WHERE DOES THE NAME ‘’ÇEŞME’’ COME FROM?

Çeşme is a charming holiday resort with healing hot waters,  sand and sun. Çeşme is located at the very end of the peninsula bearing its name, on 94 km west of Izmir.  It was named as a small harbor by sailors. However, the region was called Çeşme because of the abundance of spring waters in and around Çeşme, and because of the icy water that flows out of its fountains which increased in the number over time.  Building fountains around these constantly flowing resources has been among our old traditions as it is today.  Çeşme was named after those fountains, which were once said to be about a hundred. All of these fountains have a unique feature and architecture.

Some of these fountains have remained intact for centuries and some have reached today through restorations.  Many of them were lost due to dry-up of the source, natural events or other reasons, as well as those who had to move from their current location to other locations during road expansion works.

GEOGRAPHY:

 In the Aegean Region, Çeşme district belonging to İzmir province is 80 km. away from the west of Anatolia and is at the most extreme point. Its surface area is 2601 km2.  Çeşme, which is adjacent to Urla district from east, to Aegean Sea from south and west and to Karaburun district from north. Its distance to Chios from Greece is 8 miles.  Within the scope of Address Based Population Registration System of 2012, the population of the district is 33.931.

The western part of the Urla Peninsula, which is surrounded by sea on three sides, is called Çeşme peninsula. The steep descent of the mountains in Çeşme has created magnificent natural beauties.  The land is generally covered with stony and rocky hills and there are small lowlands between the hills. The land is mostly sloping.  The soil structure is gravelly, sandy and calcareous.  Some areas have loamy and calcareous surfaces. Numerous bays, clear sea, sun, fine sand, boiling sulfurous waters in the sea are scattered along the  29 km coast of the peninsula. Çeşme has nearly twenty beaches in different names along with Şifne, Small harbor, Diamond, Pasha harbor, Ilıca beach, Çiftlik, Altınkum, Çatal azmak, Sakızlı bay, Tekke beach, and Ayayorgi.

 THE HISTORY

Ancient Period:

 It is believed that Çeşme, which was called Cyssus in ancient times, took its present name from the “fountains’’ where sailors provided water. Because the most important features of Çeşme are drinking water and harbor.  It is known that Erythrai, which has a very protected harbor, has relations with Egypt, Cyprus and western countries and developed its trade. One of the main tourism centers of our country, Çeşme, which has an international reputation, inhabits the ruins of Erythrai (Ildırı), one of the 12 Ionian troops in ancient times.

Çeşme lived under Lydia, Persia, Pergamon (Bergama) Kingdom, Roman and Byzantine domination.  One of the most important factors in the prominence of Çeşme Harbor is that it is the closest and reliable point from Chios to the Anatolian coasts.  For this reason, the harbor has been able to continue its commercial transactions alive for centuries.

 3.   The influence of the Genoese, who made a name for the commercial life of Western Anatolia in the last half of the 3rd century and the early 14th century, was observed. During the same period, although the region was under the management of Çaka Bey, sovereignty lasted a short time.

 The Period of Turkish Domination:

 In the early 14th century, the influx carried out by Aydınoğulları have been effective in a short time and Çeşme Port was turned into a naval base. The region then passed to the governorship of Izmir Bey Umur Bey. Umur Bey, who did not want to exclude the Genoese from the trade completely, sent them to Chios, where he accepted them under his control in order to take control of the trade himself. The trade relations with the Genoese, who would remain there, would be made under their natural conditions. After the settlement of the Genoese in Chios in 1330, the harbor of Çeşme, whose location was the most convenient, gained importance once again and thus, trade with the Genoese was maintained under natural conditions.   It was first joined to the Ottoman territory by Beyazıt I (Yıldırım). However, after the Ankara War (1402), it was given to Aydınoğulları again by Timur. Since the end of the 17th century, İzmir, a small trade center where Western Anatolian products were sold, suddenly seized its commercial superiority and Çeşme Port has gradually fallen compared to İzmir Port and has lost its importance.

 In the Ottoman Empire, which was governed by the State system for centuries, radical changes were made during the reign of Sultan Abdulaziz on November 8, 1864 and these changes began to be implemented with the laws enacted. According to this, Çeşme, which was an jurisdiction belonging to İzmir sanjak of Aydın province, became the district governorship. As in many other Western Anatolian port cities, the Greek population was more than the Turkish population in Çeşme.  The Greeks developed viticulture and winemaking here, and they also cultivated wheat and other cereals, especially seedless black grapes.  Anise and madder production started. In the War of Independence, the Greek population went to Greece, especially with the liberation of İzmir on September 9, 1922, and Çeşme on September 16, 1922 from the Greek occupation.  On July 24, 1923, the exchange of population was made with the Lausanne Treaty.

