perspective and the last gate opening to the Western World in the Oriental perspective. Anyone, regardless if he is a domestic or foreigner tourist, who visits Çeşme önce, turns into a Çeşme lover. Love affairs in Çeşme are unforgettable. Çeşme becomes a love in its entirety. Ittakes your mind away, and doesn't let you come and go back, and then you find yourself looking for ways to settle in Çeşme. Legendary Çeşme melon, water melon, unique tomatoes, sweet onions, grapes for table and wine, health-giving artichoke, the most productive olive orchards, green areas, various curative herbs and plants, the most delicious fruits in orchards, youth elixir that grow on its own in corners of rockş and on arid sides of mountains; caper, thyme, sage, nettle, şevketi bostan. And the sea...You are easily got lost within the charming blueness. You neither remember yesterday nor think about tomorrow. The only thing you would like to do is to reach and be a part of the vivid turquoise color of it. It seduces you and tug at your heart's strings with ali its richness, and offers you overpowering tastes with ali types of delicious food. A lantern glitters on each outskirt of it within the silence of the night; it picks up what the deep sea gives to it: sometimes red mullet, gilthead sea bream, blue fish in season, tuna, and some other time octopus, calamari, and lobster.

Eritre and Çeşme vicinity, ruled by the Byzantine Emperor in the Middle Age, was conquered by Turks during the reign of ÇAKA BEY for the first time. Klozemene Peninsula was conquered by Çaka Bey father-in-law of Kılıçaslan I, during the Seljuk Era in 1081 A.C. The town came under sovereignty of the Ottoman Empire again by Yıldırım Beyazıt, but it was recaptured and transferred to Aydınoğlulları Principality by Timur following Ankara War (1402). Later, it was seized by the Ottomans back in 1422. As our motherland was invaded by enemy forces just after the First World War, Çeşme was invaded by Greece; however, it was taken back by the army led by General Fahrettin Altay on 16 September 1922 during the Independence War. As understoodfrom its name, Çeşme, meaning fountain, hosts many historical fountains.

FAMOUS PEOPLE IN ITS HISTORY
Famous People in its History / Çeşme history has many famous names. Among them do Çaka Bey and Cezayirli Hasan Pasha catch one's attention.

Çaka Bey: One of the Turklsh Principals who started to make Anatolla homeland in 1071, Çaka Bey was defeated and captured by Kabalika Atocandros, a Byzantine General, during conquest of Western Anatolla between the years 1078-1081. Kept as a prisoner for a time, Çaka Bey managed to escape and settled down on the Aegean coasts, and formed a strong army there. The first city captured by Çaka Bey was Foça. Later he took over Mytilene and Chlos Islands, and waged the first naval war of Turklsh history here. After the victories he won, Çaka Bey set another target: conquest of İstanbul. As the Byzantine Emperor noticed the threat, he signed an agreement with Kılıç Aslan, Iznik Principal, thereby selzing Abydos, whlch was taken over by Çaka Bey. Finding the betrayal of Kılıç Aslan, who was his son-in-law at the same time, Çaka Bey preferred to arrange an agreement Instead of waging war. At the reception given to the agreement's honor, Çaka Bey was killed by Kılıç Aslan.

Cezayirli (Algerian) Hasan Pasha: Hasan Pasha was born in Gallipoli in 1720. He was a slave of Hacı Muhammed Efendi, a merchant from Gallipoli. Freed later, Hasan Pasha set off for Algerla, where there were heroes, thanks to a handful of money his master had given him. However, as the ship came up with fight against a foreigner ship on the way, Hasan Pasha killed around fifteen of the enemy staff thanks to its unique bravery despite his young age. Then he closed the others in the warehouse and cabins, and took over the ship. Being famous in a very short period, Hasan Pasha was appointed as Tiemsen Principal. He enrolled in Janissary Army before he left for Algeria and performed brilliantly at Belgrade Campaign. Since he was known for his success as a seaman, he was promoted to the group of captains and was given a ship. Appointed to the rank of Mir-i Miranlık in 1770, he was promoted to captaincy; and he took the Island Limni back from the Christians, which resulted in his acquiring the title "GAZİ (war veteran)". Hasan Pasha was both promoted as a vizier in the same year and was appointed as Kaptan-ı Derya (the Sea Captain). Hasan Pasha became a servant to his nation; as an example; his army defeated the Russlan army once and he was nominated as Grand Vizier upon this. He held this position for 3 months before he passed by in 1790. Hasan Pasha left many works of charity beside his precious services as a statesman.


