiswasknownas‘AydınGüzelhisarı’,whiletheOttomansnamedit‘Nefs-iKaza-iGüzelhisarderLiva-iAydın’.Sincethe19thcenturythecityhasbeenknownasAydın.
History
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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
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Pergamon,whichlasteduntilRomansovereigntywasestablishedin129B.C.ChristianityachievedgreatpoliticalpowerduringtheByzantinePeriod,andtheAydınregionwasruledbytheAnatolianPatriarchate.MiletosandPrienebecamebishoprics.FollowingtheendofByzantinedomination,Aydınwasruledby
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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
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TempleofApollo
naturalbeauty,suchastheenvironsoftheKemerDamReservoirontheAkçayCreekandtheMadranMountains,whicharefamousforthespringwaterbubblingupfromtheirfoothills.Buharkent86kmeastofAydın,theBuharkentdistrictisinthenorthernpartoftheBüyükMenderesvalley.Apredominantlyagriculturalarea,thedistrictishometotheKızıldereHotSprings.ÇineInthesouthernpartoftheBüyükMenderesBasin,38kmfromAydın,ÇinedistrictliesatthefootofMadranMountainsoverlookingthegreenfieldswateredbytheÇineCreek.Lendingitsnametothedistrict,theÇineCreekisatributaryoftheBüyükMenderesRiver.Itflowsthroughadream-likevalleywhichiscarpetedwithlilies.LegendhasitthatAthenawaswanderingalongthecreekandplayingherflute.Whenshe
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Alabanda
lookedatherreflectioninthewater,shethrewthefluteawaybecauseitmadehercheekslookpuffywhensheplayedit.MarsyasfoundthefluteandlearnedtoplayitsowellthathechallengedApollotoamusiccontest.KingMidaswasappointedasjudgeandalthoughMarsyasmadeprettiermusic,Apollowonthecontest.Despitewinningthecontest,ApollowantedtopunishMarsyasbecausehethoughtMarsyasplayedbetterthanhim.ApollocutoffMarsyas’skinandchangedMidas’earsintoass’ears.Marsyas’bloodflowedintotheriver,whichisknowntodayastheÇineCreek.Çinewasanoldandimportantsettlement.Itboaststheancient
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TempleofApollo
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CariancitiesofAlabandaandGerga.TheAhmedGaziMosqueandtheAhiBayramTomb,belongingtotheMenteşeoğullarıPrincipality,andtheOttomanÇiftlikTomb,builtforthebodyofCihanzadeSafiyeSultan,arealsoworthvisiting.Didim106kmsouthwestofAydın,DidimisoneofthemostbeautifulholidayresortsontheAegeanCoast.Locatedonapeninsula,wheretheBüyükMenderesRiverreachesthesea,theresorthassecludedcoves,goldensandbeaches,naturalharboursandnearbyLakeBafaisahavenoftranquility.TheimportantIoniantownsofMiletosandDidyma,homeofthefamousprophetinancienttimes,arealsonearDidim.