Republic Period:

Çeşme, where the first Turkish admiral Çaka Bey used as a base, was also an important trade during the Ottoman period and the last port used by the Ottoman Navy each year while they were on a cruise. Today, there are ship trips from Çeşme customs to the Greek islands.

HISTORICAL PLACES IN ÇEŞME

Archaeological studies conducted in Çeşme in recent years have shown that the region has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age. Neolithic in Bozalan District of Sakarya District of Çeşme District; Chalcolithic and Mycenaean Period in Germiyan Mansion; Bronze Period in Boyalık, Bronze Period in Bağlararası, Principalities in Old Çeşme Village and Ottoman Period, Remains or Remains in Reisdere Neighborhood in Ildırı Village have shown that Çeşme District has been a settlement for approximately eight thousand years. 

The ancient city of Erythrai located in Ildırı Village of Çeşme District; B.C. was one of the leading members of the Panionion Union which was founded by the gathering of 12 important cities of Ionia Region in the first thousand.  Attik-Delos, which was established under the leadership of Athens city state, contributed significantly to the Union of the Sea every year.

 IMPORTANT FOUNTAINS IN ÇEŞME

Maraş Fountain:

It was built in 1824. It is a fountain with rounded corners, square plan and 4 facades. It is passed to the domed cover with  an “S” profile fringe made of cut stone. Usually, red sandstone is used in sliced pointed arches on tuff and fountain niches.  In the rounded corners, fountains were placed in small niches.  There are inscriptions on all four facades. There is also a small niche on the corner between the western and southern facades, with a small inscription on which the construction date was written.  It is known as Maraş Fountain because it is located on 2032 street corner on Maraş Street in Çeşme.

Mehmet Kethuda Fountain:
 It was built in 1738 and is one of the oldest fountains that has safely reached to this day. It has a single facade and was built of cut stone. During the recent restoration, its direction has changed. Since the cistern does not work well, it has been activated by connecting it to the mains water.  The inscription is intact. It is located on the corner of 2015 street, on 2009 street opposite the Maras Fountain.


Ahmetoğlu Hacı Memiş Ağa Fountain ( Ömer Ağa ):

 This fountain, which you see in the side streets of the fountain, has remained since 1837.
 This fountain is known as Ahmetoğlu Hacı Memiş Ağa who built this fountain or Ömer Ağa in some sources so it is mentioned with these two names together.  It is in a very good condition thanks to restoration. The fountain has a square plan and two facades and its inscription has survived to the present day. You can find this fountain on the corner of 1008 street when you enter 1021 street on Bağlar Çarşı Street.


Hamaloğlu or Hafize Rabia Hatun Fountain:

 Located on the corner of Çeşme cemetery on Maraş Street, this fountain was built in 1851 from cut stone with rectangular plan and 3 facades. Andesite was mostly used on all three facades with an inscription.  There is no fountain and no trough on the façade where the cistern entrance is located and mostly unpre
tentious material was used on this facade. It is passed to the dome through a beautiful entablature with an ‘’S’’ profile made of cut stone. There are collapses in the eastern and northern parts of the fountain.


Şerif Ağazade Seyyidi Hasan Ağa Ailesi Hacı Salihe Fountain:
It was built in 1800 and has a single facade. The location of the fountain has recently been changed, taking into account the narrowness and dysfunction of the fountain, and the cistern covered with barrel vault was reduced in the reconstruction work and pointed vaults were made. It was built with red sandstone.  The fou

ntain niche has a pointed arch and its inscription is intact. This fountain is located in front of the castle at the junction of the harbor entrance.

Kitabesiz Old Fountain:
It is taken from its original location in Çeşme side streets and moved to the roadside across the new harbor on Çiftikköy road. It is not known why it was taken there.  It is not known who made this fountain on which date, because the inscription disappeared during this move.

