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Çesme, surrounded on three sides by the Aegean Sea, is the westernmost town in Turkey and about 80 km. from Izmir. The town has great tourism potential with its beaches, pristine sand, clear water and thermal springs. Çesme has a Mediterranean climate. The summer season lasts from March to October with hot, sunny days. But the famous breeze of the Aegean sea “Imbat” brings pleasant relief and will keep you cool even in the hottest summer days. The short winter season is cool and rainy. The average annual sea temperature is 18?C and it is possible to swim for at seven months of the year.
The name "Çesme" meaning fountain refers to the many springs found in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries. It is one of Turkey's most beautiful coastal stretches surrounded by clear blue sea, with a landscape of aniseed, sesame and artichoke fields dotted with fig and gum trees. In the unspoiled bays you can swim in absolute peace. Visitors will find excellent holiday accommodation, restaurants, and sports and entertainment facilities.
Excellent shopping for the finest quality carpets, leather goods, as well as souvenir items is also possible. At night, a lively, fun atmosphere pervades the town, especially in the restaurants, cafes, bars and discos along the promenade. Yachts can be hired to explore the peninsula's splendid coastline. Also, ferries make the run from "Çesme" to Venice on a weekly basis and to Greek Island of Chios daily in the summer time.
Çesme, ancient name Kysus, was founded by Ionians in the 11th century B.C. as a harbour city. In the 7th century B.C., it was completely destroyed during the invasion of the Izmir region by the Lydians. After the Lydian period, Çesme came under the rule of Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C. following his death, it became the part of the Pergamon Kingdom.
In 190 B.C., the Romans defeated the fleet of King Antiochus III. in the seas around Çesme and the Roman rule continued until the 4th century A.D. After then Byzantium took control of the town. In the 14th century Emir Caka Bey and then by one of the Turkish Seljuk tribal leaders, Aydinoglu Gazi Umur Bey got the control of Çesme and it became a Turkish maritime base. During the 15th century Ottomans took Çesme from the Seljuks. And in this period Çesme was known as a treatment resort because of its thermal waters and important for maritime trade and site of naval base.
CESME CASTLE
The castle was built by the Genoese during the 14th century and renovated by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II. The castle of Çesme was destroyed by the Venetians in the 17th and reconstructed in the 18th century. One the castle was on the sea line. The castle attracts attentions with its Ottoman architecture. Especially, the south gate is magnificent. The castle was built on a rectangular plan of 11.700 square metres and divided into an inner and outer section. It is used by Ottomans as both military base and a secure place to carry out maritime trade from the nearby port.
The artefacts from the ancient site of Erythria are exhibited on the museum that is in the castle.
ÇESME MUSEUM
History of Çesme Museum
One of the historical and cultural values of Çesme District worth seeing is the Çesme Fort. Çesme Fort has been constructed in 1508, during the period of Beyazit II. It has been had constructed by Aydin Governor Mir Haydar to Architect Ahmet oglu Mehmet.
Çesme Archeology museum is located in the fort, which reached today being preserved in a very good way. Çesme museum has been opened to visit for the first time in 1965 as a gun museum with the guns brought from Istanbul Topkapi Museum and continued its function in this way until 1984. Since the guns in the museum have been oxidized and begun to deform due to the excess humidity in the hall, they have been transferred to Izmir Archeology and Ödemis Museums. The same exhibition hall has been arranged and used for the exhibition of the works obtained from the rescue excavations made in Ildiri (Erythrai) archaic city, which have been continuing since 1964. God and goddess sculptures made of cooked earth, busts, marble sculptures, silver and bronze coins, golden frames, amphora are being exhibited.
Most important of the visible ruins in Ildiri (Erythrai) is the city walls. Besides this, acropolis and the theatre in north of it and the villa buildings found in the excavations made in the north of the acropolis, Athena temple belonging to the Archaic Period, the church constructed in Byzantine period, Roman villa and mosaics at the location called as Cennettepe, the bath building constructed in Late - Roman - Byzantine Period can be seen.
The visitors can visit the military and civil buildings found as the result of the excavations and researches carried out in Ildiri (Erythrai) archaic city, against no charge.
THE CARAVANSERAI
The caravanserai was established in 1529 during the time of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. Two storied caravanserai has a “U” plan with a large central courtyard surrounded by store rooms and sleeping quarters.
After the restoration, the castle is giving service as a modern hotel of 45 rooms.
THE CHURCH OF AYIOS HARALAMBOS
There is no exact information but it is believed this church was constructed in the 19th century. It is a three naved and two storied basilica.
Today, it is used as a cultural centre under the name of Cakabey cultural Centre.
