KUŞADASI This district, which is named after the Güvercin Island in front of it, is one of the important and developed centers of Turkey in respect of tourism. With its marina, numerous beaches, hotels, motels, camping sites, holiday villages and entertainment places, it provides a lively and colorful experience, especially during the summer months. In the district, Çıban (Yavansu), Venüs, Güzelçamlı and Davutlar thermal springs, Aslanlı and Zeus caves, Dilek Peninsula National Park and the bays and mineral springs in the park are open to both domestic and foreign tourists during the spring, summer and fall seasons. If you would want to travel the Dilek Peninsula through the sea, you will see Tavşan Island, Su Island and Sandal Island. Kuşadası is among the settlements that change with the era. The first settlement, Neopolis was built by Ionians in “Yılancı Burnu”. In the Medieval Ages, the settlement called “Andız Tower” in the foothills of Pilav Mountain was moved to the city called “Scala Nuova”, where Kuşadası is located today, due to the difficulties about accessing it from the sea. In the foothills of Dilek Hill, which is on the northeast side of the national park, the ruins of city walls and the parliament building of the Panionium, the meeting place of twelve Ionian cities, have reached to the present day. You can visit the Venetian castle and the Anaia city (Kadıkalesi) on 2 km southeast of this castle here. The Pygela ancient city is in the north of the district. The Güvercin Island that hosts a Byzantine castle on the rocks and the Küçük Ada Castle which was built in the 19th century were important centers for Ottoman Empire’s sea defense against the pirates. The walls that surround the Kuşadası also belong to the Ottoman Empire. Resource: Aydın Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism