One of the important historical cities in the Aegean Region is Bergama (Pergamum). The Asclepion, which was one of the oldest and largest hospitals in history, is located to the west of the city, which was a great center of culture,  art  and medicine in ancient times. There are snake friezes, which were the symbol of Aesculapius carved at the entrance of the hospital constructed to commemorate Aesculapius, the god of health. This symbol later became the symbol of medical science. Galen of Pergamum, the famous physician, practiced medicine here. The most important architectural monuments of Pergamum are located in the acropolis, east of the town. The famous library with 200,000 books, the Temples of Athena and Trajaneum, the steepest amphitheater in the world and the foundations of the Altar of Zeus, regarded as one of the art wonders of the world, are located here. Today, the entire altar of Zeus is on display in the Pergamum Museum in Berlin.

Famous Cities of the Ancient Eras. The Southern Aegean Region is one of the most important tourist regions in Turkey due to beautiful resort towns and famous ancient cities. Two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are located in this region. These are the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus and the Mausoleum of King Mausolus in Bodrum.

Ephesus, which is one of the most famous cities of ancient times, displays the wealth of Ionian culture. Upon entering the eastern gate of the city, there is the Eastern Agora, the Odeon, the Temple of   Domitian,  the  Pollio  Fountain,  the
 

The tiled mosques of KÜTAHYA

Celsus Library, Ephesus - İZMİR

The House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus - İZMİR

Trajan Fountain, the Scolastica Baths, hillside houses, the Temple of Hadrian, the Celsus Library, the Lower Agora, the Marbled Street, the Grand Theater, the Arcadian Avenue and the Church of Virgin Mary.

The house of Virgin Mary is also near Ephesus. According to one Christian tradition, St. John, the follower of Jesus is said to have brought Virgin Mary to Ephesus after Jesus’ Ascension. She lived in a small stone house which can be seen today on Bülbül (Nightingale) Mountain in Ephesus. There is a statue of Virgin Mary inside the edifice. Moreover, close by, there is a spring the water of which is believed to be holy and healing the ill.

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, is located next to the Seljuk road. The Ephesus Archaeological Museum, St. John’s Basilica, the Citadel, the İsa Bey Mosque and the Grand Mosque in Selçuk are also spots of interest for visitors.

The province of Aydın on the shores of the Aegean is also surrounded by ancient cities among which are Tralles, Alinda, Alabanda, Nysa, Magnesia and Priene. Ancient Priene was one of the first cities in history built according to a city plan. Other ancient cities here are Miletus where the renowned mathematician Thales lived, Didyma, the site of the Temple of Apollo, Herakleia and Aphrodisias. Aphrodisias is one of the most  magnificent  of  the  ancient

Windmill, Bodrum - MUĞLA

cities in the Aegean. The city, which was constructed by extensive use of marble, is famous throughout the world for its sculptures. There are the Stadium, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Odeon, the Hadrian Bath, the Agora, the Theater and the Theater Baths in the city.

The town of Bodrum on the Aegean shores, with its white Mediterranean   architecture,  has  the  same  name  as  the

A cruise along the reed-beds, Dalyan - MUĞLA

Bencik Bay, Marmaris - MUĞLA

peninsula on which it is located. It is also an important yachting center. The Gulet model, a type of schooner, originates in Bodrum and is admired and sought after in all Mediterranean countries for yacht tourism. The tomb of Mausolus, known as the Mausoleum in Bodrum, is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Mausolus, the King of Caria was buried in this splendid marble tomb in the 4^th century B.C. However, only the remains of the foundations can be seen today. The location of the ancient theater is exquisite.

Datça Peninsula is Turkey’s narrowest and longest peninsula extending towards the Aegean Sea. The famous ancient city of Knidos, a center of culture and art in ancient times, is at the tip of the peninsula. The city was famous for its statue of Aphrodite, carved by Praxiteles, the eminent sculptor, in the 4^th century B.C., but in spite of all efforts deployed, the statue has not been found. There is a good replica of the statue at the Vatican Museum in Rome.

Marmaris, which is located around a bay with the same name, is a popular holiday destination due to its beaches, recreational areas, cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars. Fethiye is famous for its natural beauty and Köyceğiz, has a well-known lake ideal for water skiing, water cycling, sailing, and rowing activities. All of the afore-mentioned world famous tourist resorts are located in Muğla province.

Sığacık is an important yachting center to the south of the Çeşme Peninsula. There are very beautiful bays around Sığacık. Close to Sığacık there are two ancient cities; one is the ancient city of Teos, which was the city of Dionysus, the god of wine, and the other is the ancient city of Claros with its Temple of Apollo. Gümüldür, a tourism resort to the southeast of Sığacık is known for its beaches.

