The Aegean Region
Many would agree that the coastal region of the Aegean has some of the most stunning views in the country and, in the words of Heredotus, "have the most beautiful sky and the best climate in the world." The bays peninsulas, and golden beaches stretchthe length of coastline and this region was also the venue of countless mythological events. There are remains of ancient cities including Troy, immortalised by Homer, and Pergamum, the art and cultural centre and capital of one of the most powerfulkingdoms at the time.
The provinces in the Aegean region are Afyon, Aydin, Denizli, Izmir, Kutahya, Manisa, Mugla and Usak.Situated in Edremit bay is Ayvalik, the meeting point of the sea, the theraputic springs of Akcay, and pine forests, which has been dubbed the olive-grove Riviera. To the south are countless resorts, then further south is Foca, famous for the heroicTurkish sailors who were based here. Sardis, the capital of the wealthy Lydian king Croesus, is a small detour inland.Located in a narrow bay, Izmir is a modern city and the third largest in Turkey, as well as the major part on the Aegean. It brims with life and is a busy commercial centre, with broad boulevards and modern architecture, combined with the traditionalred-tiled roofs of the old houses in the bazaar area. The peninsula of Çesme with its brilliant waters, superb beaches and thermal springs, lies to the west of Izmir.Among the most famous cities of the ancient world, Ephesus was one of the biggest during the Roman era. A treasury of all the riches of Ionian culture, Ephesus had a reputation for philosophy and critical thinking. The Temple of Artemis, one of theseven wonders of the ancient world, as well as countless statues, theatres, libraries, markets and smaller temples were all architectural symbols of the city's fame. Further to the south is the ancient city of Priene, built according to a geometricplan designed by the great architect of Milet, Hippodamos.
Milet was a great centre of commerce and thought in the ancient world, and was the venue of many significant developments, scientific and intellectual. The nearby Didim, though not one of theancient cities, is still famous for its magnificent temple dedicated to Apollo.On the Izmir-Antalya road, Aphrodisias (Geyre) was an important centre for culture and art famous for its training in sculpture. On the same road is the world-famous Pamukkale, with its calcium-rich thermal waters flowing out of the mountain whichhave, over centuries, created an extraordinary geographical phenomenon of white marble terraces. The ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis lie behind this.The best known holiday resorts in this area are Bodrum, Marmaris, Datca, Koycegiz and Fethiye, and private boats can be chartered to explore the bays of the south Aegean, immortalised in the book Mavi Yolculuk (Blue Voayge). Bodrum (ancient Halikarnas)is the birthplace of the great historian Heredotus. The mausoleum of King Mausolos was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Marmaris is a lively resort with a modern marina surrounded by lush mountains and crystal-clear waters,and further south is the bay of Oludeniz, famous for watersports and paragliding, and the coastal town of Fethiye.
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Kusadasi City Information
Kusadasi is one of the most beautiful city of the Turkish Aegean seaside.
It is one of the most beautiful places for recreation and fun holidays. Thanks to the marina and great harbor, Kusadasi is a favorite calling place for yachts and tour vessels with the result that there are many good shopping opportunities to be found. Also is a a very good start point for trips at Ephesus, Pamukkale, Miletos, etc.
Kusadasi Harbour :The Marina of Kusadasi is a favorite stop for yachtsmen. With a capacity of approx. 500 depth of between 2.5 and 7 meters, it has its own customs office and is well equipped for technical support and daily weather forecast.
It is a popular stop of Mediterranean cruises. The pride of Kusadasi is that the village is being visited by the world's biggest transatlantic "Grand Princess" but also by other famous cruise ships such as the Renaissance, Stella Solaris, Queen Odessa, Star, Costa Victoria, Celebrity Cruises, etc... These ships usually sail from Venice or Piraeus. Kusadasi is accessible from the Greek island and samos with a daily tours.
Turkey’s national language is Turkish. In Turkey, especially in Kusadasi, most people can speak English and also some can speak some other foreign languages such as German, French, Italian and other languages. The national currency is the Turkish Lira (TL). But currencies like USD, GBP, EURO are universally accepted at various places at current exchange rates.
Foreign currencies and travellers cheques can be changed all over Kusadasi in banks, hotels and money exchange offices. Banks are open nationwide Monday through Friday except public holidays between 8:30 am and 17:00 pm. Some banks and money exchange offices remain open until midnight, especially in summer.. Major international credit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, American Express and Dinners Club are accepted by all major banks, restaurants, hotels and shops.
