About Çeşme

İstanbul MS Days

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Çeşme is a coastal town and the administrative centre of the district of the same name in Turkey's westernmost end, on a promontory on the tip of the peninsula that also carries the same name and that extends inland to form a whole with the wider Urla-Karaburun-Çeşme Peninsula. It is a popular holiday resort and the district center, where two thirds of the district population is concentrated. Çeşme is located 85 km west of İzmir, the largest metropolitan center in Turkey's Aegean Region. There is a six-lane highway connecting the two cities (Otoyol 32). Çeşme district has two neighboring districts, Karaburun to the north and Urla to the east, both of which are also part of İzmir Province. The name "Çeşme" means "fountain" and possibly draws reference from the many Ottoman fountains that are scattered across the city.

History

The urban center and the port of the region in antiquity was at Erythrae (present-day Ildırı), in another bay to the north-east of Çeşme. Most probably, the ancient Greek polis of Boutheia (Βούθεια or Βουθία in ancient Greek) was situated in Çeşme. In the 5th century BC, Boutheia was a dependency of Erythrae and paid tribute to Athens as a member of the Delian League.

The town of Çeşme itself experienced its golden age in the Middle Ages, when a modus vivendi established in the 14th century between the Republic of Genoa, which held Chios (Scio), and the Beylik of Aydinids, which controlled the Anatolian mainland, was pursued under the Ottomans, and export and import products between western Europe and Asia were funneled via Çeşme and the ports of the island, only hours away and tributary to Ottomans but still autonomous after 1470. Chios became part of the Ottoman Empire in an easy campaign led by Piyale Pasha in 1566. In fact, the Pasha simply laid anchor in Çeşme and summoned the notables of the island to notify them of the change of authority. After the Ottoman capture and through preference shown by the foreign merchants, the trade hub gradually shifted to İzmir, which until then was touched only tangentially by the caravan routes from the east, and the prominence of the present-day metropolis became more pronounced after the 17th century. In 1770, the Çeşme bay became the location of naval Battle of Chesma between Russian and Ottoman fleets during Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). From 1867 until 1922, Çeşme was part of Aydin Vilayet. After the Balkan Wars, Bosniaks mainly from Montenegro settled in the environs of Çeşme such as Alaçatı and Çiflikköy. Up until September 16, 1922 Greeks consisted the majority of Çeşme and its environs. There were 39.073 Greeks in Çeşme Municipality while there were 4.539 Turks and 199 Jews.[5] In 1924 with the Population exchange Muslims from Greece mainly from Karaferye settled to the town.

Çeşme regained some its former lustre starting with the beginning of the 19th century, when its own products, notably grapes and mastic, found channels of export. The town population increased considerably until the early decades of the 20th century, with immigration from the islands of the Aegean and the novel dimension of a seasonal resort center becoming important factors in the increase. The viniculture was for the most part replaced with the growing of watermelons in recent decades, which acquired another name of association with Çeşme aside from the thermal baths, surfing, fruits, vineyards, cheese, tourism, and history.

Archaeology

In January 2021, archaeologists headed by Elif Koparal, announced the discovery of the ruins of a 2500 year-old temple of Aphrodite from the 5th century BC. Among other findings in and around the temple, they found a statue piece depicting a woman, a terracotta female head and an inscription that reads, "This is the sacred area". The traces of the temple were first excavated in 2016.

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Ilıca

Ilıca is a large resort area 5 km east of Çeşme to which it is attached administratively, although it bears aspects of a township apart in many of its characteristics. It is famed for its thermal springs, which is the very meaning of its name. Ilıca started out as a distinct settlement towards the end of the 19th century, initially as a retreat for wealthy people, especially from İzmir and during summer holidays. Today, it is a popular destination for many. Mentioned by Pausanias and Charles Texier, Ilıca thermal springs, which extend well into the sea, are also notable in Turkey for having been the subject of the first scientifically based analysis in Turkish language of a thermal spring, published in 1909 by Yusuf Cemal. By his time the thermal springs were well-known both internationally, scientific and journalistic literature having been published in French and in Greek, and across Ottoman lands, since the construction here of a still-standing yalı associated with Muhammad Ali of Egypt's son Tosun Pasha who had sought a cure in Ilıca before his premature death.

ABOUT ILICA OTEL

 

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Ilıca Hotel Spa & Wellness Resort is located on a private peninsula in a charming town on the west coast of Turkey, right in the middle of the deep blue waters and peaceful green of the Aegean; It offers an unforgettable holiday experience to its guests from all over the world in its rooms and suites, each with a sea view and a balcony, with its 310 rooms, high class half board concept, and an extraordinary holiday concept that combines luxury with comfort on an area of ​​30,000 m2.

2300 M2 alan üzerine kurulu Ilıca Hotel Kongre merkezi, keyifli bir tatil oteli olmanın yanında, güncel teknolojik donanımla, 10 kişiden 900 kişiye kadar hedeflediğiniz tüm organizasyon ve toplantılarınıza ev sahipliği yapmaya hazırdır.

Foyer Area

Located in the Convention Center -2.floor in our 960 m2 foyer area; up to 750 people will be waiting for you for all your organizations.

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Kasara I & II

The Grand Kasara, which can be divided with a double screen and opens to the winter garden, is waiting for you for big events.

Types of Halls

Grand Kasara / Kasara I / Kasara II

Gapya & Gomina

Our Gapya hall and VIP hall, which is used as a workshop area, are waiting for you for your Gomina meetings and events.

Types of Halls

Gapya / Gomina

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Karina & Alabanda

The 167 m2 Karina and 144 m2 Alabanda halls, where coffee break can be offered in the hall, are waiting for you for your meetings and events.

Hall Type

Karina & Alabanda

Bianca & Borda

The 74 m2 Bianca and 70 m2 Borda halls, where coffee break can be offered in the hall, are waiting for you for your meetings and events.

Types of Halls

Bianca / Borda

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Velena

Designed for private meetings. Velena salon, equipped with the latest technology and featuring modern architecture, is waiting for you.

Types of Halls

Velena

Lorma & Liga

The 37 m2 Lorma and 57 m2 Liga halls are waiting for you for your meetings and events.

Types of Halls

Lorma / Liga

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Arma & Papalia

79 m2 Arma and 68 m2 Papalia halls are waiting for you for your meetings and events.

Types of Halls

Arma / Papalia

Elinda & Patalya

Elinda hall of 95 m2 and Patalya hall of 70 m2 are waiting for you for your meetings and events.

Types of Halls

Elinda | Patalya

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