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MagnesiaadMeandrum
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GermencikInthenorthwestoftheBüyükMenderesBasin,25kmfromAydın,GermencikwasfoundedbyHıdırBey,anheiroftheAydınoğullarıPrincipality.Figsareaveryimportantlocalcrop,andfigtreesaregrownwidelyonthefertilelandsurroundingGermencik.Thedistricthastwohot-springs,AlangüllüandGermencik,andgreatpotentialforfurthergeothermaldevelopment.TheancientcityofMagnesiainTekinvillageisthemostnotablehistoricsiteinthedistrict.TheonlyIslamicstructureamongtheruinsofthisancientcityistheÇerkesMusaMosquewhichdatesfromthe15thcentury.İncirliovaİncirliovaislocatedontheflatandfertilelandoftheBüyükMenderesBasin,10kmwestofAydın.Ithasanactiveeconomybasedonproducefromlocalagricultureandrelatedindustries.Cotton,figsandcitrusfruitgrownlocallyaremarketedacrossthecountryandabroad.KaracasuKaracasuislocatedina40kmlongvalleybetweenBabadağandtheKarıncalıMountains.87kmeastofAydın,thedistrictismountainousandrugged.Itisreachedthrougholive,citrus
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Aphrodisias
Aphrodisias
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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
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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
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Kuşadası
KuşadasıHarbour
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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
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alsobevisitednearDilekHill.TheancientcityofPygelatothenorthofKuşadasıisanotherhistoricattraction.GüvercinIsland,homeofaByzantinecastlecarvedintotherock,andthe19thcenturyKüçükAdaCastlewereimportantdefencepointsagainstpirateraidsduringtheOttomanPeriod.TheKaleMosque,theoldestinKuşadası,thecaravanseraiandthecitywallsareotherimportantremainsfromtheOttomanPeriod.KuyucakKuyucakisatypicalTurkishsettlementinthefoothillsoftheAydınMountains,59kmeastofAydın.TheruinsoftheancientcityofAntiokheia,locatedonAsartepeHill,areamongthesignificanthistoricsightsinKuyucak.Withthe
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GüvercinIsland
unificationoftwocity-states,namelySymaithisandKranaos,AntiokheiawasfoundedonthebanksoftheDandalosCreekduringthereignofSeleucidKingAntiokhosSoterI(281-261B.C.).ThankstoitslocationontheroutebetweenEphesusandAphrodisias,thecityhadbeenastopoverforbothmerchantsandmilitarytroopsoverthecenturies.TheonlyOttomanremaininthedistrictisthe19thcenturyÇarşıMosquewithafountain.NazilliNazilliis47kmeastofAydınontheDenizlihighwayandtheİzmir-Afyonkarahisarrailway.TheoldestsettlementintheNazilliregionisMastaura,whichwasfoundedbythe
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Prienne
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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
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DoğanbeyVillage
thesiltdepositsbroughtdownbytheBüyükMenderesRiver.Inthelakearetwoisletsonwhichmonasteriesandchurcheswerebuilt.Theceilingsandwallsofsomeofthemaredecoratedwithfrescoes.OnthelakeshoresaretheruinsoftheancientcityofMyus.AnotherancientcityfoundedintheSökeregionwasPriene.ItsruinsareontheslopesofSamson(Mykale)Mountain.Doğanbey(formerlycalledDomaçya),commandingaviewoftheDilekPeninsulaNationalPark,isalovelyvillagewhichwassettledbyGreekswhoheldTurkishcitizenshipuntil1924.Thevillage’sarchitecturehasbothGreekandTurkishelements.AmongtheremarkableexamplesofcivilGreekarchitecturearehouses,shops,achapelandahospitalbuiltofstone.The
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narrowstreetspavedwithcobblestonesaretheworkofTurkishcraftsmen.InSöke,themosquebuiltbythelocalnotableHacıZiyaBeyin1896andtheİlyasAğaMosqueorKocaMosque,whichwasrenovatedbyİlyaszadeİlyasAğain1821,areTurkishworksofart.SultanhisarSultanhisarisintheBüyükMenderesBasin,32kmeastofAydın.TheancientcityofNysa,onthepicturesqueslopesoftheAydınMountains,isamongthetouristattractionsofthedistrict.NearSalavatlıvillageisAkharakawhichretainsamysteriousatmosphereandtheTempleofPluto(thegodoftheunderworld),whichwasusedinancienttimestogetnewsfromtheunderworldbysacrificingbulls.TheKharonCaveinAkharakahasbeenusedfortherapeuticpurposesthankstothesulphuricgasesandthecurativewatersthatbubbleupfromthegroundinside.YenipazarYenipazar,onthesouthernbanksofBüyükMenderesRiver,is41kmeastofAydın.TheruinsoftheancientcityofOrthasiacanbevisitedinthedistrict.
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Historic and Cultural SightsAydın MuseumFoundedin1959,AydınMuseumwasmovedtoitscurrentbuildingin1973.Sarcophagi,tombstones,columncapitals,steleswithinscriptionandvariousarchitecturalobjectsthatwerecollectedintheprovinceofAydınareondisplayinthemuseumgarden.TheartefactsaredividedintoarchaeologicalandethnographicexhibitsandareorganisedinchronologicalorderfromthePrehistoricAgetotheOttomanPeriod.
