Kuşadası
Located 71 kilometers from the Aydin provincial capital, the county of Kusadasi includes the eastern and southeastern coastal plain of the Kusadasi gulf as well as the low plateau immediately inland of it. The county is enclosed by mountains to the east and south.
The driving force of the county’s economy is tourism and the businesses and services associated with such enterprises, though agriculture is still an important activity.
The county seat borders on Selguk and Pamucak to the north and terminates in the Dilek peninsula on the south. Because Ku§adasi is so conveniently located for access to such important touristic areas as izmir, Efes, Meryem Ana, Selguk, Milet, Didim, Pamukkale, Marmaris, and Bodrum, it is unquestionably the most important tourism center in western Anatolia. Owing also to its proximity to the Greek island of Samos, it also serves as crossing-point for tourists passing between Turkey and Greece.
The abundant availability of means of transportation has been one of the most important factors contributing to the county’s development. Highways provide convenient connections to Menderes International Airport (Izmir) and work is underway on a project for a local airport serving Kusadasi. Ku§adasi also contains two main harbors, one of them being a yacht basin offering full international-class services.
Within the town and in its immediate vicinity there are a large number of beaches, hotels, motels, camping grounds, holiday villages, and other places of entertainment and for this reason, life here during the summer months is quite active and varied.
While there are a number of different theses concerning when and by whom the town was originally founded, its location between the ancient Ionian settlement of Pygela nearby to the north and Panionium to the south in the town of Davutlar as well as the substantial development here both indicate that Kusadasi must be quite an old settlement.
Kusadasi came under Ottoman control in 1413 and a number of public improvements were made by Oküz Mehmet Pasha. Under successive Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman control, Kusadasi fulfilled a number of important duties as a port and military base. It became part of the province of Aydin in 1954.
Panionium
The Panionium was a temple built by the twelve cities of Ionia located in what is now the town of Davutlar. The lonians gathered here to hold the festival called the Panionia and also to deliberate and come to decisions on matters affecting them all.
Neapolis
Neapolis is located on Yilanci Burnu quite near Kusadasi. It is believed to be the oldest Ionian settlement in the area.
Küçük Ada Kalesi
Located on Guvercin island in the bay, this fort is a rather old structure. In the 19th century, it was used by the Ottomans as on advanced outpost against possible attacks from the islands during the Morean rebellion. When the island’s pier was built, the island was connected to the mainland by means of a breakwater and a road.
Okuz Mehmet Pasha Kervansarayi
Located near the Kusadasi pier, this caravanserai was also built in 1618 by Okuz Mehmet Pasha. The structure is surrounded by high crenellated walls like a fortress and has two stories and an interior courtyard. It is used as a hotel nowadays.
Kaleiçi Camii
Located within the Kusadasi shopping area, this mosque was built in 1618 by Grand Vizier Okuz Mehmet Pasha. The doors on the entrance are decorated with interlocking geometric patterns and are inlaid with mother of pearl.
Kaleiçi Hamami
Another addition to Kusadasi’s architecture by Okuz Mehmet Pasha, the hammam was built at the same time as the caravanserai and fortress.
