Kusadasi
Kuşadası is a town derives its name from the peninsula where it lays on, in part bordering on the Aegean Sea. It has 57.000 inhabitants but this number rises to aver hafl a million in the high season. It is the center of the sea side district of the same name in Aydın Province. The penunsula has the shape of a bird’s head. Which is why it is called ‘The Bird’s Island’ (Kuş Adası).
Kuşadası is situated on the west coast of Turkey and only 44 miles (71km) from Aydın city centrum and 59 miles (95km) from İzmir, the 3rd biggest city of Turkey. Due to its location being close to the other tourist attractions such as Ephesus,Artemis Temple, The House of Mother Mary, Hierapolis in Pamukkale, Priene and Miletus ancient harbor cities, Didyma, Nysa, Izmir (Smyrna), Pergamon(asclepion), Bodrum etc.. makes it even more attractive to everyone.
Although for most of the tourists whom visit the peninsula, it is just another sea&sun holiday resort in the Aegean Region of Turkey, its backround being so rich, calls the ones ready to be charmed by history and mythology.The area around today’s Kusadasi town was already inhabited during the Neolithic Era (6000 BC).Since then there had been many different civilizations and peoples on its firtile lands and the shores of its generous see.
Before becoming a tourist attraction in about 1980’s, it was a modest town with its population consisting mostly of farmers and fishermen. Within almost three decates alot has changed and in 2008, 637 ships with 550.171 tourists visited Kusadasi.
As the area surrounding Kusadasi had been a cradle to numerous civilizations, it is quite possible to see traces of the remains from the neolithic period until present day. Settlements dating back to 5th-3rd millenium BC to there had been many different nations trought the centuries such as Native Anatolians (Lelegians and Carians), Ionians (people came from Greece), Cimmerians, Lydians, Persians, Seleucids, Romans, Byzantions, Arabs, Seljuk Turks,..
Kusadasi, lying on the popular trade roads of all times and the rich soils of its lands attracted peoples to this area through the ages and actually keeps attracting the crowds today with its mild klimate, charming beaches and natur and of course with the ancient cities and ruins around it.