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Aphrodisias MuseumOpenedin1979,AphrodisiasMuseumhousesoneofthelargestcollectionsofanylocalmuseuminTurkey.ItislocatedwithintheancientcityofAphrodisias,12kmfromKaracasu.Themuseumhasondisplayadazzlingcollectionofartefactsunearthedduringthearchaeological
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excavationsintheancientcity.Thecollectionishousedin8exhibitionhalls,aninnercourtyardandthegardenandmostoftheartefactswerefoundintheAcropolis,PekmeztepeMoundandaroundtheTempleofAphrodite.Theyaremainlyfrom6periods:theAncient,Classical,Hellenistic,Roman,ByzantineandEarlyIslamic.TheyincludeLydianceramics,statuesandotherartefacts.ButtheAphrodisiasMuseumismainlyastatuemuseumboastingpreciousworksofartcarvedbytheAphrodisiasschoolofsculpture,whichwasactiveinthecitybetweenthe1stcenturyB.C.andthe5thcenturyA.D.
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Tetrapylon,Aphrodisias
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YörükAliEfeMuseum
Milet MuseumTheMiletMuseumisintheancientcityofMiletos,22kmfromDidim.Itremainedopentovisitorsbetween1973and2000.Fossils,ceramics,geometricalobjects,floormosaics,amphora,theatremasks,oillamps,metalandglassitems,statuettes,coinsandtombstonesareallondisplayinchronologicalorderinthemuseum’sthreeexhibitionhalls.AlltheseartefactswerebroughttolightduringtheexcavationsatMiletosandnearbyDidyma.MiletMuseumiscurrentlyclosedtovisitors,butthereareplanstoreopenitinthenearfuture.Lionstatues,
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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.
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TheruinsofAlabandathatcanbevisitedtodayincludetwotemples,atheatrewithtwodiazoma(walkway,passage),abouleuterion(thebuildingofthecitycouncil),thecitygateandanagora.Thememorialtombs,anaqueductandrampartsarealsoremindersofpastthatarewellworthseeing.AlloftheruinsbelongtotheHellenisticandRomanPeriods.Theitemsunearthedduringthearchaeologicalexcavationsinthecityareexhibitedinarchaeologicalmuseumsofİstanbulandİzmir.Alinda AlindaislocatedonahillinKarpuzludistrict.Hekatomnos’daughterAdawithdrewtoAlindain340B.C.after
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Alabanda
shewasexpelledfromHalicarnassosbyherbrother.ShemadeithercapitalcityandnegotiatedwithAlexandertheGreattobecometheQueenofCaria.KnownasthemostfortifiedoftheCariancities,AlindamintedcoinsbearingthelikenessofHeracles.AfterthedeathofAlexandertheGreat,AlindawasincorporatedintothebordersoftheKingdomofPergamon.Then,itbecamesubjecttoRomanrule,butitmaintainedtherighttomintcoinsinitsownname.ItisrevealedinhistoricalsourcesthatAlindabecameabishopricduringtheByzantinePeriodbutitgraduallylostitsformerimportance.
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Stadium,Aphrodisias
OneofthemostimpressivestructuresinAlindaisthe100mlongagora.Thecitywallsarebuiltofrectangularstoneblocksandaremostlyundamaged.Onthesouth-westernsideoftheacropolishillisatheatrewith35rowsofseatsandaseatingcapacityof5,000.Theremainsofanaqueductcanbeseenonthenorth-westernslopeoftheacropolis.Thepalace,sarcophagiandatwo-storiedtowerarealsoamongthebest-preservedruins.Themagnificentguestroom,sarcophagusandjewelsofQueenAdaareondisplayinthemuseuminBodrumCastle.
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Amyzon (Mazın)Amyzonknownas‘MazınCastle’islocatedinAkmescitvillage,30kmsouthofKoçarlı.ItservedasanadvancepostforthreelargeCariancitiesnamelyHerakleia,EuromaosandKhalketor.ThemoststrikingruinsinthecitybelongtothetemplewhichissupposedtohavebeenbuiltinhonourofApolloandArtemis.Ontheacropolisaretheremainsofatheatre,anagoraandafountain.Thestonerampartsoftheacropolisdatefromthe3rdcenturyB.C.andaremagnificentexamplesofskilledworkmanship.