Kaymakam Sadık Bey Fountain:
This fountain was built in 1886 with square plan and 4 facades of andesite cut stone.  The “S” profiled eaves made of cut stones fell into ruin in places.  The corners are arranged in the form of half-pillars adjacent to the main structure. Its inscription has survived to the present day without being damaged.  The cistern is no longer important as it is connected to the mains water.  It is located at the entrance of Bağlar Çarşı Street by Turgut Özal Street inside Çeşme.

Kabadayı Fountain:
 It was built in 1883 with two facades and a rectangular plan made of cut stone. The corners of the two façades, where the fountain and troughs were located, were rounded and were also placed with small marble mirrors produced by elaborare for fine fountains.  In the sectional pointed arches on the fountain niches on the main facades, red and white marbles with veins were used alternately and the facades of the fountain were enriched. Its inscription is intact. The fringed part, which should have been before the transition to the dome, was destroyed. It is located at the corner of 1043 street on the Kabadayı street.

Kandıra Fountain:
  This fountain, which looks like an unpretentious road fountain, is located at the entrance of İzmir highway.  In the inscription of the fountain hidden in the willow trees, it reads “Bende-i mu’raffiâ Ahkar-ı ziyâ 1282” which means  ’’the slave of the guards and the most impotent of light (here humility is shown with the word impotent) year 1865’’.
Kitabesiz Fountain:
It is understood that this fountain was built in the same period as the other fountains and it is not certain by whom it was built because its inscription is nonexistent. It is located on the corner of 2042 street and 2051 street across the Open Air Theatre.

Memiş İbn-i Ahmet Fountain:
 It was built in 1798 with one facade.  Fountain niche has pointed arches. It is connected to the mains water of Hacı Memiş.  Its inscription is intact.  This fountain is also located on the same street as the Mehmet kethüda fountain is located on, the corner of 2002 street. There is also a house on the street.

Murabutzade Hüseyin Kaptan Fountain:
The fountain in which its inscription reads “Sahib-ül Hayrat al-Hesenat Murabutzade el Hacı Hüseyin Kaptan and Sahi-bül Hayrat al-Hesenat Ayşe Hatun Saliha Mustafa bin Şabanzade” has not been registered.  Built in 1697, this fountain is located at the intersection of the 2008 (sharp) street and the 2006 street, which are two of the streets descending to the bazaar.

Şekerci Fountain:
 You can find this fountain in front of the house when you enter the 2015 street from Mehmet Kethüda Fountain and continue that direction. It is understood from its inscription that it was built in 1717.

Marifi Dergahı Şeyh Yusuf Efendi Fountain:
 It is a fountain with a single facade with a simple workmanship whose construction date is unknown since it does not have an inscription on it. This fountain, which is located close to the Kaymakam Sadık Bey Fountain on the Bağlar Bazaar Street, is not used because the trough of the fountain is closed and its tap remains at ground level during sidewalk works.

İki Eski Fountain:
These two fountains are located on the road that goes from Balıklıova to Ildırı. Although they do not undergo restoration, they are in good condition.  It's unknown who built it. Considering that they have continued their functions from long years to the present day, it is understood that they were built quite solidly.  It is thought that these two fountains on the old trade road were built to meet the water demands of the caravans.

HISTORICAL PLACES

 Çeşme Castle:
2. The castle, built in 1508 by Beyazıt II in the form of a rectangular, creates a magnificent image with having 6 towers and ditches on three sides.  The castle, which was built as seafront when it was first built, remained more inward with the filling of the sea over time. The International Çeşme Music Competition, which is celebrated every year and the Çeşme Festival held on July 2-7 are arranged in the historical castle. When you visit the castle, you can see the statue of the Great Turkish Commander Chief Admiral Algerian Hasan Pasha with a lion next to him.




Caravansary:
Caravansary adds a distinctive feature to Çeşme built  in 1528 by Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. The caravansary, which was used for the accommodation of especially foreign merchants in history, serves as a hotel with 45 rooms today. There are also night entertainment places and shopping centers in Caravansary.



