NEARBY

Cesme

Cesme is a town on the west coast of Turkey and one of the districts of Izmir Province. It is a prominent center of international tourism in Turkey and is famous for its clubs, beaches and fish restaurants. The nearby depending townships of Ilica and Alacati are also very notable in this respect. It lies across a narrow strait from the Greek island of Chios.
The Cesme Peninsula is a western part of Karaburun Peninsula, surrounded by Aegean Sea, in the west of Izmir, in Turkey's Aegean region. Cesme, (meaning fountain in Turkish) derives from the many sources of water found in the area. It is one of Turkey's touristic areas with landscapes of cultivated fields of aniseed, sesame and artichokes dotted with fig and gum trees. There are many Blue-flag bays nearby. Alacati, near Cesme,is a windy area in all seasons and so it is a famous windsurf palace. Visitors will find excellent holiday accommodations, restaurants and sports and entertainment facilities. Cesme has an international harbor linked to İzmir with a superb highway (80 km). Also it is possible to visit daily Greek islands by ferry from Cesme port.


Foça-Phokaia

Phokaia was an ancient Ionian Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia. Greek colonists from Phocaea founded the colony of Massalia (the modern day Marseille, in France) in 600 BC, Emporion (the modern day Empúries, in Catalonia) in 575 BC and Elea (modern day Velia, in (Campania, Italy) in 540 BC.



Sirince

Sirince lies in the 8km east of Selcuk in the midst of natural and historical beauties. The history of village dates back tothe5th century A.D. Once the village was called Kirkinca or Cirkince which means ugly. The previous name of the village is saidto be"The Ephesus on the hill" as well.According to some historical sources whenAydınogulları Principality took Selçuk,someof the towns inhabitants fled to Sirince. The village is surrounded with grapevines, olive trees and peach orchards. Besides two churches, which were built in early 19th century, the classical Anatolian architectural properties are worth visiting. Sirince is a lovely village with its web like streets, two storied authentic houses, hardworking and hospitable people and special wine made at homes.



Selcuk-Efes

Selcuk is the central town of Selcuk district, Izmir Province in Turkey, 18 km northeast of Kusadasi, 3 km northeast of Ephesus. Its name comes from the Seljuk Turks who settled in the region by the 12th century. Selçuk is one of the most visited touristicdestinations within Turkey, known for its closeness to the ancient city of Ephesus,House of the Virgin Mary and Seljukian works of art. The 6th century basilica of St. John the Apostle, which, some claim, is built on thesite of the Apostle's tomb, is also inside the town. However with the vast majority of tourists only using Selcuk as a stopping point for Ephesus and not visiting the town itself, the old quarter ofSelçuk remains generally undisturbed and undeveloped, retaining traditional Turkish culture and locality. Ayasoluk Hill dominates the surrounding area, with several historical buildings on its slopes, including the Isa Bey Mosque built by the Seljuk Turks in 1375, and the Grand Fortress. The Ephesus Airport and Selcuk Training Center of the Turkish Aeronautical Association is only 3 kilometers away from Selcuk, offering piloting, parachuting, and microlight training.The annual camel wrestling championship takes place in Selcuk in the Winter, near Ephesus.

Seferihisar -Teos

Sights of interest include the ancient city of Teos near Sıgacik locality, the ruins locally called as Karakose in Doganbey - Gerenalanı region, the depending locality of Sıgacik itself where an inner castle was constructed within a larger one by the Ottomans and near which a French vacation village is also situated. Seferihisar also has beautiful beaches and bays along its 27 km. coastal strait.
Teos (Greek) or Teo,) was a maritime city of Ionia, on a peninsula between Chytrium and Myonnesus, colonized by Orchomenian Minyans, Ionians, and Boeotians. It was the birthplace of Anacreon the poet, Hecateus the historian, Protagoras the sophist, Scythinus the poet, Andron the geographer, and Apellicon, the preserver of the works of Aristotle.
Teos was a flourishing sea-port with two fine harbours until Cyrus the Great invaded Lydia and Ionia (ca. 540 BC). The Teans found it prudent to retire overseas, to the newly founded colonies of Abdera in Thrace and Phanagoria on the Asian side of the Cimmerian Bosporus.
Having lost its former importance, Teos ranked among twelve cities comprising the Ionian League. The port was revived by Antigonus Cyclops; and Epicurus reportedly studied there under a disciple of Democritus. During the times of the Roman emperors, the town was noted for its wine and the temple of Dionysus. The modern city of Sıgacık is situated close to the ruins of Teos.
Vitruvius (vii, introduction) notes Hermogenes of Priene as the architect of the monopteral temple for Father Bacchus at Teos.

Sardes

Sardes was situated in the middle of Hermus valley, at the foot of Mount Tmolus, a steep and lofty spur which formed the citadel. It was about 2-1/2 miles south of the Hermus. Today, the site is located by the present day village of Sart, near Salihli in the Manisa province of Turkey, close to the Ankara - Izmir highway (approximately 72 kilometers from Izmir). The part of remains including the bath-gymnasium complex, synagogue and Byzantine shops is open to visitors year-round.

Bergama - Phergamon

Bergama was famous in Hellenic and Roman times for its great library and as themedical center it is here where Galen laid the foundation for modern medical practice.There are plenty of ruins here, the Sanctuary of Asclepius (or Asclepeion) a tribute to the Ancient Greek demigod of healing, and the Red Basilica complex (Kızıl Avlu inTurkish) a second century AD construction of the emperor Hadrian that straddles the Selinus River, the Alter of Zeuce, a great amphitheater, the library lots of things to stroll around and wonder about. There is also a well stocked museum in the town of Bergama you can visit.
Bergama today is largely rural community mainly growing cotton, tobacco, grapes, and olives there are also textile and leather factories in the town, Bergama is also famous for it's hand woven carpets and prayer mats which are normally in rich blue and red color and somewhat "squarer" than "typical" oriental carpets.