Where to Stay - Turkey

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important port on the Aegean and a commercial
centre, which also played a significant role in
the spread of Christianity. It has been well
excavated and gives the visitor a real sense
of the scale of the city and of what life may
have been like in Roman times. As well as the
grand public buildings such as the impressive
Library of Celsus, the theatre and the Temple
of Hadrian, the remains include streets, private
houses, public toilets and even a brothel. Most
of the remains date from the 4th century BC,
although there was probably a city on this site
as far back as 1000 BC.
The Virgin Mary is believed to have spent her
last days in Ephesus, which was one of the
Seven Churches of the Apocalypse mentioned in
Revelations. The other churches too are around
this area of Turkey. For further information
see page 44.
Nearby in Selçuk is the Basilica of St. John,
dating from the 6th century and a Byzantine
citadel.
Pergamum
Pergamum, modern-day Bergama, is another
of the Seven Churches. It is one of Turkey’s
most impressive sites, the ruins of the ancient
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city set high on a
hillside dramatically
overlooking the modern
town. It was a great
centre of culture with
a famous library and the renowned Asclepion,
dedicated to the god of health. The theatre is
well-preserved and set into a steep hillside and
the other remains include the monumental altar
of Zeus, a gymnasium and the agora.
İzmir
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İzmir is the third largest of Turkey’s cities and
the second largest port after İstanbul. Known in
ancient times as Smyrna, it has had a long and
illustrious past, and today, has a reputation as a
relaxed, cosmopolitan city and cultural centre.
It has no beach but it certainly merits a day-trip
from any of the resorts nearby. It is good for
shopping and there is plenty of cultural and
historic interest including the superb Archaeological
Museum, the Fine Arts Museum and
the Ethnography Museum. Some of the best
views of the city are to be enjoyed from the
vantage point of the Kadifekale (translated as
‘velvet castle’), the ruined castle which stands
high above the city and was built during the
reign of Alexander the Great. The Agora or
marketplace is a remnant of the Roman city,
and there are a number of significant Ottoman
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buildings including: the Konak Clock Tower
(saat kulesi) which has become a symbol of
the city; the Kızlarağası Han, a restored travellers’
inn, which is now a craft market; and the
Asansör, a working elevator.
Çeşme
Çeşme is a charming, sleepy resort town,
dominated by the 14th century castle of St.
Peter. It has two main streets, where shops,
restaurants and a couple
of bars are situated. Most
of the hotels are set on the
beaches outside the centre.
Ilıca is one of the most
impressive, with its fine,
white sand, and Altınkum
(golden sand) beach
is also renowned. The
peninsula has excellent
conditions for windsurfing
and Alaçati beach is one
of the best spots for this.
Çeşme means ‘spring’,
named after the natural
springs found in the area. Ilıca is still a popular
centre for thermal treatments. For further details
see page 46. Ferries run between ports in Italy
and Çeşme as well as between Çeşme and
the Greek island of Chios. See the factfile
for details.
Ayvalık
Ayvalık is an attractive port, surrounded by
pine forests, with charming stone houses and
cobbled streets. It is popular with local Turkish
holidaymakers and a great place for those who
want to escape the crowds and soak up the
authentic atmosphere. There are good sandy
beaches approx. 6 kms south of the town in
the area of Sarmısaklı.
Altınkum
Altınkum literally means ‘golden sand’ an apt
description of the beautiful beach in this relaxed
resort. Popular with families it has a range
of accommodation and plenty of restaurants
and bars for entertainment. There are lots of
shops and an attractive street market in the