Çeşme Museum: 

The abundance and quality of the historical monuments in the museums reveal the best of historical richness in Çeşme. There are more of works that come out of Erythrai, Çeşme district center Alaçatı and Kalemburnu region exhibited in Çeşme Archaeological  Museum located in historical Çeşme castle. So, there are 320 archaeological, 126 ethnographic artifacts along with 31 coins 477 artifacts in total are presented in Çeşme Archaeological  Museum.
    Museum Phone Number: 0.232.712 66 09
    Visiting Hours: 08.30-12.00/13.00-17.00
    Visiting Days: Every day except mondays.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
                


Erytrai (Ildırı):

 The name of Ildırı village was Erythrai in ancient period. It is thought that Erythrai is derived from Erythros, which means “red’’ in Greek, and Erythrai is used as “Red City’’ because its town soil is in red color. According to another assumption, the city was named after Erythros, son of Rhadamanthes, the first founder of Crete. Findings found in the city show that there has been a settlement in this region since the first Bronze Age. During the second colonization, the city was under the rule of Knopos, a descendant of Kadros who is the King of Athens. The city, which was initially ruled by the kingdom, was later ruled by the Basileus, a descendant of the king, but chosen by the people. They joined the religious and political unity of the Panionion founded by the Ionian cities.  The city lived with Pythagoras for a short period of tyranny and gained importance with the millstones it produced and sold out.
Erythrai, came into the hands of Lydia, and later of the Persians.  Like the other Ionian cities against the Persian yoke, the city participated in the uprising. In 334 BC, it gained independence by Alexander  along with other Ionian cities. Erythrai, who changed in many hands as a result of the turmoil after the death of Alexander, passed into the hands of the Kingdom of Pergamon (Bergama). In 133 BC, it gained the status of a free city within the Roman Empire. During this period, it gained fame with its wine, goats, mill stones and female soothsayers called Sibyl and Herophile. In 1st century BC, due to the earthquakes, wars and the looting of the Roman commanders, the great destruction occurred in the region and it started to be known as Ilderen and Ildırı after the 16th century.

           

SPORTS ACTIVITIES

Hunting:
 Çeşme is also a rich place for those who like land hunting.  The most interesting and exciting hunt is undoubtedly the pig hunt.  After obtaining the necessary permissions from the competent authorities, everyone can go hunting pigs in Çeşme. Çeşme is a very rich place in terms of partridges and rabbits. The most common season in which these animals are seen the most is between September and December and it is free to hunt during this season. Çeşme can also host those interested in hunting in winter.

Camping and Caravan:
The campsites located in the bays of Büyük Harbour and Paşa Harbour offer pleasant and enjoyable camping opportunities.  In addition, the natural beaches of Ildırı, where the ancient city of Erythrai is located, are very suitable for camping areas.  Every year hundreds of campers prefer these regions.

 Yachting in Çeşme:

 Yachting in Çeşme is highly developed.  Çeşme is a paradise for yachtsmen.

Marina:
The south of Çeşme peninsula is one of Türkiye's major yacht routes. Çeşme-Kuşadası route is the most developed area of yacht tourism infrastructure. The pier of Çeşme Port, which has commercial and yacht harbors, is capable of berthing two small tonnage ships.  The marina is designed to accommodate 150 boats.

 Alaçatı Pier:
It is a paradise for yachters with bays lined up side by side in the south of Alaçatı town.  Up to 80 boats can be accommodated as full-fledged at the pier.

Çeşme-Altınyunus Marina:
It is capable of berthing 70 big and 40 small boats and it also provides all kinds of yacht maintenance services. The Marina is capable of providing water, electricity, telephone, maintenance, repair and wintering services to the yachts that stay overnight or stop over.
The Mysterious World of Diving and Underwater:
 Çeşme has unique areas for underwater enthusiasts from amateurs to professionals.  Nature has been very generous in Çeşme, where you will witness incredible views of the underwater world.

 ISLANDS OF ÇEŞME AND DIVING SPORT

Fener Island:
Deepening up to 15-18 meters, this island is an ideal area for those who enjoy current diving.  If you have the chance, you may even encounter seals that are the island's permanent visitors. There are two dive spots around the island.  It is generally used for second dives due to the shallow bottom structure at both dive sites. In the dives to be made in the region consisting of 18 meters in depth, the colorful bottom structure will fascinate you. There are  all kinds of sponges and corals in the island area. Thus, small schoolfish such as bream and saupe will accompany you in the dive. There are several old seal caves on the island where sometimes seals are seen.
Yatak Island:
This island, where the depth goes up to 40 meters, is famous for its magnificent cave located at a depth of about 8-10 meters.  It is usually preferred for the last dive of the day. Two cave entrances on the west of the island and the colorful spade formed by the sponges inside are very suitable for macro and wide angle photographers. When you look inside with a wide angle lens, you will be fascinated by the turquoise blue in front of the darkness.

