I’m in one of the first places that come to mind when it comes to summer vacation in the Aegean, Ayvalık! With its olive-scented, cobblestone streets and Greek houses with bay windows, it is as if you are at peace the moment you step in.. Without further ado, let’s get to the topic.. In this article, you will find information about places to visit in Ayvalık, Cunda Island and places to visit in Cunda.. If you’re ready, let’s move on to the Ayvalık Travel Guide.
The History of Ayvalık
Ayvalık 18. and 20. It was a very rich and powerful port city between the centuries.. During the Ottoman Empire, it was considered the richest settlement in the Aegean with its soaps produced in factories, wines produced in its vineyards, olive oil, and skins cleaned in tanneries.. On the other hand, Ayvalık became the culture and art center of the Aegean during the period when academics and artists from Greece migrated here.. Even an academy was established at that time, providing education in the branches of philosophy, logic, physics, mathematics and sculpture.. With the immigration from Greece, the Greek population in Ayvalık has reached 100 times the Turkish population.. In a way, the city became rich thanks to the Greeks who produced and traded olives, soap and leather.. For this reason, thanks to the fact that it is a rich Greek settlement, the Greek culture, from its architecture to its cuisine, has become a legacy inherited from Ayvalık.
Places to Visit in Ayvalık
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Ayvalık is surrounded by Gömeç in the northeast, Kozak in the southeast, Dikili and Bergama in the south, and the Aegean Sea in the west.. Right across Ayvalık, the third largest island of Greece, Lesbos Island, is close enough to be seen with the naked eye.. You can think of places to visit in Ayvalık as the area where the central settlement is located and around Cunda Island.. You can visit Ayvalık Bazaar on foot, and you can reach Cunda Island in 15 minutes by car.. Let’s start touring the center of Ayvalık together now.
Ayvalık Sokakları
Let’s get lost in the streets of Ayvalık first as we start our tour.. The magnificent historical houses that you will see while visiting the streets will actually show you a little bit of Ayvalık’s historical riches.. In the narrow streets of Old Ayvalık, you will see the construction dates of some of the historical Greek houses in neo-classical architecture.. Windows, doors, bay windows, doorknobs, decorations, it’s all a product of elegant and fine craftsmanship.. Many houses, churches and olive oil factories are under protection in the old Ayvalık streets.. Most of it has undergone restoration, so I feel like I have gone back to ancient times while walking around the streets of Ayvalık.. Barbaros Street 9. The street and its surroundings are known as Antikacılar Sokağı.. You can find items from old Greek houses in the shops here.. If you happen to go this way on Saturday, Ayvalık flea market is also set up in this region.. Those who are interested can take a note and visit the market.
After Antiques Street, continue walking on Barbaros Street and explore the Macaron Mahallesi area.. A plant species of the thyme family, derived from the Latin word Marjoram, meaning “marjoram” in Turkish.. Transformed into Macaron in Greek. Since the marjoram plant was grown a lot in this neighborhood, the neighborhood was called Macaron.. Macaron, one of the oldest districts of Ayvalık, is a neighborhood that still keeps the traces of the past alive with its historical stone houses and narrow streets of 100-150 years.. Here I suggest you to take a break while getting lost in the streets Macaron Muhallebicisi. The almond pudding and sherbets here are very famous.
Ayvalık Taksiyarhis Church
A place that I will definitely see in the center of Ayvalık. Taksiyarhis, which means “archangel” in Greek, is the first and oldest church of Ayvalık.. Although its exterior structure with stone walls and wooden columns is very unpretentious, its magnificent interior in neo-classical style and Hz.. The icons that tell the life story of Jesus are quite impressive.. The church was first. Although it was built as a small church in the 19th century, not much remains from its first period as a result of earthquakes.. It was later used as a monopoly warehouse after the War of Independence and was left to its fate for many years in ruins.. It was restored and turned into a museum in 2012.. Entry is free with a museum card.
Holy Ayazma Church
As you watch the wonderful Greek houses along Barbaros Street, you will arrive at the newly restored Ayazma Church.. It is written on the pediment at the entrance of the church, which is known as the Holy Spring, since the water source inside is considered holy and healing, that it dates from 1890.. Over time, it was used for different purposes such as church, olive oil factory, tobacco warehouse.. Later, it was restored and opened to visitors and hosts events such as concerts and exhibitions.. When you enter inside, pay attention to the flower reliefs in the middle of each square in the ceiling section.. Entry is free.
Çınarlı Mosque
There are two magnificent church buildings in Ayvalık that are used as mosques today.. Çınarlı Mosque, which will impress you with its splendor, will welcome you when you come to Alibey Cami Street on the way back to the center via Barbaros Street.. The church, which was built in the form of a Greek pilgrim in the 1790s, has a really huge and magnificent image.. When the church was converted into a mosque in 1923, it took its name from the giant plane trees in its garden.. Be sure to go inside and have a look.
Saatli Mosque
It was built in 1870 by the Greeks as the Church of Agios Yannis.. After the population exchange in 1928, it was converted into a mosque and the frescoes of Christianity were erased.. The bell tower from that period on the magnificent building was turned into a clock tower.. The bell tower and minaret rising tall among the pines and plane trees in its garden have a magnificent view.. You can go inside and look at the details, but unfortunately it is not as preserved as the Çınarlı Mosque.
