Kusadasi History

Around 2000 BC, people coming from Lelek, Caria and Lydia had settled down as a society on the slopes of Pilav Mountain. 

Later one by one, the unit settlements Pigale, Maratheson, Neopolis and Panionion came to life; Ionians and later Romans by Ephesus coming into the dominance of Rome had lived in these lands.

The cities of Phygale, Marathesion and Neopolis were established within the city's borders. During the period, the ports of Phygale and Neopolis were not busy and necessary, as they were close to the famous trading centers and harbors, Miletos and Ephesus.

Persians around the year of 546BC invaded the city. In 200BC, Kusadasi and its environs were dominated by the Roman Empire, and with the division of the Roman Empire, it became a state of Byzantine. As the changes in climate caused severe earthquakes and changed the route of the Caystros River, Ephesus was mostly destroyed and lost its prior importance and prosperity. The result had forced Byzantines to search for a new port and a new road that would be suitable for trading. The area around Neopolis was found convenient by the Greek, Jewish, and Armenian merchants as a port in place of the port of Ephesus. “Scala Nova” was the name of this new port which added a new trading center to the prior historical cities, such as Ania, Melia, Phygale and Neopolis, that created the early foundations of today’s Kusadasi. By the coming of the 15th century, “Scala Nova” was under the domination of the Venetian and Genoese sailors and traders who established consulates here. The Turkish domination in the area entered upon the invasion of Seljukian Kilic Arslan the 2nd.

Kusadasi began to be ruled by the Ottoman Empire after Sultan Mehmet Celebi's invasion in 1413. During the reign of the Ottomans, Kusadasi was introduced to glorious structures, giving a new look to its former spectacular view. 

Okuz Mehmet Pasa Caravanserai is the principal of Ottoman architecture in the city; it was built by a man of the same name, who was the vizier during Sultan Ahmet1 and Osman2. The fortress gates, walls and many mosques in the center of Kusadasi, as well as the citadel of the castle on Pigeon Island, were built in the Ottoman period, reflecting the architectural style of the era. “Kusadasi,” which means “bird island,” came from Pigeon Island.

After the First World War, Kusadasi was invaded by the Greeks (1919). However, the city won a long struggle in 1922 and became a part of the Turkish Republic. Izmir was the capital of Kusadasi until 1954. Then the capital was changed to Aydin and the city of Kusadasi has shown a good deal of development, especially in tourism.

Today, Kusadasi is one of Turkey’s most sophisticated holiday centers, a perfect place for vacation with its sandy beaches and glassy water. The contrast of the lively holiday life with the quietness of ancient ruins creates the city's unique atmosphere.