KUSADASI, one of the most popular holiday resorts on the West coast of TURKEY, is located about 70 km / one hour from Izmir airport. Being close to several important archeological sites, typical rural villages and the Natural Park of Dilek explains that Kusadasi attracts several cruise ships and lots of tourists choose to spend their holidays here and explains that Kusadasi attracts several cruise ships.

    In fact, KUSADASI is a very contrasted place : you can enjoy a drink on a silent terrace admiring the sunset or magnificent panorama spend your time in a mad-city where night life will make you confuse day and night,  live the real village life in winter. Once you have come , you will feal yourself at home.

LADIES BEACH

HISTORY OF KUSADASI

castel & marina

Although it is not known exactly when and by whom the city was founded, it is thought that it was first built where it is today called "Yilanburnu" near Kusadasi, by the lonians named as "Neopolis" and bound to Ephesus.

The city itself, was situated at the place called "Andiz" tower which was on the lower slopes of Phill, as a province of Byzantium, but shortly after, it was economically dominated by the Genoeses and the Venetians.

Because of transportaiton difficulties, the city was moved from Andiz Tower to its today's place and was called the new harbour.

Getting its name from the city , the Kusadasi bay and its surroundings are known as the the art and culture centers of various civilizations since ancient times.

In 3000 B.C. the Lelegians, in the llth Century B.C. Acolians, in the l9th Century B.C. the lonians who were merchants and the sailors soon became rich with trade overseas and gained political power. They founded twelve cities called "lonian Colonies."

In the ancient times, Kusadasi was one of the main harbours Anatolia opened to the Mediterranean Sea. It was called "Neopholis" then.

In the 7th Century B.C. Lydians dominated the city and called their capital as Sardes.

In 546 B.C. Persians dominated the city until the Macedonian King Great Alexander's invasion of the whole Anatolia, in 33 B.C. With this invasion a new era in art and culture started as the result of the mixture of Greek civilization. This era is called "Hellenistic Age." Ephesus, Milethos, Priene, Didyma were the most famous cities of the period.

In the 2nd Century B.C. Romans conquered the city. During the first years of Christianity, as the Virgin Mary and St John settled in Ephesus, the region became a religious center. In the Christianity period, Milethos was a Bishopric Center, and called as "Ania" in the Byzantium Period. In the Middle Ages, Kadasi was a harbour used by the pirates. In the l5th Century, it was called " Scala Nuova" under the domination of the Venetians and the Genoeses.

With Kiliç Arslan the 2nd's invasion in 1186, the city became a part of the Slejuk State under the Turkish domination. It became an end-point of the land-trade roads open to the Aegean Sea for exportation abroad.

With the fall of the Slejuk State, the Conventions era started and the Aydinogullari Convention dominated the region until the Ottomans domination in the l5th Century.

In 1413, Kusadasi became a part of the Ottoman territory by Sultan Mehmed Çelebi. Then it remained Turkish and many Turkish buildings were built in the city. Today's Caravanserai and city walls were built by Ox Mehmed Pasha.

Before there were three gates to the city which was surrounded with walls. Today one of these three, seperates the barbaros hayettin Pasha Street and the Kahramanlar Street from each other and the top of it is as the regional traffic city office. The other two gates are not present today.

The isle was a sea patrol for the security of the shores the Ottomans and the Venetians usedGüvercin ada (Pigeon Island) as an Important military base of the city. In 1834 it was repaired and its famaous citedal was built.The name of Kusadasi comes from this citedal.

Until 1954,the capital of the province was Izmir.With the change of capital to Aydin it advanced rapidly.

The city is 264 km2 and the population is about 40.000

The island after which the town was named, is no longer an island proper.It was connected to the mainland coast against possible attracks during the Mora uprisings (1834). There seems to be no definite date as to beginning of human settlements im Kusadasi. The town was ruled by the Persians during their extended invasion of Anatolia and then subsequently by alexander the Great, the Kingdom of Pergamum and the host for meetings of the lonian League (Panionion) which were held at the holy place dedicated to Poseidon Helikonios, on the foothills of Mycale Mountain of today's Guzelcamli region.

The summer resort of today served the very same purpose for Efes (Ephesus), centuries ago, during teh Roman Period. The mosaics near tusan Hotel are proof of this. Much later, sometýme after 1071 AD, the town was invaded by the seljuks and by the Ottomans after 1426. Though not much of a trace of that rich past could survive, quite luckly, we still can see some. The hillside where the Kustur Holiday Club disco is set up today, was once the place where Pygela, of which we can still see the remains of the aqueduct belonging to the Roman Period. Aqueducts of the Ottomans are   on the Burgaz road. The Venetian castle at Kadikale locality near Davutlar and the ancient town Anaia 2 km from the castle are other historical sites. The tumulus, now within the forest campsite boundaies on the Efes road, belongs to the Hellenistic Period.