Culture and History
Aydın is a city with its origins tracing back in 7000 BC and is a home to numerous historic civilizations.
The recognized historian of the ancient world, Herodotus pronounces the city as the place settled underneath the most picturesque sky that one could envisage with a most delightful climate. For the famous 17th century Turkish visitor, Velia Celebes, oil drips out of its mountains and honey drips out of its prairies.
In ancient times Aydın was the epicenter of several civilizations such as Miletus, Aphrodisias, Nysa, Didyma, and Priene. The city thrived further more under the Hittites. After the city was administered by the Seljuk Empire, it was presented to the Turkish civilization, and finally becoming a province in 1923 with the announcement of the modern Republic.
Being a core of many civilizations since the ancient times, Aydın is rich in historic and natural treasures.
It is an interesting place to explore for its splendid bays and beaches as well as historic assets. You can discover the many spectacles of this city in any season and at any time of the year.
Museum of Aydın:
The museum in Aydın is an awesome place for history lovers as it exhibits relics from the different eras of the town history. Stone figurines from diverse periods, which arose from old cities of Aydın like Alinda, Magnesia, Tralleis, Nysa, Alabanda, Amyzon, Myus, Harpasa, Orthosia, Pygela and Mastaura, are presently being displayed in the museum's garden. These works comprise of sculptures, abacuses, tombs, columns and altars, Islamic tombstones and signposts. The three sections to the museum organized into separate halls are Coin Section, Archaeology Section and Ethnographic Section.
Menderes Valley:
In Menderes Valley, you can break at Lake Camici, a camping site veiled by olives, pines and oleanders. From there the vacationers can go touring the remnants of the ancient city of Heraklia. Proceeding from here are the remains of Alinda on the inclines of the Besparmak Mountains opposite to the lake. This productive place was once home to many cultures whose leftovers still preserve their splendor.
Aphrodisias Archeological Site and Museum:
For the history fans, Aphrodisias Ruins is a must-visit destination. Aphrodisias was predominantly recognized as a center for the arts, especially sculpture. The remains are several and well conserved. A two-mile long Byzantine wall still encloses the town. The Temple of Aphrodite, ultimately transformed to a Christian cathedral, is remarkably pickled.
The Baths of Hadrian still stand partly. The stadium and the theatre are one of the top conserved sites in the entire eastern Mediterranean. The adjoining museum includes numerous portrait sculptures and stunning statues.
Aphrodisias now is merely at 1.5 hours of drive from Pamukkale. Near and by the road there are many small eateries where you can savor regional dishes cooked exclusively in homemade olive oil.
Karacasu Ethnography Museum, the Temple of Apollo, Aydın Archeological Museum, Gerga, Alinda and Harpasa are few of the many noteworthy historical assets to be explored.