The word 'Cesme' means 'spring' or 'fountain' in English, and the resort town on the Aegean Sea does indeed have a rejuvenating feel about it. Located on the western most tip of Turkey, just a few miles across the Aegean from the Greek island of Chios, Cesme and the surrounding townships such as Alacati, Ilica and Dalyankoy are famous for their long white sany beaches, beautiful Greek Sakiz-style houses, and wind-surfing facilities.
The harbour of Cesme is an open one, built along an extended boulevard that stretches all the way between the Commercial harbour on the left side of the town, and the small fishing harbour to the right.
The town of Cesme itself is serve by frequent bus service from Izmir. Nowadays it has become a growing tourist attraction in its own right. Among the major attractions of the town is the Cesme Castle, which is located right next to the town's main square.
Although it is a pleasant town, somehow Cesme lacks the attractive glamour of Bodrum, or the rustic charm of Eski Foca and Ayvalik. It feels like a miniature of Izmir in the old days. Even the pedestrian boulevard along the water front resembles that of the Cordon which engulfs the Izmir Bay.
From Cesme, there are frequent ferries to the Greek island of Chios. The International Ferry terminal is about 700m outside of the town centre.
The Cesme Castle is worth a visit: there is a small exhibition room detailing the famous Battle of Cesme (5-7 July 1770) between the Ottoman Empire and Imperial Russian navies. It was one of the many disastrous naval warfares for the Ottomans against the Russians during the 18th century, which saw the Ottoman Empire losing its territory to the Russians on a piece-meal basis. The Castle also offers a good view of the entire town and the harbour.
Copyrights@2010. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment