Kuşadası, Port district in Aydın Province, Turkey
Kuşadası is a coastal town in Aydın Province on the Turkish Aegean shore, surrounded by gentle hills and several bathing coves. The main port sits in the center, while to the south a large national park with pine forests and long sandy beaches unfolds.
The settlement began around 3000 BCE, when the Leleges people established themselves at this location. Later, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans administered the area, each leaving trade routes and fortifications.
The name comes from the Turkish word for Bird Island, after the countless pigeons that once nested on the small island. Today, vendors in the narrow lanes shape the atmosphere, with carpets and jewelry displayed outside their shops.
Numerous accommodations lie near the harbor district, where ferries to the Greek islands also dock. From the coastal road, buses depart several times daily toward the archaeological sites inland.
The small fortress on Güvercinada is reached by a narrow stone causeway leading from the shore into the sea. This path also forms a natural breakwater for the harbor, providing shelter from the waves.
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