Aydin
Turkey Travel

Aydin

After a week on the beach in Kusadasi, it was time for me to move to the next destination during my travel across Turkey, in July and August 2019. I originally planned to go directly to Antalya, to spend some more time by the sea. But when I checked how to go there, I discovered that there were no direct buses from Kusadasi. First, I had to go to Aydin and then from Aydin to Antalya.

So, as I had to stop in Aydin, I decided to stay there for two nights. That way, I would shorten a long journey and would see one more place in Turkey.

Plus, there was one more very important reason why I decided to stay in Aydin – I wanted to have some rest. It was a very good decision and although I did get some respite from being on the beach, I didn’t escape the heat.

 

 

ABOUT AYDIN

 

Aydin is not a big place, its population is approximately 250000 people, so it’s much smaller than Istanbul, Bursa and Izmir, that I visited prior to coming to Kusadasi and Aydin.

That was also one reason why I wanted to stay in Aydin. I wanted a place that was not going to be a hard work, somewhere where I could spend a couple of days resting. There was still a lot of travelling ahead of me and I didn’t want to burn out, especially as I had already spent three intensive weeks in Turkey.

 

Adnan Menderes Boulevard - Aydin
Adnan Menderes Boulevard

 

As you will see in this post, Aydin is not like other cities that I visited in Turkey, but that’s perfectly fine. I didn’t choose Aydin because of its historical heritage.

However, it is important to mention that Aydin suffered greatly in the Greco-Turkish war. The same as Izmir, it was completely destroyed and that’s visible. Today, you will mainly see newly constructed buildings and an occasional historic structure, that somehow survived the war.

In the photos above and below, you can see the Aydin’s main street – Adnan Menderes Boulevard. Basically, that’s the way the city is now.

 

Adnan Menderes Boulevard - Aydin
Adnan Menderes Boulevard

 

 

MY HOTEL IN AYDIN

 

I stayed in an excellent three-star Efeler Hotel, that I found on booking.com. I wanted a reasonably priced and comfortable hotel, in the city centre. This hotel was a perfect choice. It’s right at the beginning of Adnan Menderes Boulevard and, to reach the centre, I had to walk along this boulevard for approximately 15 minutes.

 

Efeler Hotel - Aydin
Efeler Hotel

 

I also have to mention that the Efeler Hotel, although rated as a three-star hotel, was much better than better rated hotels where I previously stayed in Western Europe. If I ever go back to Aydin, I will choose this hotel again. It was really perfect.

 

Efeler Hotel - Aydin
Efeler Hotel

 

 

WHAT TO DO AND WHAT TO SEE IN AYDIN?

 

The centre of Aydin is small and one day is perfectly sufficient to comfortably see everything. As I said, my hotel was at one end of the Aydin’s main street – Adnan Menderes Boulevard. There are coffee shops and also some restaurants in this street, where you can sit down and have something to eat or drink.

The main square – Kent Meydani – is at the other end. That’s where you will find the most important structures, which I am going to mention in this post.

 

 

AYDIN TOWN HALL AND ATATÜRK MONUMENT

 

Kent Meydani is a very large square, dominated by the Town Hall and that’s also where you will see the Atatürk Monument. As you can see in the photo below, the Turkish flag and the image of the Father of the Nation proudly cover the municipality building.

 

Town Hall and Atatürk Monument - Aydin
Town Hall and Atatürk Monument

 

 

INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT

 

The Independence Monument is directly opposite the Town Hall, but you can’t see that in the photo below. As a matter of fact, you will see it in a photo that I took in the evening and you will get an idea of the whole square and its overall layout.

This monument, erected in 1926, refers to the Greco-Turkish war and it commemorates a battle in which the Turks liberated Aydin from the invading Greeks.

 

Independence Monument - Aydin
Independence Monument

 

 

AYDIN FOUNTAIN

 

There is also a very large fountain in the square. It comes to life in the evening, with its beautiful illumination.

