Çeşme Castle
The castle was built by the Genoese during the 14th century and renovated by the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II. The castle of Çeşme was destroyed by the Venetians in the 17th and reconstructed in the 18th century. One the castle was on the sea line. The castle attracts attentions with its Ottoman architecture. Especially, the south gate is magnificent. The castle was built on a rectangular plan of 11.700 square metres and divided into an inner and outer section. It is used by Ottomans as both military base and a secure place to carry out maritime trade from the nearby port.
The artefacts from the ancient site of Erythria are exhibited on the museum that is in the castle.
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 45 rooms. Also there are night entertainment places and shopping centers in the caravansaray.
Çeşme Museum: History of Çeşme Museum
One of the historical and cultural values of Çeşme District worth seeing is the Çeşme Fort. Çeşme Fort has been constructed in 1508, during the period of Beyazıt II. It has been had constructed by Aydın Governor Mir Haydar to Architect Ahmet oğlu Mehmet.
Çeşme Archeology museum is located in the fort, which reached today being preserved in a very good way. Çeşme museum has been opened to visit for the first time in 1965 as a gun museum with the guns brought from İstanbul Topkapı Museum and continued its function.
Since the guns in the museum have been oxidized and begun to deform due to the excess humidity in the hall, they have been transferred to İzmir Archeology and Ödemiş Museums. The same exhibition hall has been arranged and used for the exhibition of the works obtained from the rescue excavations made in Ildırı (Erythrai) archaic city, which have been continuing since 1964. God and goddess sculptures made of cooked earth, busts, marble sculptures, silver and bronze coins, golden frames, amphora are being exhibited.
Most important of the visible ruins in Ildırı (Erythrai) is the city walls. Besides this, acropolis and the theatre in north of it and the villa buildings found in the excavations made in the north of the acropolis, Athena temple belonging to the Archaic Period, the church constructed in Byzantine period, Roman villa and mosaics at the location called as Cennettepe, the bath building constructed in Late – Roman – Byzantine Period can be seen.
The visitors can visit the military and civil buildings found as the result of the excavations and researches carried out in Ildırı (Erythrai) archaic city, against no charge.
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Erytrai (Ildırı)
Ildırı village was named Erythrai in the ancient times. İt 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 short term 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 environment following the death of Alexander, Erythrai was taken over by varios powers for many times, and captured by Pergamon 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 1 st century B.C. The city was started to be called Ilderen or Ildırı after the 16th century.
Alaçatı
It is seven kilometers away from Çesme. Alaçati is a lovely town with a combination of Turkish/Greek architecture, rough cobblestone pavements, over hundred year old windmills and Sakizli gardens. The Ayios Konstantinos church has been converted into a mosque and still remains standing as Pazaryeri mosque. Every year people from all over the world come here to join the “International Children and Youth Theatres Festival” performed during the last week of June every year.
Alaçati natural harbor; is one of the rarest places in the world for surfing since the sea is very smooth yet there is consistent and steady winds. While Çark and Piyade beaches are windless, sandy and calm. The yacht harbor and airport are under construction and are expected to improve the potential of tourism in the area.
The Church of Ayios Haralambos
There is no exact information but it is believed this church was constructed in the 19th century. It is a three naved and two storied basilica.
Today, it is used as a cultural centre under the name of Cakabey cultural Centre.
The Thermal Centers
Çeşme is abundantly endowed with natural hot springs. The holiday resort has two excellent hotels, both of which have complete spas. Sheraton Hotel uses mineral waters from a natural hot spring, while the facilities at Altınyunus Holiday Resort utilise mineral-rich seawater.
Altınyunus Holiday Resort, situated in a cove along the seafront, has 1,030 beds. Its Natural Sea Spa can handle 500 people per day
Physio-chemical characteristics and indications
Sheraton Hotel hot springs contain a high level of sodium chloride and calcium bicarbonate. Water temperature is 55 oC with a pH of 6.5, and mineral content 27.2 gr/lt. The sea water used in the Altınyunus spa has a similar composition. These waters are heated and used for treating rheumatic, dermatological and gynaecological diseases. They are also recommended for neurological exhaustion and to help strengthen the muscles.