Ayvalık, Turkey is the first country where birisidir.balıkesir the district Ayvalık, with clean sea water and the beach, with beautiful coasts surrounded by green olive groves, is a resort that embodies the historical and archaeological value.

Ayvalık was known as Kidonia, which means a kind of wild quince in Antiquity. In Antiquity, Misya, Hittite, Phrygian, Lydia came under Roman and Greek rule in the Middle Ages, and from the 14th century onwards. Greeks and Turks lived together for a long time. As a result of the Greek population living in the city, which lived its brightest period in the 19th and early 20th centuries, a large part of the district was evacuated as a result of the Greek uprising in 1821, and although they were allowed to return later, the city could not regain its former vitality. Although not many remains from ancient times are found today, potsherds belonging to the Hellenistic and Roman periods can be seen in places. In Ayvalık, besides many historical buildings and Greek houses and churches are still standing.

During the 1923 Exchange, families from Crete were placed in the district. Some of these families still live in the district.

Places to visit

Alibey Island or Cunda: It is possible to cross this island, which covers Ayvalık against the open sea, by road with a bridge. In the summer, there are motor trips from Ayvalık to Alibey Island every hour. There are many churches and monasteries on the island (except Taksiyarhis are in ruins, or restored and turned into mosques). The biggest of the churches is Taksiyarhis Church. The big bell of the church is in Bergama Museum. The beauties of the straits, islands, and intertwined coves from the high parts of the island are worth watching. The taste of dinner is insatiable with the famous Papalina, seafood, appetizers and olive oil herb dishes at the fisherman’s restaurants lined up in the center of the island.