MANISA TURKEY

Manisa

Ancient Heritage

Manisaprovince was home to important civilizations and to earlyChristians in ancient times.

Three ofthe seven churches mentioned in the Bible, Sardes, Thyatira and Philadelphia,also known as the Seven Churches of Revelation, were locatedin Manisa.

Thyateira

Located in Akhisar District,the city was located in the northern part of ancient Lydia of the Roman province of Asia, Theancient Thyatira was a prosperous trading town and  was an importantlocation on the road from Pergamon to Laodicea.  The city, which was aweaving centre in ancient times, carried military and commercial activitiessince it was located at the junction of several roads. Among its ruins werefound inscriptions relating to a guild of dyers where artisans made purpledyes.

The city of Sardes (Sardis or Sart) was the capitalof Lydian Kingdom during the 6^th century BCE.The city of Sardes and its surrounding area were enriched by the riverPactolus. The river known for gold deposits which was the source ofthe wealth of Lydian King Croesus (Kroisos/Karun), and helped makethe city prosperous. Legends also suggest that Midas washed himself off atPactolus river the to get rid of his golden touch. World´s first coinswere minted in Sardes by King Alyattes, father of Croesus.

The mostimportant architectural structures uncovered with excavations are theancient synagogue and gymnasium. The synagogue isa uniquely beautiful building built in the 3rd century CE. Thegymnasium is next to the synagogue. It is understood that the ornate easternfront of Gymnasium was built at the beginning of the 3rd century CE. The archedshops along the edges of these two buildings date back to the ByzantinePeriod. 

Most ofthe ancient city of Philadelphia is under the modern settlement ofAlaşehir. During the Roman period, Philadelphia wascalled “Little Athens” for the abundance of temples andfestivals held in the city. The city preserved its importance during theByzantine period. During the excavations in Philadelphia, a theatreand a temple dating back to the Roman Period were uncovered.

The nameof the Aigai Ancient City is located in Yunus Emre District’sKöseler village, is also known as Nemrut Kale. Aigai is one of the 12 Aeoliancities in western Anatolia mentioned by Herodotus. Aigai is locatedon the Yunt Mountain (Yunt Dağı /Aspordenos), in a mountainousarea, relatively far from the Aegean Sea. Archaeological studiescarried out in Aigai show that foundation of the city goesback to the end of 800s BCE and it was an important commercial center duringthe 4^th century.

Manisa Castle 

Manisa Castle ruins can be seen on the northern slope of MountSpil (Spil Dağı), south of Manisa city centre. The castle consists of twoparts: the “inner castle” and the “outer castle”. The inner castle also calledSandıkkale was renewed and surrounded by the outer wall during the Byzantine period.

Kula Volcanoes and Fairy Chimneys 

Kula Volcanoes (Kula Yanardağı) and its surroundings inbetween Kula and Salihli Districts have a volcanic geological zone andit was recognized by UNESCO as a UNESCO Global Geopark in2013. Volcanic activities in the Kula region continued until the beginning ofthe quaternary period. In this region eruptions occurred in various periods andlava flows spread around several times. Now, volcanoes are dormant. Thisfeature made the famous geographer Strabon called these lands “Yanık Ülke”(Burnt Land). Within the geopark, there are some natural formations caused bythe effects of temperature changes, rain, wind and erosion: Kula FairyChimneys (Kula Peri Bacaları) create a magnificent landscape with itspastel tones on the Gediz Valley.

Spil Mountain National Park 

 The name “Sipylos” was inspired from the ancientmythology.  It has an east-west orientation as a separate mass atthe northwest end of Bozdağ range on Gediz Basin. It is a limestonemass with a height of 1513 metres. Background to mythological stories, themountain is an important cultural component. It is also a natural riches withits geological and geomorphological characteristics, limestone rocks, canyonvalleys, doline lakes, lapias, caves and diverse vegetation and wildlife. It’sextremely rich flora includes red pine, larch and iron oak trees. Among theshrubs of the lower flora stand out junipers, rockrose, heather, laurel andmyrtle. Spil Mountain has a unique value with more than 120 endemicplant species. Other than hiking and biking paths, paragliding centres andoff-road tracks, the mountain hides Niobe natural rock formation,Manisa Castle (Manisa Kalesi) and Taş Suret (CybeleRelief) –located in a niche about 100-120 m up a granite cliff-faceof Spil Mountain, overlooking the city of Manisa. The Manisatulips (magnesian tulip or tulipa orphanidea) growing onSpil Mountain and blooming from April to May, are under preservation. 

Kula Houses 

19^th century wooden Kula houses are successfulexamples of Ottoman civil architecture and art of its period. The town of Kulaalso reflects the Ottoman city texture of the 19^th century. 

More to See in Manisa 

SomaDarkale Museum Village, Bintepeler ve Gyges Tumulus, Türkmen Waterfalls(Türkmen Şelalesi), Turgutlu Ovacık Plateau (Turgutlu Ovacık Yaylası),2000-year-old Kırkağaç Monument Olive Tree, Ayşe Hafsa Sultan Mosque andComplex, Grand Mosque and Complex (Ulu Cami), Muradiye Mosque and Complex,Şehzadeler Park, Carullah Bin Süleyman Mosque with Handcrafted OttomanDecorations, Turgutlu City Museum, Manisa Museum, Salihli City Museum, AkhisarMuseum, Obasya (a unique workshop for studying history, social anthropology,and ethnology, living by seeing, touching and dealing with history and folklore)and Yörük Çadırları (nomad tents).