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SALİHLİ, The Invertor of the Coins
Salihli, located on the İzmir - Ankara highway, since the antique age - home to many differrent civilizations. With its historical and naturely beauty the city is a visit worth.
First historical information about Salihli are found on Hittites tablets 89 kilometers away from İzmir, Salihli experienced its georgues age as Sardes with the establishment of the Lydian Kingdom 7th BC. Build on the valley in the fat lands of the Paktolos brook (todayknown as Sart Stream) and the hillsides of the 2150 meter Boz Mountain (Tmolos), advancend very wealthy period during The Lydian reign.
Started as a important culturel and art center, the city experienced through the invention of the “coin money”- golden coins, rapidly to great richdom. Trading habbits changed, so the region. During the period of its most famous King of the city legendary King Kriosos (560-557 BC)- also holder of the famous “Karun Treasure's”, Sardes reaches to great wealthyness. The father of history Herodotus proof the citizions of Sardes as the inventor of the coins.
Since nearly 100 years the excavations are still in progress under the American archeological team. Most of the ruins belong to the Persian and then Roman periods of the ancient city of Sardes. The works brought to light the beautiful The Temple of Sardes, a huge Roman gymnasium, a Roman bath. Near the highway you can see parts of the holy King Road and the great the Sardes Acropolis and big ruins of a Synagogoue. You can also take a historical visit to the Bintepe Antik Cementery and Kız Bridge.
The natural beautyness of Salihli stretches from the “Su Uçtu” water-fall to the Adalı Canyon. Especially in the hot summer times a very popular place to breath a cold breeze and for friends of watersports. Not to forget to visit the 410 year old Anatolian Memorial Plane Tree and the Burhan Memorial Plane Tree.
World wide famous for its healthy water is the Kurşunlu and Çamur Spa's. Both giving health since hundreds of years. You can use the visit for a short refreshment or stay and be guest for a longer rehab.
Known throughout the Aegean region is the Attalos Horse - Farm in the Adala district of Salihli. Here you have the chance to see all the beauty of the nature and take a beautiful trip on a horseback, alone or guided by trainers. Another attraction lies in Gökeyküp village 50 km away from Salihli. Here you can see and buy various souveniers handmade earthware jugs, made in the old tradiontional way.
You Must
Famous throughout the country, the delicius Salihli Odun Köftesi, which is definitely a must.
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