Aydın Province, Province in southwestern Turkey
Aydın Province lies in southwestern Turkey and stretches from the lowlands along the Menderes River to the forested hills in the interior. The landscape shifts between wide fields, orchards and small towns framed by mountains to the north and south.
The area was known in ancient times as Tralles and hosted a famous school for sculpture. Later it became part of the Ottoman Empire and the modern province received its administrative structure in the early republic.
The name comes from the main city, which has served as an administrative center since Ottoman times. The region is also known for growing figs, olives and cotton, and you can see small markets selling fresh produce everywhere.
The province lies about an hour and a half southeast of Izmir and can be reached by highway or regional train. The best time to visit is spring and autumn, when the heat is milder and the fields are green or ready for harvest.
The area around Germencik produces the largest fig harvest in Turkey each year, and the fruit is considered especially sweet and fleshy. Many farmers dry them on wooden racks in the sun before packing them for export.
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