 

Aydin Fountain
Aydin Fountain

 

 

BEY MOSQUE (1683)

 

Probably because of its position, the most prominent mosque in Aydin is the Bey Mosque.

 

Bey Mosque - Aydin
Bey Mosque

 

The mosque is directly opposite the Town Hall and the fountain that I have just mentioned, it completes the main square.

 

Bey Mosque - Aydin
Bey Mosque

 

This late 17th century structure is a perfect example of the classical Ottoman architecture.

 

Bey Mosque - Aydin
Bey Mosque

 

I visited this mosque in the late morning, before the first afternoon prayer. There was no one inside, so I explored it leisurely and I also took some photos.

 

Bey Mosque - Aydin
Bey Mosque

 

It’s fascinating that in a place like Aydin, where you wouldn’t normally expect to see much, you can find this more than 300 years old historic structure. But, the Bey Mosque is not the only such building in Aydin.

 

Bey Mosque - Aydin
Bey Mosque

 

 

RAMAZAN PASHA MOSQUE (1901)

 

At a short distance from the Bay Mosque, you will find the Ramazan Pasha Mosque, in Doğu Gazi Boulevard. Although the inscription at the entrance of the mosque states that it is from 1594, that’s not entirely true.

 

Ramazanpasha Mosque - Aydin
Ramazan Pasha Mosque

 

Indeed, the original construction was from 1594, but it was completely destroyed in an earthquake in 1899.

 

Ramazanpasha Mosque - Aydin
Ramazan Pasha Mosque

 

Sökeli Halil Pasha rebuilt it in 1901, so the structure that we see today is only 118 years old.

 

Ramazanpasha Mosque - Aydin
Ramazan Pasha Mosque

 

As soon as you enter the mosque, you notice that it’s different and that it doesn’t look like the Bay Mosque.

 

Ramazanpasha Mosque - Aydin
Ramazan Pasha Mosque

 

The interior decoration of the Ramazan Pasha Mosque is completely baroque.

 

Ramazanpasha Mosque - Aydin
Ramazan Pasha Mosque

 

Anyhow, I still think that this beautiful mosque is an important part of the Ottoman heritage in Aydin.

 

Ramazanpasha Mosque - Aydin
Ramazan Pasha Mosque

 

The time of its reconstruction was the twilight period of the Ottoman Empire and this mosques represents the architectural style and decorative tastes of that particular era and that’s why it’s precious.

 

Ramazanpasha Mosque - Aydin
Ramazan Pasha Mosque

 

 

BARBAROS KAPALI MARKET

 

The Barbaros Kapali Market is directly opposite the Ramazan Pasha Mosque. In Aydin, everything is close together.

 

Barbaros Kapali Market - Aydin
Barbaros Kapali Market

 

In Turkish, capali means covered. So, as you can see in these photos, this is a covered market. It’s relatively small, but at the same time, it’s very interesting to see.

 

Barbaros Kapali Market - Aydin
Barbaros Kapali Market

 

Its name comes from Barbaros, a famous figure in Ottoman history. Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha was an admiral of the Ottoman fleet. Under his lead, the Ottoman navy became a dominant power in the Mediterranean, in the 16th century.

 

Barbaros Kapali Market - Aydin
Barbaros Kapali Market

 

There are also shops that sell more formal attire, such as opulent wedding dresses that you can see in the photo below.

 

Barbaros Kapali Market - Aydin
Barbaros Kapali Market

 

 

ZINCIRLI HAN (1708)

 

Some other important historic buildings that you can see in Aydin are part of the Nasuh Pasha Complex. One of them is Zincirli Han, constructed in 1708 and after the renovation works in 2016, it reopened as a hotel.

 

Zincirli Han - Aydin
Zincirli Han

 

It’s a beautiful structure and now it has the same hotel function that it had centuries ago, when it was first built. Nasuh Pasha was the governor of Aydin between 1703 and 1714, then he became the governor of Damascus.