THE THERMAL CENTERS
Çesme is abundantly endowed with natural hot springs. The holiday resort has two excellent hotels, both of which have complete spas. Sheraton Hotel uses mineral waters from a natural hot spring, while the facilities at Altinyunus Holiday Resort utilise mineral-rich seawater.
Altinyunus Holiday Resort, situated in a cove along the seafront, has 1,030 beds. Its Natural Sea Spa can handle 500 people per day
Physio-chemical characteristics and indications
Sheraton Hotel hot springs contain a high level of sodium chloride and calcium bicarbonate. Water temperature is 55 oC with a pH of 6.5, and mineral content 27.2 gr/lt. The sea water used in the Altinyunus spa has a similar composition. These waters are heated and used for treating rheumatic, dermatological and gynaecological diseases. They are also recommended for neurological exhaustion and to help strengthen the muscles.
Treatments and accommodations.
ILDIRI
Ildiri, a quiet seaside village 20 km Northeast of "Çesme" was ancient Erythrai. Those who climb up to the Acropolis at dusk are rewarded with a beautiful sunset over the bay and islands.
THE ANCIENT TOWN OF ERYTHRAI
It is situated 22 km. south east of Cesme. The earliest findings date to the Bronze Age. Its name is believed to have come from the ancient Greek word “erythros” meaning “red” or “red town”, because the soil around the town is deep red.
Through the ages, Erythrai came under the control of various rulers and was influenced by their particular civilisations. In the 7th century B.C. as an Ionian city, Erythrai was a member of Pan-Ionian League. The city gained fame as a producer of millstones during the period of tyrannical rule. After then Lydians and Persians took control of the city. In 334 B.C. Erythrai was conquered by Alexander the Great to be followed by the kingdom of Pergamon. When this kingdom merged with the Roman Empire, Erythrai was gained the status of independent city.
At this time, Erythrai was renowned for its wines, goats, timber and millstones as well as the female oracles of Cybl and Athenias. The city was famed for being the birth place of Heracleides, the student of Herophilos who was the leader of the school of dogmatic physicians. During the earthquakes and wars, most of the city was damaged in the first century B.C.
During the Byzantium period the city lost its importance.
In 1336, Erythrai came under the rule of the Turks and the name changed as Ildir, its present name.
The remains of the acropolis and theatre were found in the excavations. The traces of a temple at the highest point of the acropolis and city walls were discovered. Other findings are pottery, bowls, stone and clay figures, vases and statues from the 6th and 7th centuries.
ALAÇATI
It is 5 km. south-east of Cesme. the origin of the name of Alacati comes from the Seljucks tents callaed “Alacik” or famous Seljucks horses called “Alaca”.
It is a convenient holiday resort to swim and do all kinds of water sports, or just relax strolling around in the old vineyards, or walk around on the shining cobble stones and discover a surprise around every corner of an old town, or talk to the locals, or even sit in an old coffee .
When you come to Alaçati, you will notice a beautiful pine-tree tunnelled road and windmills. There are the little coffee-houses, shops, barber-shops, restaurants, mosque at the heart of Alaçati.
Alaçati became an Ottoman town in 14th century, but it is a well known fact that Alacati was a Greek settlement area. Most of these houses still remain in Alaçati as an attraction for people to see and absorb the feeling of life in the past. The houses has no front garden and the main doors open straight into the streets. All houses are more or less the same terraced houses with protective wooden shutters on the ground-floor windows. Mostly the houses are two floors with "cumba (bay window) " on the second floor giving an excellent view of the street to the occupants.
There is a mosque that was was originally a church known as the "Ayios Konstantinos" in the centre. .
WINDSURF IN ALACATI
With its 1.8 kms width, over 5 kms depth, crystal clear waters, azure blue skies, consistent and steady winds, topography and location Alacati is an ideal windsurfing spot in Europe. Both, the very shape of the bay and the thermal water pressures, create steady and consistent winds blowing side-shore from North to South (Poyraz) in summer and from South to North (Lodos) in winter months.
First time windsurfers love the place as the waist-deep and sand covered shallow water area extends for 500 meters from shore into the bay creating perfect conditions for beginners of all ages. Easy recovery from falls adds a new dimension to both teaching and learning to windsurf.
Consistent steady winds, combined with the best equipment ready and all rigged up steps away from the water is also an opportunity for speed or wave lovers not to miss. In summer, the North wind creates perfect conditions for flat-water high-speed windsurfing, whereas in winter the South wind creates waves steady enough even to please the big wave-funs.
Do not miss to taste mastic (Sakiz in Turkish) jam and ice cream.
Try to taste a special sandwich of Cesme, called Kumru ( dove ) because of its bread shape.
German Version
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