Ayvalık Cunda Island
Let’s come to Ayvalık the most visited and prominent place with Cretan cuisine.. It is under protection due to its natural beauties and historical structures, and is located in the Aegean Sea of Turkey.. Alibey Island, which is the largest island, is the only island open to settlement among the 22 large and small islands of Ayvalık.. Although the current name of Alibey Island, the Italian word “Cunda”, means “sailing”, which is a maritime term, its current name is Alibey Island.
In the island. The majority of the inhabitants are Turks, who immigrated from Crete and Lesbos at the time of the population exchange in 1924.. For this reason, most of the elderly population of the island speaks Greek.. At the same time, since they dominate the Cretan cuisine, you will see many restaurants famous for Greek appetizers, especially in the fish restaurants on the beach.
Cunda Taksiyarhis Church
We came to the most impressive structure of Cunda Island. The church, built in 1873, contains the bell II. It was used during World War II to inform the public in case of war.. Later, this bell turned out to be the largest bell in the world, but unfortunately, this bell is currently on display in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.. The good thing is that it was restored by the Rahmi Koç Museum and Culture Foundation in 2011 and opened to the public as a museum.. Toys, antique cars and marine products are exhibited in the museum.. Even if all this does not interest you, I think you should definitely go inside and see this magnificent building closely.
Cunda Sevim and Necdet Kent Library
Windmills, one of the symbols of the island, are at the top of the places to visit on Cunda Island.. Not all of the mills in the area called Lovers Hill are standing, but a few of them have undergone restoration.. A magnificent structure around these mills is located at a point where you can see Cunda from a bird’s eye view.. Actually, this is an old church, there is a chapel section with Christian frescoes.. The church, which was destroyed over time after the population exchange, was restored by the Koç family and opened to visitors as a church-library.. Books donated to the museum are also exhibited inside. At the same time, when you come here, a delicious Cunda view awaits you in the cafe of the library.. Whenever I come to Cunda, I definitely stop by here.
Cunda Despot House
Despot House, one of the important buildings of Cunda, It will definitely catch your attention while walking on the beach.. This place has a pretty interesting story.. The clergyman, the “Despot”, who came to Cunda, had this building, known as the Despot House, built in 1862.. After the death of the Despot in 1877, the Ottoman Empire started to use this place as the Government Building.. After 1921, it started to be used as an Orphanage and a primary school, and when the orphanage moved to its new building in the 1980s, Despot House was abandoned.. It has been badly damaged by earthquakes, fires and looting over the years.. Fortunately, the situation was taken care of and restored to Cunda as a hotel and restaurant.. Although only hotel guests can enter inside, you should see this structure from the outside.
Ayvalık Devil’s Table
The most beautiful sunset in Ayvalık Wherever you are, I invite you to the Devil’s Table. This is a viewing hill in the center of Ayvalık, which you can see with a 360 degree view.. As an Ayvalık tradition, it is necessary to go to the Devil’s Table and sink the day.. Just opposite Lesbos Island and the pine-covered islands of Ayvalık Adalar Nature Park, Turkey’s largest nature park, you will be under your feet and a magnificent view will welcome you.
Ayvalık Tastes
There are places with different concepts that I can recommend for you about what to eat in Ayvalık.. Almost every year, I have experienced a lot of places as I have been to Ayvalık in some way.. Here are my favorite Ayvalık flavor stops:
Güler Tatlıhanesi: The first address that comes to mind for the famous curd dessert since 1946.
Tas Kahve: As a Cunda classic, don’t come back here without a coffee break.
Satan’s Coffee: A cafe in the narrow streets of Ayvalık for a coffee or a juice break.
OK Meyhane: Rakı, Fish, Ayvalık is an address that we love both for its atmosphere and tastes.
Frenk Cunda: It is a pleasant address both during the day and in the evening on its tables under flowers and vines on the street.
Forest Cunda: It is one of the most popular places for cocktails during the day and coffee nights in Cunda.
Ayna Cunda: An elegant restaurant that blends Aegean cuisine with international cuisine and is popular in the streets of Cunda.
Kafedemia: Film screenings, painting, sculpture and photography exhibitions, music concerts, talk and horse a cafe where death occurs and artists’ collections are sold. You should try the special Italian coffee here.
Ayvalık Market: Ayvalık Market, where you can find all kinds of vegetables and fruits in their freshest form, colors the streets every Thursday.
Where to Stay in Ayvalık?
One of the most popular holiday resorts in the Northern Aegean, Ayvalık hosts many accommodation options as it hosts many tourists every year.. You can choose the most suitable one among the hostel, boutique hotel and luxury hotel options suitable for every budget and holiday understanding.. Hotels in Ayvalık are generally located in the center of Ayvalık, on Cunda Island and in the Küçükköy area where Sarımsaklı Beach is located.. Since it is easy to reach Cunda Island and Sarimsakli from the center, you can also go to these points when you prefer the hotels here.. Cunda Island, on the other hand, is the most preferred place for those who come to Ayvalık to stay.
To experience the atmosphere of the Aegean in the best way, you can stay in boutique hotels in Cunda.. However, during the holidays and public holidays, the hotels here fill up very quickly.. Therefore, if you are going here during a crowded holiday period, do not forget to make a reservation in advance.. In the hotels located in Küçükköy, tourists who want to enjoy beaches such as Sarımsaklı, Badavut and Altınkum stay in summer.. Again, as in the hotels in Cunda Island, the rooms in the hotels in this region run out fast, especially in summer.
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