 

Zincirli Han - Aydin
Zincirli Han

 

 

NASUH PASHA COMPLEX (1708)

 

Immediately next to Zincirli Han, you will find the Nasuh Pasha Complex. In fact, a building that you can see in the photo below is a school. It was also constructed in 1708 and renovated in 2010.

 

Nasuh Pasha Complex - Aydin
Nasuh Pasha Complex

 

I entered without knowing that it was a school and there were children running around. I took a photo of the fountain in the middle of the complex and left. Clearly, I could not visit the rest of the complex.

 

Nasuh Pasha Complex - Aydin
Nasuh Pasha Complex

 

 

NASUH PASHA HAMMAM (1708)

 

One more historic structure next to the Nasuh Pasha Complex is the Nasuh Pasha Hammam.

 

Nasuh Pasha Hammam - Aydin
Nasuh Pasha Hammam

 

Also built in 1708, it’s a working bath-house. It was very hot in Aydin that day and certainly the last thing I wanted was to spend time inside of a hot hammam.

Interestingly, it is one bath, shared both by men and women. But, men can use it between 7am and 12am and between 5pm and 11pm. Women are allowed between 12am and 5pm.

Hammams normally have separate sections for men and women, with separate entrances.

 

Nasuh Pasha Hammam - Aydin
Nasuh Pasha Hammam

 

 

ESKI YENI MOSQUE (1585)

 

Close to the Nasuh Pasha Complex, there is the Eski Yeni or Hasan Çelebi Mosque.

 

Eski Yeni Mosque - Aydin
Eski Yeni Mosque

 

Unfortunately, I didn’t visit this mosque because when I arrived there, the early afternoon prayer was in progress.

 

Eski Yeni Mosque - Aydin
Eski Yeni Mosque

 

At the same time, it was oppressively hot, the outside temperature was 38°C. I just wanted to come back to my hotel, to rest until the evening and wait for the temperature to became slightly more bearable. So, if you go to Aydin, this is one more historic building that you can visit.

 

Eski Yeni Mosque - Aydin
Eski Yeni Mosque

 

 

KAZIM KARABEKIR STREET

 

Also in the centre, you should visit Kazim Karabekir street. It’s a lively and colourful pedestrian street, with coffee shops and restaurants.

 

Kazim Karabekir Street - Aydin
Kazim Karabekir Street

 

I had my dinner there one evening, in one of the locantasi type restaurants.

 

Kazim Karabekir Street - Aydin
Kazim Karabekir Street

 

 

AYDIN BY NIGHT

 

As I’ve already mentioned, it was very hot in Aydin. I came back to the hotel where I stayed until the evening, then I went for dinner and for a walk in the centre. I did get some rest from the beach between Kusadasi and Antalya, but unfortunately, I couldn’t escape the heat.

 

Adnan Menderes Boulevard - Aydin by Night
Adnan Menderes Boulevard

 

What’s very good about Aydin is that its centre is small, which means that I easily went back there in the evening. I did the same in Konya, but not in other places.

In Istanbul, once I came back to the hotel, I remained there, otherwise it would’ve been too much of a hard work to go all the way back to the historic area, to take nocturnal photos.

 

Adnan Menderes Boulevard - Aydin
Adnan Menderes Boulevard

 

I am very glad that I went for a walk after my dinner. At that time, there were many people in the centre, enjoying the warm evening, especially after the oppressive day time heat.

You can see the Independence Monument and the Aydin Town Hall in the photo below.

 

Independence Monument - Aydin
Independence Monument

 

There is the illuminated Bay Mosque too.

 

Bey Mosque - Aydin
Bey Mosque

 

Probably, the biggest attraction was the fountain that changed colours with each new spray of water.

 

Aydin Fountain
Aydin Fountain

 

I am very glad that I visited Aydin. It was a perfect stop, easy to visit and interesting. It’s certainly not a touristic place, but if you get an opportunity to spend a day there, do it.

 

 

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