Guide of Ayvalık

PLACES TO SEE IN CUNDA

TAKSIYERHIS CHURCH

Taksiyarhis Church is the church that is still standing and remains the most magnificent structure of the island. Taksiyarhis, the largest church built on the island, is estimated to have been built in 1873. The courtyard of the church is entered through a monumental door with a triangular pediment. The building is in the form of a basilica, which was frequently used in Byzantine architecture. The stairs, windows and arches of the church are made of local garlic stone.

PANAGIA CHURCH – 1850

It is at the beginning of Grocery Street in the upper part of the island. Today, all that remains of the building is a magnificent view placed inside the three main walls and the windows on these walls.

AGIOS YANNIS CHURCH

The main church of the monastery, which was connected to the Fener Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul during the time of Patriarch Theodosios, is located in the northwest part. This Chapel is an indispensable part of the monastery with its architecture. Today, the mill and church, which have been in ruins for years; Rahmi M. Koç’s attempts to save these ancient artifacts, which are cultural assets, were restored with his material and moral contributions, and thus Alibey Island became an important library on 07.08.2007.

AI DIMITRI TA SALINA MONASTERY

The most beautiful monastery on the island during the Greek period is undoubtedly Ai Dimitri Ta Salina Monastery. This monastery is known as Moonlight Monastery among Turks. The monastery was built on a point where a high hill meets the sea in the Pateriça region of the island. You can reach the Pateriça area by a pleasant walk, so you can see the monastery and have the opportunity to look at the Cunda landscape from a different angle.

LOVERS HILL IN CUNDA

The windmill, which was restored by Rahmi Koç, now serves as a library and cafe. Cunda Island is a unique place where you can watch the island from a bird’s eye view and browse through your book with a hot tea.

STONE CAFE

You should definitely sit and drink tea, coffee or sage tea at  Stone Cafe with high ceilings, which is one of the symbols of Cunda. The taste of the breakfast you will have here will remain in your palate. This coffee, which is the meeting point of the island people, also attracts great attention from tourists.

PLACES TO SEE IN AYVALIK

Panaya Church (Hayrettin Pasha Mosque)

It is one of the first churches of Ayvalık. It is very clear that it is different from other works. At first it is a wooden structure. Almost the same of this work is on 13 Nisan Street. But it is outdated and even in ruins.

Clock Mosque in Ayvalik

One of the few structures that has become the symbol of Ayvalık is the Clock Mosque in the center. The temple, which was the church of the Orthodox Christian community before the exchange, now serves the Muslim community as a mosque.

Sycamore Mosque in Ayvalik

The church was built during the autonomy period, when the people of Ayvalık were the strongest economically and politically. (It was completed in the 1790s.) The building was converted into a mosque in 1923. The plan of the church, which forms a rectangular image, is the Greek Cross. Since the church was built on a partially sloping flat area, organic and grid textures were used together. The total area of the church is 2800 m² and the floor area of the church is 600 m².

AGIA TRIYADA

Agia Triyada is the first church built on the island. Since the Greeks lived on the island until 1922, the church was preserved until this time, but after the Greeks left, the church was left to its own devices. Unfortunately, very little remains of the most beautiful church of that period, but it is still worth being a part of your trip to Cunda.

Ayazma Church

Since the water in the Ayazma church, which was lost among the buildings in Kemal Paşa Neighborhood, is considered sacred, it is called the Ayazma Church or the Faneromeni Church. Its name means “holy water”.

It is written 1890 on the pediment at the entrance of the Ayazma Church. It is the late period structure of Ayvalık. The church was built on this date. The church, which is located on a flat floor, has a grid-planned texture.

Heaven Hill

Located in the Armutçuk region of Ayvalık, Heaven Hill, which is not very high, has become a frequent destination for many people day and night, with its ease of transportation and the magnificent view it offers you. The campus, which was established towards the bottom of the hill, is known as the “Armutçuk” region. The back of Slope is the organized industrial zone.