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Aydin
and Kusadasi
A night in Kusadasi
| The province's
capital, also called Aydin, enjoys a widespreact reputation for its fine
figs. Known as Tralleis in ancient times, it was at the center of a
celebrated sculpture school. The remains seen today date from the second
century A.D. After 1186 the town came under Seljuk rule, and the local
museum displays artifacts from the different periods of its history.
|
Kusadasi |
Back along the
coast, Kusadasi, or Bird Island, is a lovely port built along the
shores of a glittering bay. The terraced town overlooks the most
beautiful inlet of the Aegean and seems to have been createct purely
for the delight of the holiday-maker.
Be sure to visit the famous and popular Kusadasi shopping center in
the Kaleici quarter, where there is nightlong entertainment. A large,
modern marina facilitates life for visiting yachters.
Tusan-Kustur Beach, north of Kusadasi lies one ot the cleanest beaches
and 23 km south of Kusadasi is the charming holiday-resort town of
Guzelcamli. West of Guzelcamli and 30 km from Kusadasi, is the Dilek
Peninsula National Park, and a visit is a must for those with the
time. Here amidst incredibly beautiful surroundings are some of the
most wonderful views and some of the rarest wild animals in Turkey,
including the Anatolian cheetah and some of Turkey's last wild horses.
The park is a wildlife preserve and a haven for many species of
animals and birds. |
| The exquisite
Menderes River valley, known in the West as the Meander, has been the
cradle of many civilizations. Set amidst pine, olive and oleander
trees, the magnificent Camici(Bafa) Lake is a lovely place to stopover.
Tourists can choose between guest-houses or campsites. To the east of
the lake rise the five peaks of the Besparmak Mountains. The
Iconoclastic priests who came here to live, from Constantinople, built
monasteries, churches, and chapels around the base of the mountains
and on the lake's islands. The ruins of the ancient city of Heraklia
lie close to the lake, while the remains of Alinda are found on the
eastern slopes of the Besparmak Mountains. The valley has witnessed
the rise and fall of several great cities,notably Priene,
Miletos,
Didyma,
Aphrodisias, and Hierapolis. This peaceful national reserve is
an excellent place for bird-watchers, trekkers, nature-lovers and
photographers. |
Apollo Temple, didim |
|
Kusadasi |
Gullubahce(Priene)
was one of the most active ports of the Ionian Federation. The
gridlike system of streets introduced in the fourth century B.C. by
Hippodamos of Miletos is a superb and early example of town planning.
Milet (Miletos), like Priene, was a great Ionian port and the
birthplace of several philosophers and sages. The theater justifies a
visit, and be sure to see the well-preserved ruins of the Faustina
baths and the Archaeciogical Museum.
Although Didim (Didyma) can only boast of a single monument, it is
nevertheless a marvelous site. The Temple of Apollo was one of
antiquity's most sacred places. Many times looted and burned, the
sanctuary still impresses with its elegant beauty.
A portico of double colonnades surround the colossal temple. Not far
from the archaeological site, the beautiful beach of Altinkum tempts
with its many guest houses.Akbuk is another holiday resort in the
region with nice beach hotels. |
| Although the
history of Geyre(Aphrodisias) stretches back in time, the city, which
was dedicated to Aphrodite,goddess of love and fertility, rose to
prominence in the first century B.C. Some of the richest treasures of
ancient times were uncovered in the excavations of this city. The
public buildings are handsomely adorned with marble that was carved
with astonishing skill, producing remarkable temples, monuments, baths,
a theater and a magnificent stadium. The reputation of the city's
craftsmen for the exquisite finesse of their statuary and marble
sculpting spread through the civilized world, and Aphrodisias became
the center of the greatest sculpting school of antiquity. Many of its
marvelous works of art are now housed in the local museum. The theater
and bouleuterion are among the city's best-preserved ruins.
|
Temple of Athena
Priene |
|
| About 35
kilometers east of Aydin lies Sultanhisar, host to an Art and Culture
Festival every spring. Nearby, in the quiet of the olive trees, are the
ruins of ancient Nysa,famous in the second century A.D. as an educational
center. |
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