Eşek Island:Although there are many diving spots around, the cleft rock point is the most beautiful place on the island. Depth can go down to 50-60 meters. Especially the eastern wall, which starts from 20 meters above and descends to 40 meters, is a place for every diver to see.

Ildırı Bay:
The cave reef is the most beautiful dive site in this area, which was the forbidden zone until last year. On the west side of the sandbar, a wall of approximately 70 meters in length extends from south to north.  The upper part of the wall, which is approximately 8 meters deep, extends from 12 meters to 35 meters in depth.  There are 3 interconnected caves around 21 meters, and one of these caves has an exit of about 12 meters in the middle of the shallows.

Windsurfing:
After seeing Alaçatı, you will not want to be anywhere else to surf. Alaçatı is one of the most interesting and diverse surfing areas in Europe. The surf center with its undistorted cover is in a V-shaped bay with clear water.  It is one of the most important surfing centers in Europe with its various wind conditions and ideal surfing area. Sea water is very shallow in this region and the wind is blowing from the north.
From June to the middle of September, the wind blowing at an average of 4-6, blows as %50 of the south wind in April-October and creates beautiful waves.  Alaçatı is like a region made for surfers. The most beautiful feature of Alaçatı is that the wind blows from the left, as a breeze, and even in the strong winds, regular waves form. The fact that the current is in the same direction as the wind gives the surfers insatiable moments. Alaçatı is also undoubtedly the most reliable one among the regions with breeze wind.  Here, four different winds caress the Çeşme Peninsula, which extends into the Aegean. That Breeze, Southwester, Northeaster and Gerence winds visit the region throughout the year constitutes a special form of beauty.
Kitesurfing at Pırlanta Beach:
 Pırlanta Beach in Çiftlikköy has made Çeşme a candidate for ’the wind capital of Europe’’ with its strong and constant wind and waves. Pırlanta Beach, which is located on the west of the Çeşme, takes its name from the sand shining like diamonds. That the sea is 250 meters shallow and only with sparkling sand made surfers from all over the world come to this region. In the 1980s, hundreds of caravans would park in front of the beach, in the evenings they would stay in their trailers and the beach would witness hundreds of windsurfers dancing in the sea with colorful sails resembling butterflies flying in the air.  In the 2000s, the beach became the new center of Kitesurf, which is the newest extreme sport of the new millennium, and kite surfers.  Due to the similar aspects of windsurfing, many windsurfers started this sport and Pırlanta Beach has become one of the most important centers in the world.  In addition, kitesurf has been providing service to Çeşme Tourism with 13 foreign tour operators from April to November and efforts are being made to extend the season further.
 Kitesurfing is complementary to many other extreme sports. Kitesurf is the new generation of windsurfing.  Now that windsurfing has become a middle-aged sport in the new millennium due to the reduced demand of the younger generation, kitesurf has made a boom all over the world, becoming the fastest-rising sport.  Also, in terms of board usage, snowboarders, skateboards, wakeboards and rollerblades have started this sport.
 Surf resort Kitesurfbeach located in Pırlanta Beach is the school of International Kitesurfing Organization (IKO) in which certificates are given and education is given only with certificated instructors.  Türkiye 2005 Kitesurf Championships, 2005 Water and Air World Championships, and Türkiye Kitesurf Freestyle and Türkiye Windsurf Freestyle Championships in 2006 were organized here. There are also cafes, swimming and sunbathing areas for those who come to watch at the facilities on Pırlanta Beach, which provides accommodation, camping and caravans for windsurfers and kite surfers at nearby hotels.

 ÇEŞME BEACHES
You will enjoy each of the beautiful beaches which you will see on  29 km along the coastline of Çeşme,    Because Çeşme is such a beautiful host that it always embraces you with its clean sea, its unique soft beaches and the sun where you can reach your desired tan without being overwhelmed. Would you like to cool off in a calm sea and then sunbathe on the warm beach, rent a yacht and tour the islands, plug your dive tube and explore the richness in the depth, or take your surfboard and dance with the wind?  Just imagine it. Çeşme thought all of them in advance and prepared each of its beaches as a different alternative to your service. Here are some of the most important beaches;


