AYVALIK AND ITS BEAUTIES
AYVALIK- THE VERY POPULAR CITY BY THE SEASIDE
Ayvalık, a district of Balıkesir, is
a tourism center with beautiful coasts surrounded green olive grove, pure sea
water and beaches, and contains historical and archeological values. It
was alternatively called Kidonies by the town's formerly important Greek
population.
Ayvalik
derives its economy predominantly from the olive. There are around 1,750,000,
mainly green, olive groves throughout the area of Ayvalik and Alibey that produce
over 7,000 tons of the finest olive oil in the Aegean region, if not the whole
of Turkey. Throughout the winter months, the tall brick chimneys of the olive
factories release the pungent aroma of olives from the presses below. In the
town you will find many shops selling products made from the humble olive.
Jams, purees, pickles, olives stuffed with almonds or peppers, black olives,
green olives, small olives, big olives and of course, the very best virgin
olive oil. You will also find hand made soaps and products carved from the
beautiful grained wood of the olive tree.
Ayvalık houses, valuable to be seen
with doors, facades, door knockers, windows, woodwork and masonry workmanship,
invite people to a historical voyage.
In Ayvalık,
you can visit Cunda Island, the Devil’s Table, Sarımsaklı, various
islands, Rahmi Koç Toy Museum, The Mill
on the island and so on. In Summertime, if you want to swim, there are a lot of
choices to go such as Sarımsaklı Beach, Iğdeli Beach, Ortunç Beach etc.
