ÇEŞME

Discover Çeşme, Turkey

Called by many the windsurfing and kite-surfing capital of Turkey, the area ranks as one of the best surfing-resorts in the world. Historically, Çeşme was a trading port – exporting local products including grapes, wine, olives, olive oil, and mastic. Known to have been popular during the Roman Era, children chewed the resin from the mastic tree as bubblegum. In Ottoman times, it was highly prized by the Sultan’s Harem as a breath freshener. Mastic is also a key ingredient in Turkish ice cream.

Location

Çeşme is located in Turkey’s Aegean Region. Sitting adjacent to the Aegean Sea, the area is home to many of Turkey’s most prestigious seaside resorts. Known for its marina, beautiful beaches and crystal clear water, Çeşme sits just 7 kilometers from the Greek island of Chios.

Provinces

Çeşme sits in the İzmir Province. İzmir is one of eight provinces located in the Aegean Region: Afyonkarahisar (03), Aydın (09), Denizli (20), İzmir (35), Kütahya (43), Manisa (45), Muğla (48), and Uşak (64). Each province has a unique code license plate code. The license plate code for İzmir is number 35.

Points of Interest

Çeşme is one of many districts located in province of İzmir. İzmir includes the districts of Aliağa, Balçova, Bayındır, Bayraklı, Bergama, Beydağ, Bornova, Buca, Çeşme, Çiğli, Dikili, Foça, Gaziemir, Güzelbahçe, Karabağlar, Karaburun, Karşıyaka, Kemalpaşa, Kınık, Kiraz, Konak, Menderes, Menemen, Narlıdere, Ödemiş, Seferihisar, Selçuk, Tire, Torbalı, and Urla.

Historic Locations

Although Çeşme is best known for its natural wonders, the area is home to many historic locations including the Çeşme Castle, a restored 16th century Genoese military fortress, and Ayios Haralambos Church. Çeşme Castle now houses the Çeşme Archaeology Museum. Ayios Haralambos Church, a decommissioned 19th-century Greek Orthodox church, was fully restored in 2012. The ancient ruins of Erythrae (Erythrai) are found north of the town Ildırı. Erythrae was one of the twelve Ionian cities of Asia Minor. The ruins are situated 22 kilometers northeast of Çeşme, directly opposite the island of Chios. Chios (the fifth largest of the Greek islands and the location of the UNESCO site Nea Moni) sits just 7 kilometers from Çeşme. Adjacent to Çeşme is the beautiful village Alaçatı. Alaçatı is one of the most traditional towns in Turkey.

Cuisine

The mild climate and rich soil make the Aegean one of Turkey’s most fertile regions. Known for olive orchards and vineyards, the Aegean Region produces some of Turkey’s most prestigious olive oils and wines. Additionally, the Aegean is famous for an abundance of fresh produce including artichokes, grapes, pears and sweet melon. Çeşme, overlooking the Greek Islands, is common destination for fresh seafood including the highly prized red mullet. In addition, the area is known for abundant village breakfasts called köy kahvaltı.

Weather

The Aegean Region has a Mediterranean climate at the coast (with hot, dry summers and mild to cool, wet winters) and a semi-arid continental climate in the interior (with hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters). Rainfall averages 645 mm (25 inches) per year; temperatures range from -8°C (18°F) to 43°C (109°F), with average humidity of 69%. During the months of April, May and October you are most likely to experience pleasant weather in Çeşme with average temperatures that fall between 20°C (68°F) and 25°C (77°F).