Ilıca:
It is the largest and most popular tourism center of Çeşme with its wide and white sandy beaches of 2 km in length, qualified accommodation facilities and thermal facilities.  The warm thermal waters boiling through the sea make the Ilıca beach and other beaches in the region a large thermal pool.
The large, small accommodation facilities in Ilıca are able to meet the needs of a busy tourist capacity. The most important issue that increases the importance of Ilıca is thermal facilities. Even in many small hotels and pensions there is spa water. One of the most important features of Çeşme beaches and especially Ilıca beach is that a strip of approximately one hundred meters from the shore to the sea is at a depth not exceeding human height. That in shallow water, especially in waters fed by thermal sources, ultraviolet rays are more beneficial to human health has been proved to be certain with scientific findings.  In addition, children's access to these beaches is very convenient in terms of health and safety.
Boyalık Bay:
It is a bay which is 5 km long and has very beautiful beaches. This bay, which shows the characteristics of Ilıca beach, is also one of the fastest developing tourism areas of Çeşme. Altınyunus Holiday Village and Marina, which was one of the biggest  and most modern rest stops of Türkiye when it was built, is located on where Kalem Burnu taking place in the middle of the bay meets the land. This holiday village offers you all its natural richness. The quietest beach closed to the northern winds of this bay is the Sakin Deniz (Ayayorgi) beach.  It is a really quiet and relaxing corner with its restaurants on the shore and enjoyable facilities.

Şifne-Büyük Port-Paşa Port:
The coastline extending to Şifne Ilıca beach in the northeast direction taking Ilıca beach as center, is a charming center with beautiful beaches and hot springs.,  Büyük Port, Pasha Port bays are places where touristic facilities, camping areas and collective summer residences came together. Şifne is a center which is famous for its hot springs and offers many clean and tidy lodging services. Transportation is provided from Ilıca to this important tourism  center which is about 5 km away from the center of Ilıca.

Ildırı:

 Ildırı and its region, where the ancient city of Erythria is located, is an interesting area for campers in terms of natural beaches and camping areas. It is 22 km away from the Çeşme town center. Transportation to this region, which has the historical and natural richness and 15 km away from Ilıca, is provided through an asphalt way after Şifne.



Dalyan and Sakızlı Bay:
 Located on the northern shores of the Çeşme peninsula, these touristic centers are a region where Aegean life and natural beauties are gathered with its typical fishing neighborhood, houses, harbor, beaches and people. This region is 4 km away from the district center of Çeşme. Many hotels and hostels of good quality are waiting for you in Dalyan village.

Çiftlikköy and Pırlanta Beaches:
 This beach is located in the south and southwest of Çeşme. The most important beaches of this region are PIRLANTA-TURSİTE and ALTINKUM beaches.  High quality hotels and pensions await you here. There are also suitable areas for camping here. 

Çatamaz Beach:
Çatazmak Beach, for which transportation is provided from Çeşme district center, is one of the beaches worth seeing in Çeşme.

Eşek Island:
 Formerly known as "GONI", today's Eşek Island is an hour away from Çeşme with yachts, and is an ideal place for daily yacht cruises with clean bays and welcoming donkeys.  It is very suitable for doing underwater and surface sports in its bays which are closed to the north winds due to its natural location. In the island, almost all covered with scrub, there is a freshwater well that works with the wind for donkeys to be able to live. Especially if you happen to pass in the spring, you will encounter the scent of wild daffodils, mules and thymes. The island serves all touristic purposes and it is not possible to stay overnight because it is within the scope of National Parks.  Located right next to the island, the Black Island will be a haunting place that fascinates you with the Blue Bay, which looks like a natural aquarium.

ECONOMY OF ÇEŞME
INDUSTRY:
There is no industrial investment in our district. Any kind of industrial establishment in our district which is a candidate for one of the numbered tourism towns in the world and made great progress by the means of tourism will detract it from tourism character. 

 AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK:
Viticulture whose  change and characteristic of Agricultural Activity in our district until 1930s reached up to 50% of the agricultural areas in the district and increased more than 50% in some places partly constituted the predominant product pattern of olives. From the 1930s onwards, due to the pests of phylloxera, the bonding areas gradually began to shrink. In the early 1950s, the remaining vineyard areas were removed and tobacco agriculture was started. Until the early 1980s tobacco has become a priority product. Since the beginning of the 1980s, melon has been substituted for tobacco fields and melon fields still maintain their importance among the existing cultivated agricultural areas.  Olive and artichoke production are also important in the district.

