The North Aegean Turkish coast hosts several idyllic peninsulas, each encapsulating the joys of country living in Türkiye. Çeşme Peninsula near İzmir boasts many historical, natural, and culinary marvels. The rustic olive oil workshop unearthed in the Ionian city of Klazomenai, near the picturesque seaside town of Urla, proves that the modern olive oil-producing techniques were first developed here some 2600 years ago.
The peninsula is also famous for its hurma olives that undergo a natural fungi-induced “debittering” process on the tree, which makes the olives edible without any further processing. In addition to olives, the region has several other renowned food staples and events. Urla is famous for its gum artichokes, while the city of Çeşme attracts visitors to its annual spring-time Alaçatı Ot Festivali (Herb Festival). Here, over 125 kinds of wild, locally grown edibles -like wild asparagus or blessed thistle are showcased in regional appetizers and delicacies. Seferihisar, the first cittaslow of Türkiye, is famous for its mandarins, consumed fresh or dried.
Figs and grapes are grown to perfection in the Aegean as well. These local grapes yield pekmez (grape molasses) and wine -two vital products to the area. The ancient city of Teos is famous for the Temple of Dionysus, an exquisite marble monument dedicated to the god of wine. So, it comes as no surprise that the whole region is among the centres of Turkish viticulture today.
Along the Urla Wine Route, you can visit a series of local wineries, big and small, where some innovative owners are even using sustainable production techniques like gravity flow, allowing the wine to be moved around much more gently. Urla wineries have been carrying on the local winemaking tradition, mainly with international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sangiovese, and Nero d’Avola. Ancient Anatolian grapes on the brink of extinction, like Bornova Misketi (Muscat), Urla Karası, Foça Karası, and Gaydura, have also been reintroduced to the local vineyards in recent decades.
Travel tip: İzmir is part of the EuroVelo Route 8, a long-distance biking trail stretching from the Atlantic shores of Spain all the way to İzmir, with several points of interest, including the ancient UNESCO-protected cities of Pergamum and Ephesus. Alternatively, you can enjoy windsurfing in Alaçatı or observe Mediterranean monk seals near the picturesque seaside town of Foça