|
|
|
 FOÇA
(PHOCAEA) |
POPULATION:
33.061
DISTANCE FROM IZMIR:
72 km
Advantages
Offered by Foça: All
kinds of products are grown in this region because of the
favourable Mediterranean climate. The tourism and fishing
sectors are well developed thanks to the location of the
district on the coast. There are rich mineral deposits in
the region such as kaolin and puzan marilen. There is a
marine with a capacity for 70 yachts. Favourable
conditions are available for sailing. Foça that is under
special protection has a potential for Ecological -
tourism. With
its history of 3000 years Foça has a key position with
regard to cultural tourism. |
 |
| A picturesque
fishing town 72 km north of Izmir. A magnet for holiday makers during summer
today, Foca
was an important Ionian town in antiquity. The Phokaians were famed for their commercial
prowess, courage and seamanship. They established trading cololnies at distant
ports, and
were the founders of the French port of Marseilles (the ancient Massalia). The
ancient Phocaea, Foça once formed part of the lonian Federation. Today it is a modern,
lively holiday town on two deep bays. The pleasant accommodations, clean beaches and
inviting restaurants make it an attractive holiday spot. Those seeking the perfect tan can
find it on the natural rock terraces of Siren Islands. Foça is one of the most important centers that established by Ions who
escaped due to the dor invasion from Greece to Agean Coasts and they established many
settlement places including Smyrna. Ancient Foça (Phokea)was include to 12 Ionian
Unions. |
|
On
the world, the monk seals have a population of
350-400. In Foça, these monk seals are settled down
on the islands just near Foça. For the protection
of the monk seals Word Wide Foundation (WWF),
National Protection of Monk Seals Committee is
carriying out studies. They are trying to conservate
them and find a few areas in the world.
It is considered that Foça’s name come from the seals and it had an important
harbor and sea force in its period. Foça found colonies on Alain in Korsica, Velia near
Pastum and the cities that stood in the East Coast of Marsilia and Spain with its
sea-squadron. Foça was added to the land of Leukos in Grand Philip’s and
Genovians took hold of Foça in the 12th and 13th centuries. Foça
was destroyed by
Genovians in this period and New Foça was found on the North-East . It was added to
Ottoman’s Land by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1455. Roaster and Seal are the two
symbols of Foça, which the places and monuments that worth seeing listed below: |
|
 |
Siren Rocky Places:
It takes place in Momeros Legend. It tells about that the ships which
mislead their routes and crushed these mocky places.
Stone House:
This monumental grave that rises near the road before 10 kms. to
Foça. This Stone House is built by like that Lykia, Lydia in 4 B.C.
Satan Bath:
It stands in slope of the can peak and the errection is like a rocky
grave and it is 2 kms. further from the city center.
Five Gates Castle:
When this ancient castle was given as a gift to the Genovian Micheal
Paleolok in 1275, the city walls were repaired by the Genovians.
The Exterior Castle:
It was built by Ottomans as cut-straits in 1678.
Fatih Mosque:
It was ordered to be built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet after conquest of
Foça in 1455. It is a mosque of classical. Ottoman architectural style. When it was
recontricted in 1575 there was II. Selim at the list of the Ottoman Emperor.
Rock Mosque:
This mosque, which its errection date and the errector is not known,
carries all of the features of late Ottoman Artitectural Style.
During the last archeological excavations some parts of the city walls that Homeros
narrates and the theatre outcame. |
| FROM
TORUL TO FOÇA TALES IN STONE |
 |
| For
thousands of years caravans of camels, dervishes,
weary horsemen, shepherds, carts, skylarks, kings
and armies crossed and recrossed the land of
Anatolia. Little trace remains of any of them, not
even a cloud of dust. But two other travellers
which crossed Anatolia, both above and below
ground, are still with us: wind and water. The
wind caressed the soil and rocks, while the water
falling as rain moistened them before draining
into the earth and forming rivers and streams,
which carried away everything in their path on
their way to the sea. Wind and water have eroded
the stone and soil of Asia Minor over many
thousands of years, creating extraordinary natural
monuments. Most famous of all their strange and
startling creations are undoubtedly the rock
pillars of Cappadocia and the great white
travertines of Pamukkale. But Turkey has other
enchanting natural formations which fascinate
travellers as much as they do geologists. |
|
| One
such is to be seen on the island of Orak off Foça
on the Aegean coast. The rocks here are named after
the Sirens mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, and were
home to Mediterranean seals until recent years. The
spell-binding voices of the Sirens which drew
sailors have faded away, lost in the gaping mouth of
time which consumes all things. All that is left is
the strange limestone rocks, some of which resemble
knife blades, others submarines and still others
caterpillars. Far away at the other end of Turkey,
in the district of Torul in the province of Gümüşhane,
is a broad fault crack at whose edge is an amazing
cave. Karaca Cave owes its existence to the dolomite
rock of the area and to underground water carrying
carbon dioxide which dissolves the calcium carbonate
in the rock to form stalactites. The cave is so
beautiful that to describe it as an underground
palace would be no exaggeration. |
|
|
| In
summer, when the stream which flows at its base is reduced
to a trickle, it is possible to walk the length of the
gorge as far as the village of Demirciler. The rocks are
easy to climb up but none the less magnificent.Heading
back towards the Aegean, near Kula 120 kilometres from İzmir,
is a valley lined with rock cones reminiscent of those in
Cappadocia. |
| ALiAĞA
(AIGAI) |
|
POPULATION:
52.968
DISTANCE FROM IZMIR: 60
km
Advantages Offered by Aliağa: Proximity
to the metropolitan city of Izmir. A developed highway
network. Availability of railway connections. Ports
offering economic advantages. Construction of power
stations and a natural gas terminal is on the agenda. Geo-thermal
springs that can be used economically. A high potential
for tourism investment.
Aliağa
Organized Industrial Zone: This
zone was established in 1997 on an area of 915 hectares.
It delivers services to 316 investors. The availability of
railways, highway connections and ports in Aliağa renders
this zone very attractive. It is planned to employ 15.000
people in the zone.
Ancient
town founded at the period when Attalusians ruled
is at a place known as Nemrudkale on
Gündağı mountain near entered with offical
permission. |
|
