Alacati Turkey

Until the Ottomans conquered the island of Chios in 1566, Alacatı was at the forefront of the important trade centers of Anatolia with wine-making under the rule of the Genoese. In the mid-19th century, as a result of the work of the Ottoman architect Hacı Memiş and the contributions of the Greek Cypriot workers brought to the surrounding region, the marsh area in the south of Alaçatı was rescued and settled. The Greeks who settled here played an important role in the development of the region. Alaçatı is the oldest municipality of Turkey with its 120 year old municipality.

At first, the locals living in vineyards also included tobacconists as a source of livelihood, as immigrants from Crete, Yugoslavia, Thessalonica and Macedonia settled there. Olive, artichoke, anise and citrus fruits have also been grown in the region with the development of agriculture. In addition to this, a chewing gum tree which is very important in historical texture is being tried to grow in the region.

Especially in Alaçatı, which is under the influence of Greek architecture, houses are usually made of locally-specific stones, usually with a sandy and two-storeyed structure. The windmills which have become the symbol of Alaçatı and are called as the technology wonders of the period are the oldest structures of the region. Alacati is like the back garden of İzmir with its mosque, mosaic bazaar and narrow streets shadowed by black pepper trees.

Pirî Reis "Kitab-i Bahriye", which has a different place in world mapping, wants to describe that Alaçatı Bay is waveless when he says "sea cave" at Alaca horse harbor. However, during the summer months, the wind that sprang from 15-25 knots in north, north-west directions makes Alaçatı sheep indispensable for surfers. Alaçatı, one of the world's number one surfing centers due to its constantly flowing wind, undulating and deep sea, addresses both amateur and professional surfers.