Foça (Phocaea), another holiday resort to the north of İzmir, was an important trading center in ancient times. The Phocaeans, who were also sailors, established trading colonies in various parts of the Mediterranean. As a matter of fact, famous cities on the French Riviera such as Marseilles, Nice, and Cannes were founded by the Phocaeans. The song “Marseille” was an old Phocaean folk tune introduced to the French by the Phocaeans, and it later became the national anthem of the French (La Marseillaise). Çandarlı and Dikili are located to the north of Foça.

The Inland Aegean Region. Denizli, the second largest city in the Aegean region after İzmir, is located in the hinterland of this region. This province has the greatest number of thermal springs in the region and it is particularly famous for its quality textile industry products. Pamukkale, which is known as a natural wonder throughout the world, besides its beneficial thermal springs, is a center of recreation that has been visited with pleasure since Roman times. Of the counties of Denizli, surrounded by the ancient cities such as Laodiceia and Colossae, Güney is famous for its wines and falls, Buldan for its weaving industry and Çal for its vineyards. Founded at the slopes of Mt. Sipylus at a distance of 40 km. from İzmir, Manisa is surrounded by vineyards. The Mt. Sipylus National Park is to the south of Manisa. The tulip, which was used frequently in Ottoman art and even gave its name to a period in Ottoman history, was first spotted on this mountain by the Ottomans. The tulip bulb was then taken to the cities and palaces to be cultivated. Today, hundreds of different tulips bloom in this national park during springtime.

The “Mesir” Festival is held annually in March. “Mesir Macunu” which is believed to have cured Ayşe Sultan, the mother of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, is made by mixing various spices and is traditionally distributed to the public during the festival from the veranda of the Sultan Mosque. The most splendid antique city of Manisa, which has many magnificent mosques of the Ottoman Period, is Sardis. Sardis, the capital city of the Lydian Kingdom, located at the starting point of the famous “King’s Road” which extends towards the east, had been an important trading center. In fact, Sardis was the first  city  in  the  world

Artemis Temple, Sardis - MANİSA

where metal coins were used in trade. The Temple of Artemis, the restored Gymnasium and one of the oldest and largest synagogues in Anatolia (constructed in the 3^rd century A.D.) are the most frequently visited sites in the city today.

The city of Afyon, founded at the foot of a hill on which there is a citadel, has a rich history. Artifacts  from the  region  are exhibited in the Afyon Museum. The most important section of the museum is the hall, where the artifacts belonging to the Phrygian period are exhibited. Aslankaya, Aslantaş, Maltaş and Yılantaş are Phrygian open-air temples of monumental dimensions located to the north of the city. Furthermore, the Suçıkan Park in Dinar, where the mythological music contest between the God Apollo and Pan took place, is beautiful and worth se eing.

Çeşme, which is connected to İzmir by highway, is among the most developed holiday resorts in Turkey. The magnificent Çeşme Citadel was constructed by the Ottomans in the 16^th century. Besides the citadel, the Süleyman the Magnificent Caravanserai, which was restored and converted into a hotel dates back to the 16^th century. In this district where yachting is also developed, there are ideal coves for yachting enthusiasts to shelter overnight like the Altınyunus Marina. An International Song Contest is also held in Çeşme every year.

Ilıca is a developed thermal spring center close to Çeşme. Long beaches of fine sand extend along the shores of  Ilıca,
 

Ilıca Beach, Çeşme - İZMİR

Pamukkale Thermal Baths - DENİZLİ

and the hot mineral water sources in the sea are unique. There are more than 250 thermal water sources found only in Ilıca Bay.

İzmir, the “Pearl of the Aegean”. “Beautiful İzmir”, where Homer, the famous ancient epic bard was born, is an important center of tourism, arts, culture, trade and industry. It is a focal point of interest due to its historical riches dating back to ancient times as well as its scenic wonders.

Bayraklı, the first settlement in İzmir, was established in 3000 B.C. İzmir came under the influence of the Hittite State after 1500 B.C. In the 4^th century B.C., Alexander the Great had the citadel constructed, and he rebuilt the city on the slopes of Kadifekale. The city was a prominent center during the Roman period and Ottoman sovereignty came after the Byzantine period. İzmir, was occupied by the Greeks in 1919 and liberated on September 9, 1922 in the National War of Independence, and it quickly became Turkey’s third largest city. The Clock Tower at Konak Square, located at the city center, is the symbol of the city. The largest Atatürk statue in Turkey is at Belkahve, where Atatürk entered İzmir.

The Kültürpark (Culture-park), at the center of the city, is the scene of the annual International İzmir Fair which draws great interest. The city is also  known  for  the  International

İzmir Festival, which is among the most prestigious festivals in Turkey. Çeşme, located to the west of İzmir, is a large peninsula. There are mountains, forests, numerous beaches, settlements, holiday towns and ancient cities around Çeşme. Urla port and Çeşmealtı are famous for their beautiful beaches and islands. Balıklıova attracts visitors because of its fresh fish; Mordoğan and Karaburun are famous for their virgin, unspoiled shores and verdant areas, where narcissus and hyacinth grow in the mountains in wintertime.