Ayvalik – It's nice, stare, 25-A town with a thousand inhabitants is worth recommending as a base for a momentary rest in pursuit of monuments and adventures. We can take a walk between old houses and churches converted into mosques and take a bath in the warm sea or sunbathe on the nearby beaches.

Ayvalik is situated right on the seashore, actually a strait between the mainland and the island of Lesbos. Opposite, not far from the mainland, there is the small island of Alibey and many other smaller islands scattered along the strait. The city has long been inhabited by the Greeks, like most of the settlements along the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, but nothing stood out until that fateful year 1770, when the Russian fleet attacked Turkish ships near Cesme (next to Izmir). The only surviving Turkish captain was Hasan Pasa, who managed to break through to the north with his damaged ship, all the way to Ayvalik. The townspeople helped the captain and his crew to reach Canakkale, from where they were safely transported to Istanbul. Not complete 20 years later, Hasan Pasa became a grand vizier and remembering the favor of the Greeks, obtained for them from Sultan Selim 111 special grant giving privileges, which only a few other Greek cities in the Ottoman Empire had. These were, among others. an order for the resettlement of the Muslim inhabitants of the city to the surrounding villages, no Turkish soldiers are allowed to stay in the city, as well as exemption from most taxes. These and other privileges determined the rapid development of the city, to which the Greeks from all over the country drew. Trade flourished here, science and culture, the city even had its own printing house. The idyll lasted until the Greco-Turkish War, after which the Greeks were relocated to the land of their ancestors.

Places, which are worth seeing

There aren't many places to visit in Ayvalik, apart from the old quarter northeast of Cumhuriyet Meydani, in the square between Talat Pasa Cad. a Filter Cad. This part of town, with its 19th century Greek houses lined up along narrow streets, cobbled streets, it looks a bit like European towns. There are churches among the houses, some converted into mosques, like for example. Clock Mosque (Clock mosque) Lub Cinarh Mosque (Mosque with Platan), both after renovation. Taksiyarhis Kilise Church (Archangels) stayed intact and if they let us in, perhaps we will be able to see the frescoes adorning it. You can also see the Ayios Nicholas Church, the former cathedral. A popular way to have a good time are night boat trips around the surrounding islets, which costs within limits 6-10 USD, depending on the program, our bargaining skills and, of course, the seasons. About 6 km south of the city is the most popular and cleanest beach in the area, Sarmisakh ("Garlic" – the author, however, assures, that the name does not derive from the fragrance prevailing here), and to the north is Camlik Plaji. We can get to both of them by buses or dolmus buses, on which the name appears. A popular place, from where there are wonderful views of the bay and its surroundings, is the ascent of Seytan Sofrasi (The Devil's Table), located on a peninsula northwest of Garlic Beach. We can also get there by dolmus.

Drive, orientation, connections

Ayvalik is difficult to reach directly with the large bus service, because some of them don't travel to the city itself, but they drop off passengers on the main road, at the intersection, from where we have to get to the center on foot (5 – 6 km) or hitchhike. Therefore, it is more convenient to go with Ayvacik (Assos) do Edremitu, and from there just catch a minibus straight to Ayvalik (1,7 USD, 1 time ). If we are going by minibus from Bergama, so we will get off at a small ottoman 1,5 km north of the center) or earlier on Cumhuriyet Meydam (pl. Republic).

Finding out about the city is an easy task. Life here revolves around the central square mentioned above, north from which runs the Cad., and to the south, Ataturk Cad. It is actually one main street, which changes its name at the square. Banks are concentrated next to it, shops and restaurants and locals. The square has the main taxi rank and dolmus and city buses stop, which run only on the North axis – south, going far out of town. Across the street from Cumhuriyet Meydam, actually already on the waterfront, stoi pomnik Ataturka. lnónu What. divides the city into two almost equal parts. On the eastern side, the main road in this direction is Talat Paja Cad., where the commercial life of Ayvalik is concentrated. The western district stretches from ul. lnónu all the way to the quay, where most of the hotels and restaurants are located, and the ferry port.

From Ayvalik we get to virtually every city on the Izmir route – ęanakkale, if we go out onto the main road and stop the passing bus. From the city station to, we go mainly to Bergama (2,7 USD, 1.5 time.) and Edremit (2 USD, 1 time.), where we can change to a minibus going to Ayvacik (Assos; 2,7USD, 1,5 time.) or the regular bus to Canakkale. We can also get to Canakkale and Izmir from the local train station, but such combinations are quite rare.

Accommodation

Because Ayvalik attracts more and more tourists (especially the Greeks), accommodation base is quite well developed here. Most hotels are concentrated in the area west of Cad., in narrow streets near the coast.

Gastronomy

Most of the good restaurants are in the western part of the city, between Inónu Cad. and the coast (those clustered at the town hall building, near the statue of Ataturk, they serve fish dishes). Cheap places can be found northwest of the market streets running near the fruit and vegetable market.