Enjoy the best and cheapest way to visit Ildırı, Erithrai, Alaçatı and Çeşme” this group tour. Meet your local and professional English-speaking guide at your hotel, Adnan Menderes Airport or port of Kuşadası\Izmir\ Çeşme at the scheduled time, which will be communicated to you at the time of booking.
You’ll depart to visit Erythrai ancient city in the village of Ildırı. Erythrai was one of the twelve cities of Ionia, situated 22 km North-east of the port Çeşme, on a small peninsula stretching into the Bay of Erythrae at an equal distance from the mountains Mimas and Corycus, and directly opposite the island of Chios. It is recorded that excellent wine was produced in the peninsula Erythrae was notable for being the seat of the Erythraean Sibyl. The ruins of the city are found North of the town Ildırı in the Çeşme district of Izmir Province.
The ruins include well-preserved Hellenistic walls with towers of which five still visible. The acropolis (280 ft) has a theatre on its northern slope and eastwards lie many remains of Byzantine buildings.
Then continue to drive to Alacati, which is famous wındsurfing. You will visit first the mosque and church named as Alacati Pazaryeri Mosque & AYIOS KONSTANTINOS Church.
The building, which was built as a Greek Church in the late 19th century, now functions as a mosque. It was three naves and basilical plan. It was built in the masonry rubble stone technique. The garnished inner cover was covered with a cradle on the middle nave outside and porch roofs on the side naves. The narthex section to the West has two floors and its galleries partially extend over the North and South naves. A new apse was built in front of the Pastoforio, showing very elegant marble work. The colonnaded walkway in the lower floor of the narthex is closed and used as a shop today. The minaret, which was added later and entered from the outside, is made of cut stone and has a single balcony. The floor of the courtyard in front of the narthex is paved with a geometric mosaic made using black and White pebbles. When you enter inside, you may encounter a curtain on some part of the building. Behind the curtain is a church that tourists can visit. The building, which was originally built as a church, was later transformed from a church into a mosque and was named Izmir Alacati Pazaryeri Mosque. While Muslims pray in Izmir Alacati Pazaryeri Mosque, tourists can visit the church section of the mosque, which is cut with a curtain. Congregations that do not fir into the mosque during the Friday prayer can go to the church section and pray there. Alacati, one of the shining stars of tourism in İzmir, offers one of the best examples of tolerance. Pazaryeri Mosque in Alacati, which has been converted from a church into a mosque, hosts both Muslims and Christians. The curtain inside the mosque opens automatically whenever required.the place of worship ,which was started to be built in the 1830s and opened as a church in 1874, was converted into a mosque after the proclamation of the republic.
You will visit first the castle of Çeşme and Çeşme museum.
Çeşme castle; during the Growth of the Ottoman Empire, Çeşme was attacked twice by the Venetians in 1472 and in 1501. The castle was built as a precaution against further attacks. It was built in 1508 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Bayezıt II. Its commisioner was Mir Haydar, the governor of Aidin. It was originally a seaside castle but because of the alluvial deposits it is now slightly inland. The castle became a Tentative World Heritage Site in 2020
Cesme museum is inside the castle of Cesme. In one hall items from the Archaic, Roman and Byzantine eras such as terracotta figurines, oil lamps and pottery are exhibited. One hall is reserved for objects from rescue excavations of Idırı (Erythrae) such as terracotta figurines, silver and copper coins and amphorae. Another hall commemorates the Battle of Çeşme, an 18th-century battle fought in the bay of Çeşme. In this hall maps, posters, flags, medals as well as objects from the sunken Russian flagship are exhibited.
Lunch in Cesme, after Lunch you will visit the church of Ayios Haralombos. It was dedicated to St.Haralombos in 1832. Built as a Greek Orthodox place of worship, the church has a basilical type plan sheme with three naves extending in the east-west direction and arched narthex that has not survived to the present day. In order to emphasize the apse place of worship, the middle nave is higher than the side naves. On the vault of the middle nave ,engraved in extremely vivid colors, depictions of the Pantacrator Jesus, Saint John, Mary and the child Jesus on his lap were made, enclosed in medallions.
The restoration work initiated by Cesme Municipality in 2010 with the support of the Izmir Special Provincial Administration was completed in May 2012. The building currently serves art events.