HISTORICAL RICHNESS
Çeşme Castle: The castle which was built in a rectangular shape in 1508 during the era of Beyazıt II presents wonderful scenery with 6 towers and ditches on 3 sides. İt was first built at sea level, but it was left inside as the sea was filled within the course of time. The historical castle hosts International Çeşme Music Contest and Çeşme Festival between July. As you visit the castle, you will see the Sculpture of Cezayirli (Algerian) Hasan Pasha, the Great Turkish Commander Kaptan-ı Derya, with his lion nearit.

Caravansaray: Built by the Magnificent Suleiman in 1528, the caravansaray contributes a unique value to Çeşme. While the caravansaray was used for hosting, especially, foreigner tourists throughout the history, it is used as a hotel with 37 rooms. Currently in restoration and opening in spring 2010. Also there are night entertainment places and shopping centers in the caravansaray.


FOUNTAINS OF ÇEŞME
Fountains have adorned the streets and paths of Anatolian villages and towns for centuries. They are distinctive and attractive features of the Anatolian architectural history. The fountains in Çeşme were built and dedicated to the public use by wealthy citizens in the 1800s. These fountains lend their name to the region. Besides bearing classical features of Ottoman architecture, several street corner fountains of Çeşme are simple structures;
Ahmetoğlu Hadji Memiş Aga Fountain
The inseription tablet of this fountain has reached the present intact. The fountain is situated at the intersection of 1088 Street and 1021 Street which is accessed through Bağlar Çarşı High Street. The square planned and twin facetted fountain was built in 1837.
Hamaloğlu (Hafize Rabia Hatun) Fountain
The fountain is situated on Maraş Street, next to the Çeşme Graveyard. it has three facets and was built in 1851 with cut stone walls over a reetangular plan. Its three faces are built of andesite stone. The face containing the cistern entrance has no trough or faucet. The dome was seated on cut stone eaves.
Kabadayı Fountain
This fountain is situated on Kabadayı Street, and it was built in 1883 as a cut stone strueture based over a reetangular plan with twin facets. The corners of the faces containing the main trough and faucet were rounded and marble panels were carved for side faucets. The pointed arehes covering the niches of the faces was built of alternating white and red marble stones.
Kandıra Fountain
The fountain, which can be found among the willows at the gateway to the motorway to İzmir, was built as a "roadside fountain" for the beneftt of road users.
Kaymakam Sadık Beg Fountain
Situated on the Turgut Özal High Street, at the junction of Bağlar Çarşı High Street, the fountain was built in 1886 as a cut andesite stone strueture over a square plan with four facets. While some seetions of its overhanging eaves have collapsed, the engaged columns at its corners are stili intact. Since the springs that fed the faucets have been diverted to the Hadji Memiş Water network, the fountain has ceased to funetion.
Maraş Fountain
The fountain, situated on Maraş Street at the junction with 2032 Street, was built in 1824 as a rounded square strueture with four facets. It was spanned by a dome seated on overhanging eaves. The strueture was made of tuff stone and the pointed arehes spanning the troughs were built of red sandstone. Rounded corners contain niches with side faucets and each face of the fountain has an inseription panel. A smaller inseription panel, built into the corner adjacent to the west and south faces, contains the building date.
Şerif Ağazade Seyyidi Hasan Ağa Ailesi Hacı Salihe Fountain
The one-facaded fountain was built in year 1800. Its location has recently been changed; also the cistern covered with vault was made smaller and a vault with pointed shape was built instead taking into consideration the narrow room and its uselessness during rebuilding of it. Niche of the fountain which was built of red grit has a pointed arch. It is located at the crossroads at the entrance of Kale Önü Port with sound inscriptions on it.
Memiş İbn-i Ahmet Fountain
Built in 1798 with one facade, the fountain has niches with pointed arches. Connected to Hacı Memiş water network with sound inscriptions on it, the fountain can be seen on the corner of the street 2002 on the same street as Mehmet Kethüda Fountain is situated.
Mimar Mehmed Fountain
Placed in the Çeşme Castle, the fountain was built by Beyazıt II during renovation works of the castle in the 16th century. You should see it when you visit the castle.
Murabutzade Hüseyin Kaptan Fountain
Bearing the writings "Sahib-ül Hayrat el Hesenat Murabutzade El Hacı Hüseyin Kaptan ve Sahi-bül Hayrat el Hesenat Ayşe Hatun Saliha Mustafa bin Şabanzade" on its inscriptions, the fountain was built in 1697. You can see the fountain on the corner where the Streets 2006 and 2008 (Keskin) meet on the way down to the bazaar.


