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    The first settlements in Kusadasi and its surroundings go way back to the Bronze age. The cities such as Marathesion and Neapolis, which were established during the period of of the Ionians around today's Kusadasi, had continued to be significant ports during the Hellenistic and Roman eras.

    The city had been one of the significant trade colonies of the Aegean seashore with the name of Scala Nova (New Port) established by the merchants of
Venice and Geneva in the 14th century.The Turks preferred to live mainly inland on foothills around Pilav Mountain near the ancient settlement known as Andizkule.

    Mild climate allowed the inhabitants to grow essential products such as olive, grape and figs for extracting oil or making wine and sweets on the fertile lands around the city.

    In the 10th century BC "12 Ionian Cities "-Samos, Khios, Miletos, Priene, Ephesus,
Teos, Erythrai, Priena, Klazonemi, Lebedos, Phokaia, Colophon, Smyrna, were established
and reputed for the most developed cities of that age. Asthe annual meeting place of the Ionian League,
Panionian, was founded around Kusadasi; the cities of Phygale, Marathesion and Neopolis
< were established within the borders of the city. During the period, the ports of Phygale and Neopolis
were not busy and necessary, as they were close to the famous trading centers and ports,
Miletos and Ephesus.

    Following the expeditions of the Seljuks and the Crusaders, the Ottomans conquered the city in 1413. During the reign of 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, was built by the man of the same name, who was the vizier during the reigns of Sultan Ahmet1 and Osman2.

    The fortress gates &walls and many mosques in the center of Kusadasi, as well as the citadel of the castle in Pigeon Island, were built in the Ottoman period, reflecting the architectural style of the era. "Kusadasi " that means "bird island" took its name from the Pigeon Island.

    Following the Italian and Greek occupations at the end of World War I, Kusadasi became a part of newly established Turkish republic on 7 September 1922. The construction of a new port during the 1960s has enabled the arrival of huge cruise liners; together with its location as the center of world wide famous antic sites and various other tourism potentials, Kusadasi is one of the biggest toruism centers of the world and Turkey today.