The Çesme Peninsula is west of Izmir, surrounded by the Aegean Sea. Its name comes from the Turkish word, fountain, due to numerous bodies of water found in the area.

Çesme is one of Turkey’s most attractive stretches bordered by clear blue seas. The landscape is full of cultivated fields of sesame, artichokes and aniseed dotted with gum and fig trees. You can swim in peace within the unspoiled bays.

Tourists will find outstanding accommodations, eatery and entertainment services. You can also go to Chios, a Greek Island, with day by day ferries. Çesme has an international harbour with a super highway to Izmir.

In the 11th century, a Seljuk Turkish force led by Caka Bay, captured Çesme from the Byzantines. The Aydinogullari principality took Çesme from the Seljuk’s in the 13th century due to their decline and turned it into a naval base. It was once again captured by Sultan Yildirim Bayezit. But was beaten at by Tamerlane, the town was given back to Aydinogullari. Bayezit’s son Mehmed I recaptured the city. In the 16th century, the Ottomans restored a 14th century fortress that overlooks the port of Cesme, has now become a museum for weapons.

At present, Cesme has become a popular holiday resort with good hotels and restaurants. The caravanserai built by Suleyman in the 16th century has been changed into a hotel. It is a stone building that has a central courtyard that even in the warmest day stays cool.

Cesme was the major port in the region before Izmir’s wake. This also becomes the end of the Silk Road for the convoy of travellers who walked their way through Anatolia from the Middle East and Central Asia. They unloaded the camels here to ship the goods to Europe through the Mediterranean and Aegean. The Agios Haralambis Church has been renovated as an art gallery.

City Life

July is the time of the international song contest on Cesme, one of Turkey’s important festivals. The nightlife here is very sparkling, especially in the cafes, restaurants, discos and bars down the amble, but in order to relax and unwind, people in Cesme love Thermal baths to help them loosen up and escape the stress brought about by modern life. They have very soothing thermal baths located on Sifne Bay. Pausanius, a Greek philosopher in 146 A.D., claims that the minerals in the springs have a therapeutic effect on the body. They ease inflammation, rheumatism, infections of the spine marrow and digestive complaints.

The international Cakabey Optimist Yacht Race is held on Ilica bay every July. 20 kilometres northeast of Cesme is the quiet village of Ildri. This was once the ancient Erythrai that is said to date back to 3000 B.C. Excavations show that it has been occupied by humans since the Bronze Age. The city has since been named a national heritage. The ancient city’s walls still exist even today. The mosaic floors, from the Hellenistic period, still show their splendorous beauty. If you climb atop the Acropolis at dusk, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the sun sinking over the bay and islands. The Gerence Gulf is nearby; it is a pure inlet of the Cesme Peninsula’s northeast. It can be reached by car or yacht.

You can hire a yacht to venture to the peninsula’s impressive coastline. Cesme has the longest beaches on the Aegean coast along with the Turquoise Sea, make holiday makers come back again and again. Ilica, a very popular vacation centre, possesses first-rate white sand beaches and the Altin Yunus Marina is an outstanding and terrific facilities. Water sports are ideal in the bay. Many people go sailing and windsurfing. They even hold an international windsurfing race each year.

There are many attractive bays, accessible only by yacht.  This would actually stretch along the southeast coast and guarantee a relaxing and peaceful anchorage in this region. Gümüldür has beautiful beaches, restaurants, hotels and good tourist facilities. The quay here has a windsurfing school that teaches courses to beginners. Families favour Cark Beach because their children can play on the shallow sea.

You can go for a swim in the town’s beach. There is a small marina of Sigacik, near the town of Seferihisar on Cesme’s southern side. It is an important place for yachting. It is surrounded by defences from the Genoese period. Here you will find the Temple of Dionysus near the site of Teos, accompanied by a lovely Akkum beach. July is the time of the international song contest on Cesme, one of Turkey’s important festivals.

North of Cesme is Daylan, a fishing village on a sheltered water inlet. It has some of the regions best quay of seafood restaurants that makes the marina lively. Tourists are fascinated by the attractions from Çiftlik. It has a long sandy beach to the southwest in the outskirt of town. One of the area’s best beaches, the Altinkum Plaj, provides camping facilities to the south. A camp site in Pasa Limani also offers a very cosy service for campers.

Cesme has become famous for its tasty toasted sandwiches and mastic flavour ice-cream. Atop Alacati, there are restaurants that were once used as windmills. Alacati is located to the south inland from the coast of Ilica. At the peak of Guvendik Hill have many restaurants with a view of the bay and islands. Çesmealti, a thriving little fishing village, is famous for their Turkish style fish restaurants. Gümüldür has beautiful beaches, restaurants, hotels and good tourist facilities.

Urla Iskelesi, Clazomenae in ancient times, has a marina as well as bountiful commodities with a wide range of prices. Another antiquated attraction, the Apollon Temple stands to the east of Ahmetbeyli with the remains of a giant statue of Apollo.

Investment in Cesme

An important investment in Cesme is in Realty and Land Development. There are many places and beaches that can be turned into lovely and breathtaking resorts. There are still room for advancement in land development. Many international companies are acquiring permission for development projects in the city for commercial and industrial reasons. Property stakes and land value will surely rise. Do not miss this opportunity to have your own beach side property while prices are still low.