In Kusadasi, your have the perfect mix of Eastern mysticism and modern western technology that is one of the reasons why Kusadasi is a shopper’s paradise and why shopping remains a top tourist attraction. Kusadasi is one of those remarkable places where shopping is a not just a journey around shops. Its more like a journey for your personal gain.You can find very good quality textiles and leathers with affordable prices.You will enjoy the fun of bargaining while a smiling salesman speaks many languages negotiating for their goods while you still feel at home. Shopping is high on most Kusadasi itineraries and deservedly so as it creates competitive prices. All this helps to make your spending spree a memorable experience.
One of the delights of shopping in Kusadasi is that most shops are open seven days a week There are no set hours of business but generally shops in Kusadasi remain open from 09:00 am to 12:00 AM in summer. Every Tuesday and Friday there is a large open market that sells locally grown fruit, vegetables, household items, Turkish embroideries and textiles.Also Uydu kent and Nazilli halk bazaars serving 7 days a week.
Kusadasi Beaches Information
Long Beach
Long Beach which is 15 minutes drive away from Kusadasi is a 6 km long beach area south of Kusadasi. The coastal area is occupied by hotels and Turkish summer house complexes. Long Beach offers deck chairs, Showers, toilets, cafees, restaurants and especially water sports like water skiing, parasailing and jet skiing. 
Green Beach
This beach is only 5 minutes drive from the center of town and almost 5 minute walk from ladies beach area. It's a sandy beach and you can either lie on the sand or on the grass under the palm trees. It's a small and calm beach. On Sundays, however, the beach is quite packed with native vacationers.
Ladies Beach
This beach gives its name to town established near it. Ladies Beach is a sandy beach, 1 km long which offers sun umbrellas, deck chairs, showers, cafees and restaurants across the street from the beach. Ladies Beach, one of the most prefered beaches in the area is extremely crowded on Sundays due to native vacationers. It's only 5 minutes drive or 20 minutes walk from the center of town. The area is full of hotels, apart hotels, pensions and summer houses. You can also enjoy all the water sports activities in this beach.
Papaz Beach
Snake Island bay is a rocky beach area very near the center of town. Snake Island is actually a small peninsula left of Pegion Island. This beach is only 10 minutes walk from the center of town. The beach offers deck chairs, sun umbrellas, cafes and a restaurant. The peninsula provides two beaches one facing south-west and the other north. You can choose between the two depending on the the direction of wind blowing.
Downtown Beach
Downtown beach is the only beach within town, located next to marina, facing harbour. This sandy beach is free of charge.There are no sunbrellas or deck chairs though. It is a convenient beach to take dip in the sea if you are staying in a downtown hotel.
Sunset Beach Club
Sun Set Beach Club which is the next bay from Yesilhamam, is a private facility where you have to pay a certain fee to use the premises. The club offers deck chairs, sun umbrellas, cafe and a restaurant. The area has no sand but there is a concrete-stone mixture platform on the rocks. You can either choose to dive or use the steps to go into the deep water.
Kustur Beach
5 km (3 miles) north of Kusadasi lies Kustur Beach, probably one of the most prefered beach area arround Kusadasi. This area consists of 1 km long sandy shore. The beach and the surroundings were reorginized and rebuilt by the local government and has become more attractive in 2000.The beach area offers deck chairs, sun umbrellas, water sports activities, showers, toilets, sand volleyball court, cafees and restaurants and even an ATM machine in case you need urgent cash ! The beach is quiet crowded on Sundays and national holidays.Watching sun set from this beach is an extraordinary occasion. The sea is usually calm in the mornings and wavy in the afternoons. One can cool down in the clear water in the morning and play around with the waves in the afternoon. To get to and come back from this beach is very easy.
Pamucak Beach
10 km north of town towards Selcuk and only 5 km (3 miles) from the ancient city of Ephesus lies the 5 km (3 miles) long Pamucak Beach. The sandy beach is approximately 80 meters (240 ft) wide. Through the middle of the beach the river Kucuk Menderes meets with the sea. This beach offers no sun umbrellas nor deck chairs. However, you can enjoy horse back riding or camel riding on the beach.Although the beach is visited by lots of local vacationers on Sundays and national holidays, because of its size the beach does not seem crowded
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ABOUT HISTORICAL PLACES AROUND KUSADASI
Ephesus was an Ionian city in ancient Anatolia, located in Ionia, where the Cayster River (Küçük Menderes) flows into the Aegean Sea. The original site of Ancient Ephesus was most likely established on the Aegean coast, on the shores of the sea which is today located 8 km away from the archaeological excavations. It is estimated that it had more than 250,000 inhabitants which makes it the fourth largest city of its time, after Rome, Alexandria and An Antioch.The archaeological site lies in Anatolia, 3 kilometers south of Selçuk, between Aydin and Izmir and about 20 km north of Kusadasi.
