HISTORY OF ALAÇATI
In the 16th century , the Çeşme region was Anatolia's gate to commerce. Especially
Genovese merchants were based on the Island of Chios , situated off the coast of
Çeşme. In 1556 , after Chios became Ottoman territory , Çeşme lost it's
commercial predominance to Izmir , a small commercial city where until then ,
the main commercial activity was limited to the sale of western Anatolian goods. While
the silks coming from the Bursa region - Anatolia's main silk fabrication center , were
sent to Chios via Çeşme , Izmir became the new commercial capital.
In the 1850's , a canal reaching the natural port at Alaçatı , whose south was a swamp ,
is opened following a decree by the Vizier for the swamp to be dried. The swamp is
dried by securing drainage with big trenches. The canal opened afterwards becomes a
port where ships dock. An architect of the time , Hacı Memiş Ağa , supervises the project ,
and Greek workers from the islands are brought in to help with city development. The
Greek workers build the new Alaçatı , 1000m from to the north of the Alaçatı Port ,
and settle. Because they don't have any land to exploit , Turk landlords allocate their
fields to these new folks , to work afterwards. In a way , this is a build-operate-transfer
model. The Greek establishment owners develop viniculture in Alaçatı.
Wine produced in Alaçatı has been exported for over a century. Alaçatı wine is
considered to be wine of the highest quality. It is for this reason that grape clusters
are an important decorative element used in Alaçatı churches. In 1873 , a municipal
organization in Alaçatı is instituted. Before the 19th century , the population in
Alaçatı and it's surroundings - including Çeşme , Köste , Çiftlik , Ovacık etc. - was
45.000 , 40.000 of this constituted of Greeks , along with 5.000 Turks.
In 1914 , Hilmi Uran is appointed as lieutenant colonel of Alaçatı from Çeşme. A few months after
his appointment , a first group of immigrants from the Balkans , especially from the Yugoslavia and
Macedonia regions , start coming to Çeşme on ships. This causes panic within the Greek population , who eventually leave these lands.
These new immigrants from Yugoslavia are settled at Alaçatı. Being strangers to viniculture ,
Commuting immigrants from Salonika , the Karacaova region of Macedonia , Crete and Kos
also arrive to the region. These immigrants help the development of the tobacco industry.
Tobacco , melon cultivation and cattle breeding are the locomotive sectors of the region
Afterwards , handcrafts , tourism and fishing replace agricultural activities.
ALAÇATI'S NATURAL STATUS AND THERMAL WATER RESERVE
Karadağ , a mountain to the west , which serves as a natural frontier with Çeşme , is an
extinct volcano and is rich in thermal sources. Many streams which carry rain waters
are found surrounding the district. The Alaçatı-Kutlu Aktaş drinking water dam , located on
the Buca plain , has come into service in 1998.Olive , aniseed , onion and artichoke are
cultivated in the regions agriculturally adequate lands. Alaçatı is also home to Turkey's only
gum garden. On it's south , the natural Alaçatı port , with it's continuous wind yet wave-free
sea , is one of the worlds most important windsurfing spots. The region contains all the
characteristics of the Mediterranean climate. Rainy and warm in the winter , hot and dry in
the summer. The Alaçatı population also changes with the seasons. While during the winter
the population is around 10.000 , this figure rockets to the 60-70 thousands in the summer
season.
Thermal water , with it's varying levels of natural minerals , has salubrious and therapeutic
effects. Herbal baths , prepared with a mixture of thermal water and special herbs , have
a positive effect on bone , joint and skeleton system disorders caused by vitamin
insufficiency.
TRANSPORTS
Alaçatı is a 30 minute drive from İzmir by the autoway. Busses doing an İzmir-Çeşme course
also stop at Alaçatı.(Çeşme Seyahat Tel: 0-232–7168299). Being at 90km distance to
the İzmir Airport , access from this point to Alaçatı is very easy without having to enter
the city center.
From Alaçatı , there are local minibuses that go to the surfing beach , to Çeşme and Ilıca.
Access to other surrounding settlements is through the Çeşme-İzmir autoroad. This highway ,
that leads west from İzmir , divides into to near Güzelbahçe , heads north to Karaburun and
continues west to Çeşme. The road that connects the Çeşme route to Alaçatı is a piny forest ,
asphalt road. This part of the auto road is a pleasures outing road for 2km.Alaçatı , which
is located 70km from İzmir is neighbor to Çeşme to it's west , and to Urla to it's east.