THE MOSQUES
Almost ali of the mosques built in Çeşme during the 19th century resemble each other very much. The mosques that are stili used for praying are as follows:
Hacı Memiş Ağa Mosque
Built in 1827 by Hacı Memiş Ağa. The technique of piled stones was applied on the mosque with a rectangular plan. Memiş Ağa Mosque with a roof coated with tiles has one single minaret made of hewn stones. Also there are diamond shapes on its wooden pulpit.
Hacı Mehmet Ağa Mosque
Built by Hacı Mehmet Ağa in 1842. Having the same design as Hacı Memiş Ağa Mosque does, an imam house was annexed to Hacı Mehmet Ağa Mosque later.
Osman Ağa Mosque
Built in 1835 by Osman Ağa. Technique of debris stones pile up was used on the two-storey mosque whose ground floor has is used as a store. As the lath minaret of it collapsed in course of the time, a new one was made of hewn stones.
Alaçatı Memiş Ağa Mosque
It is predicted based on the gravestones its garden that the mosque was built in the 19th century. With a structure different from the other mosques, Alaçatı Memiş Ağa Mosque was built on an octagon-shaped pulley. As for its minaret, it is made of hewn stones.


ÇEŞME HOUSES
Çeşme houses reveal all beauty of Turkish and Greek architecture. Çeşme Houses represent the mixed architectural trend that the Ottomans built on the Aegean coasts. You can see houses that resemble Çeşme Houses on all Aegean Islands, primarily the Chios. That Turkish and Greek people lived and built their houses together influenced shape of the structures. Therefore, Çeşme Houses differ from the concept of Turkish houses. One of the most important features of Çeşme Houses is that they do not have a front yard and they are built side by side. The gates directly lead to the road and there are rolling shutters on windows in the rooms of the first floor directed towards the street. Köste stones were used on the front facade of the upper floor. Another feature of Çeşme Houses is graffito; that is, coating is scraped off to form shapes; and coating technique is used. Almost all of the houses have roofs in triangle ends.


THE MUSEUMS
The Fortress of Çeşme houses the Archaeological Museum which exhibits many archaeological and ethnographic objects recovered from Ildırı (Erythrai), Çeşme and Alaçatı. Objects on display include the finds of the undenvater archaeological survey of the site of the Russo-Ottoman Naval Battle of 1770, as well as reproduction paintings and archival documents related with the war. The museum has also two separate exhibition halis for marble objects and smaller ceramic and earthemvare artefacts. Open between: 08.30-12.00/13.00-17.00 everyday except for Monday