A lot of local agencies offer half day (about 4 hours) excursions to Ephesus which include a visit to the Temple of Artemis and full day excursions which then also include a visit to the House of Virgin Mary (7 km from Ephesus).They usually charge about 20 euros for a half day and about 30 euros for a full day excursion (with entrance fees and lunch included).From Kusadasi, you travel north to Ephesus, passing the Byzantine fortress at Selçuk, the ruins of the Temple of Artemis and St. John’s Basilica, Isabey mosque. The tour through the Ancient City begins at its upper gate with a slow, downhill walk with your guide into the ruins of this Roman provincial capital. The route takes you by the Odeum, the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, the Fountain of Trajan and the Great Theater. The Theater had 25,000 seats, was the site where St. Paul preached to the Ephesians and, today, it is used for a local spring festival.
The site contains the largest collection of Roman ruins at the East of the Mediterranean and it is estimated that only 15% has been excavated. It is also the site of a large gladiator graveyard.Ephesus is believed to be the city of the Seven Sleepers who are considered saints by Christians and Muslims. The story tells that they were persecuted because of their belief in God and that they slept in a cave near Ephesus for centuries.Visit to Ephesus might be exhausting, especially during the hot summer months, but it is definitely worth a visit.
The House of the Virgin Mary Staying in Kusadasi gives you an opportunity that you can not miss - to visit Ephesus Ruins and Artemis Temple, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Though it can be quite an exhausting tour, especially in hot summer months, it might still be your best choice to go on a full day excursion (9am-17am) because most agencies in that case include a visit to The House of the Virgin Mary (7 km from Selçuk).
Prices of such excursions range up to 40 € but with a little bargaining you can get it for 30 € (bus, entrance fees, and lunch included). Some of the local agencies have great English speaking guides who will give you a lot of information about the places as well as about Selçuk, Turkish culture, education and daily life. If you decide to visit the house on your own, the entrance fee is 11 YTL.
It is believed that St. John had brought Mary, the mother of Jesus, to Ephesus 4-5 years after the death of Christ and that she lived there until her "Assumption into Heaven". This house which was prepared by St. John beforehand is on Mt. Koressos (Bülbül Daği) and 420 meters high from the sea level. The place of the house where Virgin Mary had spent her last days was found in 1891, by Lazarian priests who used, as a guide, a book written by a German nun Anna Katherina Emmerich who had supposedly established a spiritual communication with Virgin Mary in a trance. It is assumed that the grave of Virgin Mary is also nearby.The stone building was restored some time later and the statue of Virgin Mary in the apse was placed there about a hundred years ago. Today, only the central part and a room on the right of the altar are open to visitors which makes the building look more like a church than a house.
Don't be surprised if the nuns in the church decide you are not "covered enough" and give you a scarf to wear while you pass through the house.
Even if you are not a religious person, you will be amazed with the house that is in the same time a Christian and Muslim shrine. There is a spring as an addition to the peaceful feeling that the entire place gives as they say that the water from it has healing powers...
TheTemple of Artemis If you decide to visit Ephesus while you are staying in Kusadasi, you will also have the chance to see one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis, or what is left of it.A few pieces of marble and a single column comprising the temple's ruins are only about 5 minutes drive from the Bottom Gate of Ephesus which is around 12 miles north of Kusadasi.
From there, you can see Ayasuluk on which Isa Bey Mosque and the Church of St. John stand and, in the distance behind them, the Byzantine castle.
The Artemis of Ephesus, sometimes called Diana, is not the same figure as the Artemis worshiped in Greece. The Greek Artemis is the goddess of the hunt. The Ephesus Artemis was a goddess of fertility and was often pictured as draped with eggs, or multiple breasts, symbols of fertility, from her waist to her shoulders. The goddess bears many features of Anatolian mother goddess Cybele, wearing a mural crown in shape of temple indicating that she is the protector of cities. A crescent on her forehead indicates that she is the moon goddess and she also bore the symbol of the bee, the emblem of Ephesus, which indicates that she is a unique product of Anatolian mythology.