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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
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AphrodisiasMuseum
fires,earthquakesandSassanidandArabraids,thecitywaseventuallyabandoned.AphrodisiaswasfamousfortheritualsinhonourofAphrodite,goddessofloveandfertility.Itbecameanimportantcentreofarchitecture,artandworshipinAntiquity.ScientificresearchconfirmedthatAphrodisiasalsoplayedhosttomajorstudiesperformedinthefieldsofmedicine,mathematicsandastronomy.MedicalscientistXenocrates,novelistChartitonandphilosopherAlexander wereallfromAphrodisias.
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Theruinsofinterestinthecityincludethe2ndcenturybathcomplexbuiltduringthereignofEmperorHadrian,theagorawhichhasalargepool,atempleerectedinhonouroftheGoddessAphroditeinthefirstcenturyB.C.andastadiumfor30,000people.Thetheatrewithaseatingcapacityof10,000,thecitywalls,theacropolis,theodeon,thebishopricpalaceandtheschoolofphilosophyalsojustifyavisittothecity.
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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
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TempleofApollo
KingNekhoIIandLydianKingCroesusmadeofferingsintheTempleofApollo.Merchantsanddepartingsoldiers,youngbrides-to-beandemperorsallwantedtobeinformedaboutthefutureandmadeofferingstothegodsintheTemple.StrabostatesthattheTemplewasdecoratedwiththemostexpensiveofferings.ThestatuethatwasworshippedintheTemplewascarvedbythefamousartistKarnakhos,however,theotherstatuesandthearchitraves
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bearingthefamousreliefsofMedusaandbull’sheadwerecarvedbythetalentedcraftsmenofAphrodisias.Onemarbleblock,erectedbetweenthedoorsleadingtothesacredcourtyard,isregardedasthebiggestarchitecturalcomponentintheworld.Itweighs70tonsandissurroundedby124columnsstandingintworowsonasteppedplatform-evidenceoftheformergrandeurofthecity.
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TempleofApollo
HeadofMedusa,Didyma
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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
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Magnesia
cityintoday’slocationnearGümüşçayaround400B.C.becausetheyneededamorefortifiedcity,whichtheycoulddefendagainstthePersians.TheyalsowantedtodistancethemselvesfromtheproblemscausedbytheMenderesRiverchangingitscourseandoverflowingitsbanks.IntheHellenisticPeriodthecitywasruledbytheSeleucidsandtheKingdomofPergamonrespectively.ItmaintaineditsimportanceduringtheRomanPeriodandbecameabishopricunderByzantinerule.MagnesiawasthehomeofthefamousarchitectHermogenes.TheancientwriterVitruviusstatesthatthemasterpiecesofHermogeneswereitstempleandtheAltarofArtemisLeukophryeneinMagnesia.ThetemplewasbuiltontheruinsofanancienttempleofArtemis(6thcenturyB.C.)intheHellenisticPeriod(3rdor2ndcenturiesB.C.).TheIonicstyletemplehas8columnsontheshortsideand15columnsonthelongside.
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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
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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
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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
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Agora,Nysa
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buildingandalibrary.Atheatretothenortheastofthelibraryisdistinguishedbyfriezesandreliefscarvedintothestageandithasaseatingcapacityofapproximately10,000.Theagora,abouleuterionandaRomanbathcomplexareontheeastsideofthewatercourse.ThenecropolisisontheroadtoAkharaka(Salavatlı),thesacredwesternpartofthecity.Orthasia Orthasia,inthevillageofDorduran,is5kmeastofYenipazar.StraborecordedOrthasiaasbeingaCariansettlement.Inthe7thcenturyB.C.thecitywasdominatedbytheLydiansafterthevictoryofKingAlyattesovertheKimmers.ItjoinedtheIonianLeagueinthe6thcenturyB.C.beforecomingunderthesovereigntyofthePersianslikemanyotherAnatoliancities.Amongthemostnotablestructuresinthecity
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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.
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TempleofAthena
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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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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
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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
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ÖküzMehmetPaşa(Castle)Caravanserai
İlyasBeyMosque
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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