ÇEŞME LEGENDS
Legends occupy a unique place in Çeşme's centuries-lasting adventure. Two of the best known ones are;
Erythrai Legend: In this legend, a sculpture identifying God Herakies was left on a boat departing from Tyros in Phoenicia. The boat sailed overseas up to Lona coasts and vrashed a shore at Mesate Point (Topburnu), which is situated between the Chios and Erythrai. People of both Chios and Erytrhrai worked hard to take the sculpture for themselves; but all was in vain: The sculpture was not moved at all. Then a blind fisherman from Erytrhrai said to cut hair of the women so that men can pull the sculpture using a rope to be made of these hairs. However, no one believed in it, including the noble women. After, a slave from Thrak did what the fisherman said; then the sculpture was moved and surprisingly the blind fisherman's eyes suddenly got opened. A holy place was built for the sculpture of Herakies and those except for Thrak women were banned from entering. You will believe in the legend, too.
Cybl Legend: The legend belonging to Cybl, a sibyl from Erythrai, has been told for centuries. Cybl was born on the Korykos Mountain and vested the power of inspirartion and oracle innately. Her father was mortal while her mother was one of the Nymphia, fairies thought to have lived on mountains, pastures, jungles, in springs and rivers. Cybl started oracles as soon as she was born with the help of Nympha. Cbyl uttered words in lines all the time. According to the legend; Cbyl lived for 9 lifetimes each lasting for 110 years. (I myself saw Sibyl live in a glass jar in Cumae. As boys inquired "What happened to Sibyl?", the answer was "I miss death" all the time; Satiricon by Pentronius, Chapter 48). What made her live so long? Visit Çeşme, introduce yourself to its thermal spring water, climate, and wind. Then you will discover thesecret...


ERYTHRAI (ILDIRI)
Ildırı Village was named Erythrai in the ancient times. It is thought that the word Erythrai derives from the word Erythros meaning "red" in Greek, and the word Erythrai was used meaning "Red Town" due to the red color of its soil. Another prediction says that the town was named after Erythros, son of Rhadamanthes from Crete. The findings in the town show that this region has been settled in since the Bronze Age. The town was ruled by Knopos, a descendance of Kadros, Athens King, during the second colonization period. Ruled by a king at early stages, the city was ruled by Basileusses, who are descendance of king but elected by the public. The city was annexed to the political and religious Panionion union formed by the lonian cities later. The city experienced a shortterm of tyrant with Pythagoras, it gained importance thanks to the exported millstones. Erythrai was taken over by other civilizations like Lidya and Persians later. The city rebelled against Persian rule like other lonian cities; and it became independent with all other lonian cities thanks to Alexander in 334 B.C. Due to the chaotic environment following the death of Alexander, Erythrai was taken over by various powers for many times, and captured by Pergamon (Bergama) Kingdom. Then it gained an independent status within the Roman Empire in 133 B.C. Erythrai became famous at that time with wine, goats, millstones and Sibyl and Herophile, who were sibyls. The city and its surrounding were devastated to a high extent because of wars and harsh military movements of Roman commanders in the 1st century B.C. The city was started to be called İlderen or Ildırı after the 16th century

TRADITIONS OF ÇEŞME

Çeşme have many traditions peculiar to Aegean Region. Do not disregard witnessing these traditions in the course of your visit to Çeşme.
Engagement Fish: The man's family fishes a big fish. This fish can be a large gilt head bream, bastard makrele or sea bass. The fish is decorated by the man's family; the fish is coated with the initials of the girl and the boy to engage with shiny paper using various motifs. The decorated fish is placed on a tray and send to the house of the woman with ceremony. The woman's family cooks the fish and returns some to the man's family.

Şeker İşi (Candy Work): This tradition is performed by the engaged woman's family. The "şeker işi", which resembles a cookie but cooked very difficultly with high cost, is offered to the man's family first, then to the guests during and after the engagement ceremony. If the taste of "şeker işi" is good, it will be a source of pride for the woman's family.

Jug Crushing: In the old times, a jug was crushed by hitting the ground for the honor of the dancing persons in wedding ceremonies and circumcisions. There were shops specifically selling jugs for this purpose in Çeşme. The number of the crushed jugs while one person was dancing demonstrated the dignity and the skill of play for that particular individual. During some wedding ceremonies, the dance wassofull of crushed jugs, thus no where left for even stepping. Nowadays, this tradition stili survives with its former glory and customs during some wedding ceremonies particularly in rural areas.

Bazina: ‘Bazina’ is the feast organized by the families following the collection of tobacco from the fields during summer season. The guests go to this feast with their wooden spoons. After eating the special meal cooked using dough, gumbo, and minced meat, the next date for another Bazina feast day was determined.