The earliest traces of the Artemision go back to the 8th century B.C. During the first half of the 6th century B.C. it was constructed of marble, 115 meters long, 55 meters wide and 18 meters high and contained a total of 127 columns, 36 facade columns being decorated with reliefs. The temple was destroyed in 356 B.C. by Herostratus, a young Ephesian who burnt it to the ground because he wanted to be mentioned in history. The Ephesian authorities not only executed Herostratus, but, to prevent him from achieving his goal, they also forbid mention of his name under the penalty of death. Obviously, their attempt failed as the ancient historian Theopompus recorded the event and Herostratus in his history and his motivation - fame at any cost, gave us the term herostratic fame.
After that, the Ephesians decided to build a larger and more magnificent temple in place of the old one. In 334 B.C. Alexander the Great passed through Ephesus and learning that the temple had been destroyed and burnt down on his birthday, he offered financial help but asked for the new temple to be dedicated to him. However, the story says that the proud Ephesians refused the offer but didn't want to offend him so they told him: "How can a god help another god?"
Although the temple was rebuilt, it was again destroyed during the invasion of the Goths in 263 A.D. It lost its importance with the spread of Christianity and its remains were used as building material for many buildings for centuries.
PAMUKKALE ( HIERAPOLIS)
Pamukkale has always been a very popular settlement where the hot springs were believed to have healing powers, so the city became the center of a pagan cult in antiquity and a spa resort today. The city was on the borders of Caria, Lycia and Phrygia and had a mixed population. Citizens were usually involved in the wool industry and little has changed as it is still a textile center.
The Natural Aspect The terraces were formed by running warm spring water, at a temperature of 35 °C / 102 °F containing calcium bicarbonate. When the water loses its carbon dioxide it leaves limestone deposits. These are of different colors and shapes in the form of terraces with pools, overhanging surfaces and fascinating stalactite formations. Pamukkale which means "cotton castle" in Turkish takes its name from
these formations. According to scientists, if the water had always flowed at this rate, the terraces must have begun forming 14,000 years ago.A little further away from Pamukkale, near Karahayit village is another thermal spring, Kirmizi Su (the Red Water) with warmer water but less carbon dioxide gas where the running water creates a reddish effect different then the white cotton terraces of Pamukkale.< xml="true" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" prefix="o" namespace="">
SÜMELA MANASTIRI PERGE
Priene.The first establishments in Priene go back till 2000 BC. According to ancient documents, these first settlers were the Banians who mixed with the Ionians. In the Archaic period, the city's location may have been nearer to Miletos on the delta of the Buyuk Menderes (Meander). Later the city moved in the direction of the Mykale Mountains' slope.
The name "Priene" is thought to have a pre-Greek origin when the Cretan islands, ''Praisos and Prianson" had relations with Priene. Before becoming one of the 12 members of the Ionian Confederation and participating to the "Ionian Rebellion", Priene had first been a Lydian dominion for several centuries.
As the city had been demolished, its restoration has been planned by the famous city planner and architect, Hippodamos, who used for the first time the "Grating System": all the constructions were turned to the south in order to benefit a maximum of the day light. The roads were crossing perpendicularly to give the best ventilation system to the city. Approx. 283 BC, a border quarrel arose between Priene and the Greek island Samos. It was only solved one century later when both parties accepted to become Roman vassals. Since then, Priene was under control of the Bergamian King, Attalos II, who was to return the city to the Romans after his death.
Due to endless wars and the alluviums that were invading the city, Priene was worn out and abandoned completely in the XIIIth century AD. How to Go?… Priene is about 35 km from Kusadasi is worth being visited for its Athena Temple, located on the highest point of the city, the Stadion, the Prytanion, the Temple of Demeter and Persephone, the Bouloterion, the Gymnasium and the Amphitheater. To reach Priene; you may take a daily tour to Didyma - Priene - Miletos from any agency in Kusadasi or by a private car, alternatively.
MILLET-PRIENE TRUVA
Miletos is one of the oldest cities of Ionia, located north of Soke, about 60 km away from Kusadasi. The city was on the point where the Buyuk Menderes ("Meander") flew into the Aegean Sea. Because of the alluviums, Miletos has been remote several times from sea, which explains that one can see today different harbors.
Miletos was also the city of many scientists and philosophers such as Thales, Anaximander, Hekataios (principle source to Herodotos) and closer to us, Isidorus, the architect of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Miletos had its alphabet recognized by the Greek world as the official Greek alphabet, basis of the current Latin alphabet.In the Xth BC, Miletos has been invaded by Ionians and the city reached its apogee in the VIIth and VIth centuries and developed in one of the most significant cities of Ionia. In 494 BC, the Tyran (prince - governor) of Miletos, Aristagoras, started the "Ionia Rebellion" against the Persians where they collected some success at first but at the end lost the war. The Persians demolished the city and sent its habitants to Mesopotamia. In 344 BC, Alexander the Great invaded the city and had its trade redeveloped.