TOURISM:

Çeşme is a charming tourist resort of İzmir. Economic activities in this region are therefore based on tourism. The region attracts a lot of tourists in the summer months.  The reason of course is the natural beauty of the fountain.
 Çeşme is also known as the pearl of the Aegean. Çeşme has turned this beauty into financial income in a good way. The hotels which opened in the summer months provided many young people with business opportunities.  In summer, unemployed young people in the region do these tasks whether they are animations or any other tasks.  Thus, a great employment is provided in the region.
 Since Çeşme is located in the Aegean Region, there are many different plants and fruits in the region due to the climate.  These fruits and vegetables are also very beneficial to the economy of the region.
Although agriculture is an important source of income in the region, due to the abundance of tourism activities, these activities stayed mostly in the background.  All shores of the peninsula; beaches, thermal springs, sea with alternative temperatures in clean and different coasts, bays closed to different winds are an important advantage for tourism.

HOT SPRINGS:

Hot Springs in Çeşme:

Çeşme Ilıcaları Beach and its hot spring which are located on the İzmir - Çeşme road and 5 km away from the sea to Çeşme are one of the most interesting and hard to find hot springs in the world.  The temperature of the water is around 58 ° C. It’s useful  in all kinds of metabolic disorders such as chronic rheumatism, gout obesity along with rachitis, women, skin, diseases, liver and urinary tract disorders.  There are modern accommodation facilities around the hot spring.  These accommodation facilities also include a thermal pool and bathrooms.  Transportation to Çeşme thermal springs is possible with Çeşme buses departing from Üçkuyular.

 Şifne (Reisdere) Hot Spring and Mud:

 Located on a small peninsula in Şifne Bay, 5 km north-east of Çeşme Hot Springs, there are various accommodation and food and beverage facilities around it.   It is useful in rheumatism, rachitis, gynecological diseases and urinary tract disorders, stomach, bowel diseases along with skin diseases such as eczema and furuncle.

GUMWOOD        

 The gumwoods found in Çeşme for the first time 6000 years ago are worth seeing.  Gum jam and unique mastic are made from these trees with delicious aroma. Gum is used in kitchens as well as in drug and paint production.

Ancient Greek doctors used to make a variety of drugs from gum against rabies, snake stings, stomach ailments, intestinal and lung diseases. After the X. century, the fame of Gum spread beyond Chios and became famous in the world.

In the project called ‘’We Are Giving Love to Gumwoods’’ which has been carried out by TEMA and Falım Gum Company, the aim was to revive the gum trees, which are the local wealth of the Aegean.  Within the scope of the project, efforts are continuing to increase the number of fertile trees in the Çeşme Peninsula, one of the rare geographies where gum trees give the most productive resin in the world. With this project, gumwoods, which are the source of gum mastic and have been chewed with pleasure, were taken under protection in Çeşme Peninsula, the homeland of the gumwoods, so Türkiye's legacy in terms of the future of Aegean gumwoods is provided.

         


TRANSPORTATION:
Highway:

İzmir is the transportation center of Çeşme, which is connected to İzmir in two ways either by a narrow asphalt of 77 km and or by the highway of 80 km.  Tourists arriving by land, air and sea first reach İzmir and then from there they reach to Çeşme and Ildırı by bus.  Bus services meet the need even in the most crowded days of the tourism season. Çeşme district center is the last stop of buses and minibuses. Transportation to Çiftlik, Dalyan, Alaçatı, Reisdere, Ovacık and other beaches are provided by minibuses and municipality buses.

Seaway:
 There are ferry services between Çeşme and Chios.  Tourists entering Greece from Çeşme by sea are transported by Turkish and Greek ferries operating between Chios (Chios) and Çeşme.  The distance between the island and Çeşme is 8 miles, so an hour. İzmir-Çeşme-Kuşadası-Greece and Italy ferries also stop by the port.



TOURISM STATISTCS:

The Number of Certificated Accommodation Facilities by Ministry of Culture and Tourism:

The List of Tourism Operation Certificated Facilities in the District

Tourism Investment Certificated Facilities

Tourism Investment Certificated Facilities :

BASİT KONAKLAMA BELGELİ TESİS LİSTESİ

ÇEŞME PUBLIC LIBRARIES:

Çeşme District Public Library
Adress: 16 Eylül Mahallesi 3025 Sokak No:13 Çeşme, Tel: 0(232) 712 60 94

Alaçatı District Public Library:

Adress: Eski Belediye Binası Çeşme (KAPALI)

KStatistics of Books and Readers (First 6 Months of 2023)