Çeşme Castle is one of the most important historical and cultural structures of Çeşme district. The castle, which was built by Genoese to secure the maritime commerce towards the end of 15th century, was later expanded with extensions which were built by Mehmet, who is the son of the Architect Ahmet, by the command of Aydın Governor Mir Haydar in the year of 1508, Sultan Bayezid II period. The castle which reflects both Genoese and Ottoman architectural features, became an important structure of defense with these extensions.
Çeşme Archaeological Museum is located in the castle which is protected to date very well. The museum was first opened to visit as a weapon museum with weapons brought from Topkapı Museum in İstanbul in 1965 and it continued to serve until 1984. But because the weapons in the museum started to oxidize due to the extreme moisture of the hall, the museum was transferred to İzmir Archaeology and Ödemiş museums.
After the weapons were moved, the showrooms of the museum were rearranged and the works obtained from the excavations that were started in 1964 in the Ildırı(Erythrai) antique city were exhibited. Among the works, valuable finds such as god and goddess statues made of terracotta, busts, marble statues, silver and bronze coins, gold leaf, amphoras are exhibited.
Today in the Çeşme Castle, works obtained from Erythrai Ancient City and Çeşme Bağlararası Bronze Age Settlement excavations are exhibited. Figurines, oil lamps, glass containers, coins and statues from different periods can also be seen in the museum. In addition, amphoras that were used to carry and keep goods that were important in ancient period commerce such as grain, olive oil, wine are exhibited in chronological order.
The lower floor of Umur Bey Tower in the castle was arranged as a showroom dedicated to 1770 Çeşme Ottoman-Russia Naval Battle. Marble and stone works are exhibited on the upper floor and statues, steles and Ottoman Period inscriptions can be seen here. On the open areas of the castle, cannons, cannonballs, architectural pieces and İslamic gravestones are also exhibited.
Military and civilian structures obtained from the excavations in the Erythrai antique city of Ildır village are exhibited on the locations where they were found for visitors free of charge.