Aydin Attractions
Western Anatolia
The provincial capital of Aydin, largely modern but with an older nucleus, is situated on the northern edge of the Büyük Menderes plain, on the alluvial fan of the Tabakhane Deresi (the ancient Eudon). The town lies just off the Denizli highway, on the Izmir-Denizli-Afyon branch of the Anatolian railroad. Located west of the Tabakhane are what were the old Turkish and Jewish quarters, to the east the Armenian and Greek. Driving in from the south however, past all the recent building, first impressions are of a newish town.
The Büyük Menderes plain, with Aydin at its center, is a region of intensive where cultivation of cotton, Turkey's best grapes (raisins) and best figs are grown. Emery, occuring locally in the crystalline rock to the west of Aydin, makes this the country's principal source of the mineral. Straddling a tectonic fault-line (Menderes trench), the town is subject to frequent earthquakes. As recently as 1895 a quake near Aydin threw up a ridge a meter high.
History
Though built on a site immediately below that of ancient Tralles, the town is actually of Turkish origin. It was the seat of the emirs of Aydin, the first of whom, Mehmet Aydinoglu, established the beylik (principality) of Aydin in 1307 and founded the Aydin Ogullari dynasty. The town was named Aydin Güzelhisar by Mehmet's father. When in 1424 the area came under Ottoman control, Aydin continued as an important regional center. From the 18th century until 1822, with the Ottoman Empire already in decline, its rulers were the Karaosmanoglu derebeys.
The name Güzel Hisar, meaning "handsome fortress", refers in fact to the ruined Tralles. As far as the old beylik capital is concerned, several earthquakes and a devasting fire at the time of the Greek retreat in 1922, have left virtually no historic buildings standing. Only the mosques are of any real interest today.
The provincial capital of Aydin, largely modern but with an older nucleus, is situated on the northern edge of the Büyük Menderes plain, on the alluvial fan of the Tabakhane Deresi (the ancient Eudon). The town lies just off the Denizli highway, on the Izmir-Denizli-Afyon branch of the Anatolian railroad. Located west of the Tabakhane are what were the old Turkish and Jewish quarters, to the east the Armenian and Greek. Driving in from the south however, past all the recent building, first impressions are of a newish town.
The Büyük Menderes plain, with Aydin at its center, is a region of intensive where cultivation of cotton, Turkey's best grapes (raisins) and best figs are grown. Emery, occuring locally in the crystalline rock to the west of Aydin, makes this the country's principal source of the mineral. Straddling a tectonic fault-line (Menderes trench), the town is subject to frequent earthquakes. As recently as 1895 a quake near Aydin threw up a ridge a meter high.
History
Though built on a site immediately below that of ancient Tralles, the town is actually of Turkish origin. It was the seat of the emirs of Aydin, the first of whom, Mehmet Aydinoglu, established the beylik (principality) of Aydin in 1307 and founded the Aydin Ogullari dynasty. The town was named Aydin Güzelhisar by Mehmet's father. When in 1424 the area came under Ottoman control, Aydin continued as an important regional center. From the 18th century until 1822, with the Ottoman Empire already in decline, its rulers were the Karaosmanoglu derebeys.
The name Güzel Hisar, meaning "handsome fortress", refers in fact to the ruined Tralles. As far as the old beylik capital is concerned, several earthquakes and a devasting fire at the time of the Greek retreat in 1922, have left virtually no historic buildings standing. Only the mosques are of any real interest today.
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Tralles
The ruins of Tralles are difficult to access because they are in a restricted military zone. Visitors require permission prior to their visit.
Agaçarasi Camii
The Agaçarasi (or Üveys Pasa) Camii in the Köprülü district of Aydin is a splendidly baroque mosque dating from 1565. Also worth seeing is the domed 14th century Alihan Kümbeti mausoleum in the Üveys Pasa quarter. Note the brick mosaic above the entrance, as well as the four tombs.
Aydin Museum
Aydin's museum is worth visiting, situated just west of the town center. While the majority of the exhibits come from Tralles it has, in addition, a section devoted to the ethnography of the area.
On display archeological finds, coins and metals from a variety of civilizations, textiles, jewelry, household items and more.
On display archeological finds, coins and metals from a variety of civilizations, textiles, jewelry, household items and more.
Cihanoglu Camii
The Cihanoglu (or Cihanzade) Camii in Aydin, another exuberantly decorated building, square in plan, was erected in 1756. The sadirvan has a marble basin and twelve columns. The elaborate ornamentation of the mosque makes it one of the acknowledged masterpieces of the Turkish baroque style.
Osmanoglu Külliyesi
The Osmanoglu Hani (Zinçirli Han) in Aydin, endowed by Nasuh Pasa, dates from between 1699 and 1707. As well as the caravanserai, a mosque, 20-roomed medrese and baths were all built at the same time. The Seljuk-style baths are now known as the Pasa Hamami.
Süleiman Bey Camii
The Süleiman Bey Camii (1683), situated near the railroad station in Aydin, is one of the loveliest of all Aydin's mosques, another fine example of Turkish baroque. It has a sadirvan with a pyramidal domed roof.