Located 2km to the north of Alaçatı is the Ilıca beach , and 2km to it's south is it's surfing
beach , irresistible to surfers from across the globe with it's wind and yet still water.
The district of Alaçatı , affiliated to İzmir's Çeşme borough is founded on the western ridge
of Kocadağ , on the between İzmir and Çeşme İzmir (79 Km) - Çeşme (7 Km) where the
peninsula tightens , trapped between Ilıca from the north , and the Alaçatı port from the south.
It is surrounded by the Aegean Sea and Çeşme from the west , the Uzunkuyu Woods and Urla
from the east. It is located 16m from sea level , and it's area is 55km2.Three villages are
affiliated to the Alaçatı district.
ECONOMY AND COMMERCE IN ALAÇATI
Today , tourism and commerce have made there way to Alaçatı , where agriculture was the main
economic activity up until the late 1980's.New tourism projects are beginning to materialize at
Alaçatı , whose bed capacity today is 1500.The surfing stations at Alaçatı have brought important
movement to the district.
The home visits , started by the districts folk , as a result of their hospitality ; have gathered
interest among visiting tourists. The growers market open on Saturdays are open to all the Alaçatı ,
Çeşme and regional public. Authentic Alaçatı houses , parquet stone streets , the surf center ,
along with the Yacht Port and the Alaçatı Kanalkent Project , both still under construction ; make
Alaçatı a candidate for one of the worlds leading tourism spots in the near future.
Alaçatı where viniculture and wine was the predominant economic activity from 1870 to 1914 ,
today has a lively economy of international standard. From 1924 to 1985 , tobacco , melon ,
olive agriculture , viniculture and cattle breeding have been equally important in the region.
After 1985 , tourism and as a result , commerce have come to be important economic
activities.
CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN ALAÇATI
Throughout history , Alaçatı has always appreciated and welcomed cultural activities.
The districts 4000 capacity amphitheatre and 300 capacity cultural center are especially
joyful at the end of June , with the "INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN AND YOUTH THEATRE
FESTIVAL”. Children and teenagers from different countries of the world , along with
children from various cities in Turkey come together with the language of art and
show their talent and hard work on the theatre stage.
SHOPPING IN ALAÇATI
 On Saturdays , a rich market is set in Alaçatı. Along with clothing and local weaving
stands , the fresh fruit - vegetable stands are the most important of all. The smell
of the Alaçatı open market is very generous. The scent of strawberries , apples ,
melons and cucumbers blend together to the sight of the artichokes' purple
flowers and the crazy orange color of pumpkin seeds. Delicious freshly baked pastries are
also on sale at the market on Saturday mornings.
Apart from the market , the center of Alaçatı is known with it's jeweler shops.
On Saturdays and Sundays , an antique market is set in Alaçatı. Necklaces ,
valuable antique stones , rings , antique gramophones and old porcelains can all be found.
KONTRAST , a decoration store in the district center is a spot known with it's selective
THE PLAYFIELD OF THE WIND
The Alaçatı Surf Center , known as the best surfing center in the world is flooded day in and day
by teenage surfers. Teenagers enjoy the sun and the sea , and have fun on the beach where
various races and events are organized every week. Surf lessons are also given to those who want
to join in. These lessons give the student enough knowledge to cruise with a windsurf. In the
stores on the beach , it's possible to find all equipment and accessories for the sport. The Alaçatı
Bay , one of many located on the Aegean coast , is a paradise for surfers thanks to two very
important particularities: the first being it's never stopping wind , and the second being it's
waters who's depth doesn't pass 1,5m until 60-80 meters from the shore.
Piri Reis , who is known for his cartography and captaincy , has referenced the stillness
of Alaçatı's waters in his opus "Kitab-ı Bahriye" (The Book of the Sea) , saying ,
"The sea is soft at the Alaca port".
So this means that despite the never resting wind , the waves never get as high as to disturb
the surfers. Throughout summer , the wind at Alaçatı blows from the north at 15-25kts.From
may to October, throughout the wind season , windsurfers from every nation come to take
advantage of this perfect spot for the windsurfing sport. The surfing schools in the bay and
the hotels in Alaçatı accommodate visiting wind and sea addicts. The depth , not surpassing
1,5m is also perfect for beginners. This specialty makes the bay perfect for both beginners and
professional surfers. We can see the pro , surfing with his or her beginner friend here ,
where many national and international events are organized.
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