In 200 BC, Miletos became the dominion of the Myceneans, fact that is shown by the style of the ceramics in the houses and the city walls. During the Roman Empire, it became an independent city and later a bishopric at early Christian times. During the Byzantine period Miletos was called "Ania". As of that time, due to geographic and climatic changes, the city completely lost of its importance and was to be abandoned. The most important monuments to be seen at Miletos are: the Bath of Faustina, the Delphinion (small temple dedicated to Apollo Delphinion, protector of ships and harbors) and the amphitheater. How to Go?... Miletos is located 55 km south of Kusadasi. There is no direct public transportation from Kusadasi. To reach Miletos; you may take a daily tour to Didyma - Priene - Miletos from any agency in Kusadasi or by a private car , alternatively.
DALYAN NEMRUT
The king also declares that his aim was to provide for the people an "ex- ample of the piety that the gods commanded be shown towards the gods and towards ancestors. "Professor K. Dorner has traced the genealogy of Antiochos 1, who was himself born of a Persian father and a Seleucid-Macedonian mother. His findings indicate that Antiochos I of Commagene claimed descent, through his father Mithridates, from Dareios (Darius) 1 (522-486 B.C.) and, through his mother Laodike, from Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.) Mt Nemrud is located 100 kms from Adiyaman. No reference is made to it in ancient sources. Karl Sester, a German road engineer, rediscovered it in modern times in 1881. An expedition to Mt Nemrud was organized in 1882-83 by Karl Humann and Otto Puchstein, who published their findings in a book entitled Reisen in Kleinasien und Nordsyrien (Berlin 1890). Osman Hamdi Bey and Osgan Effendi also investigated the site in 1883 and their findings were published in a book entitled Le Tumulus de Nemroud Dagh (Istanbul 1883). F. Karl Dorner and Rudolf Naumann mounted an expedition to Mt Nemrud in 1938. Dorner returned to the site after 1951 and began working there with the US researcher Teresa Goell. In 1984, a Turkish-German team led by Professor Dorner successfully carried out restoration work at the site. Excavation and restoration work has been continuing since 1989 under the direction of Sencer Sahin. In 1989, Nemrut Dag and its environs were declared a national park. The tumulus on the summit of Mt Nemrud measures 50 meters high and covers an area 150 meters in diameter. It is formed from stones the size of a fist and is bounded on the east, west, and north by terraced courts carved out of the native rock. The eastern court was the center of the sacred precinct and is the most important group of sculptural and architectural works. It is surrounded on the west by colossal statues, on the east by a fire altar in the shape of a stepped pyramid, and on the north and south by low walls of orthostats (upright stone slabs) standing on a long, narrow base.
KAPADOKYA DIDYMA
The temple was famous all over the Greek world for its oracles so that it even surpassed the reputation of Delphi.The reason for which the harbor of Panamos near Didyma became very busy and was visited by lots of commanders, ordinary and respected people, is that they wanted to learn their future from the priests of the temple. The oracle ceremonies were in two steps: the Pithy would first comment the glitters on the waters of a well and then the priests would translate these into literal and impressive words.
After the Lade War, many of the priests were to escape from the temple or killed by Alexander the Great and the temple of Didyma remained an unimportant temple till the Roman time.
How to Go?... Didyma is located 75 km south of Kusadasi. There is no direct public transportation from Kusadasi. To reach Didyma; you may take minibus to Soke, then to Didim from Soke bus station; or a daily tour to Didyma - Priene - Miletos from any agency in Kusadasi.
KAPADOKYA there are three cities surrounding Cappadocia which are Nevsehir, Urgup and Avanos. Three million years ago the region was erupted of the Mountain Erciyes and Mountain Hasan. In the middle of these three cities the world famous town Goreme with its rock churches is located. With the natural effects of the river Kizilirmak and the wind shaped the soft volcanic rocks and formed the Fairy Chimneys. It took millions of years to form a layer of tuff of the ash from the volcanoes. The very hot and very cold water as well as rain and the wind formed the rocks.
During the beginning of the Christianity many cave churches and monasteries were made here. The Goreme Open Air Museum, Ihlara Valley, Kaymakli and Derinkuyu underground cities, Fairy Chimneys, Avonos, Zelve and Urgup are worth seeing in the region.How to Go?… It is 830km away from Kusadasi. It can be visited by a two day private trip or a self arranged tour on busses from Izmir.
