Bulbul Yuvasi Boutique Hotel

DONT FORGET TO DO THESE

by Arkeolog

* Phokaia Zeytinhome sells a wide range of olive oils and scented olive oil soaps. Tel: 0232-812 32 60
* We recommend that you stay at the Focantique Hotel, Foca's first and only boutique hotel. Bed and breakfast accommodation in a standard double room is 140 million TL while a room with a private Jacuzzi will set you back 170 million TL. Tel: +90 232-812 43 13. Make sure to try Guler Haným's orange cookies, cakes and artichoke rice.
* Enjoy fish cooked in milk and skewered anglerfish at Kenya&Leylek. Tel: 0232-812 62 16.
* Make sure to take a boat trip to the beautiful Siren Cliffs on Orak Island.
* Enjoy the view of Foca from the Temple of Athena.
* Ice cream lovers should head to Giritli Nazmi Usta for some traditional Turkish mastic gum ice cream.
* Have a cup of ground Turkish coffee at Kozbeyli Koyu.

DONT FORGET TO DO THESE

by Arkeolog

* Phokaia Zeytinhome sells a wide range of olive oils and scented olive oil soaps. Tel: 0232-812 32 60
* Focantique Hotel, Foca's first and only boutique hotel.. Tel: +90 232-812 43 13. Make sure to try Guler Hanım's orange cookies, cakes and artichoke rice.
* Enjoy fish cooked in milk and skewered anglerfish at Kenya&Leylek. Tel: 0232-812 62 16.
* Make sure to take a boat trip to the beautiful Siren Cliffs on Orak Island.
* Enjoy the view of Foca from the Temple of Athena.
* Ice cream lovers should head to Giritli Nazmi Usta for some traditional Turkish mastic gum ice cream.
* Have a cup of ground Turkish coffee at Kozbeyli Koyu.

VISITING SIREN ROCKS BY BOAT TOUR

by Arkeolog

Siren song
Legend has it that the Siren Cliffs on Orak Island off the coast of Foca were once home to the Sirens of Greek mythology. With their beautiful songs, the Sirens would lure sailors to their death on the cliffs that surrounded their island home. In ancient art, the Sirens are often depicted as mermaids. Perhaps the mythical Sirens were none other than Foca's playful monk seals! Daily boat tours sail from Kucukdeniz to Orak and other islands, stopping for swimming breaks along the way

Not so sleepy Foca

by Tdiver

"The history of Foca."

Situated 70 km N.W. of Izmir,Phocaea as it was then known as,was the most northerly of the Ionian cities.Settle by Aeolian immigrants from the Hermaean gulf.According to ancient scholars the "Phocaeans" were directed there from Athens and settled on land given them by the people of Kyme.Pottery has been found dating back to the 9th century B.C.
Its position between 2 harbours,Naustathmus and Lampter led them to take up maritime pursuits and accordind to Herodotus the Phocaeans were the first of all the Greeks to take up long voyages.Ranging as far as Spain.The then king Arganthonius of Tartessus invited them enmasse to join his state,this they refused but with the money he gave them ,they built a wall around the city.Greatly helping their defence when Cyrus attacked the Ionian state in 546 B.C.
Using there famous 50 oared vessels they traded with Naukratis in Egypt and in association with Miletos founded Lampsakos at the N. entrance to the Dardanelles and Amisos (Samsun ) on the Black sea.But its major colonies were Elea ( Velia ) on the west coast of S.Italy.Aetalia on Corsica,Emporion ( Ampurias ) Spain and Massalia ( Marseilles ) France.
From the 7th century B.C. it was also famous for its Electrum coinage and purple dye.Gold and silver coins were weighed in scales and the general rule was that gold was 13 and a third times more valuable than silver but because of the impure nature of this ( white ) gold or electrum it was valued at 10 times.
In 546 B.C. Cyrus and the Persians captured Sardis and soon devastated most of the cities of W .Asia Minor,including Phocaea.After a siege by Harpalus they decided to seek safety in their colonies,mainly Aetalia and Massilia,although some got only as far as Kos and were to return later and under Persian rule prosper again.
Xerxes I massed a large fleet here in preparation for the 3rd expedition against Greece.
In 500 B.C. Phocaea joined the Ionian revolt against Persain rule but could only send 3 ships to the battle at Lade.Due to their naval skills the overall command was given to Dionysios of Phocaea.

During the 5th century B.C. it was a member of the Delian League and paid a tribute of 2 Talents but in 412 it rebelled and left the League.It then allied itself to the Athenians and was blockaded by the Spartan general Thrasybulos in 407 B.C.
Telephanes of Phocaea was a sculptor for Darius and Xerxes also at this time.
They gained their independence with the arrival of Alexander the Great in 334 B.C.
During the Hellenistic period it was first ruled by the Seleucids and then the Attalids.In 197 B.C. Antiochus defeats Rhodes,Samos,Colophon and Phocaea in a naval battle.It then seems to have prospered again because in October 190 B.C. when the Roman Praetor Aemilius Regillus looted the city they gained a lot of treasure.In 132 B.C. although it participated in Aristonikos' uprising against the Romans it was spared with the help of Marsilia.
During the Roman period it gained its independence from Pompey and suffered a large earthquake in 17 B.C.
One of the oldest temples in the Ionian world was the temple of Athena at Phocaea.It stood on a rock platform overlooking the city on the site of the now secondary school.Constructed of fine white porous stone and erected in the latter half of the 6th century B.C.Various artifacts are in the museum in Izmir.Iit was struct by lightning and set on fire in 408 B.C. The statue of Athena was made of wood and in a sitting position.In addition to Athena,Cybele was also venerated at the same spot and an open air theatre was built to honour her and was only discovered in 1993.
There have been 3 archaeological excavations in Foca since 1913.
1913-1920 under Frenchman, Felis Sartiaux.
1952-1955 under Turk, Ekrem Akurgal and intermittently until 1974,this was when the temple of Athena was found.
1989-continuing under Turk, Omer Ozyigit.
During 1989 the discovery of a 15km city wall suggests that Phocaea was one of the largest cities in the world at the start of the 6th century B.C.In 1991 the exact location of the theatre was determined,that it is the oldest known theatre in Anatolia and that by Roman times it had fallen out of use.
On the small islands nearby facing the old city excavations are ongoing and several sancturies have been found especially on Incir and Orak,also known as the sirens' rocks by the noise of the wind blowing over them.
Todays town gets it name from the Turk word for seal,Fok,as they are often seen around the area.

ESKIFOCA - A UNIQUE SEASIDE TOWN

by Arkeolog

"FOCA / PHOKAIA"

Eski Foca (Old Foca) is synonymous with Mediterranean monk seals, turquoise bays and old stone houses. Since ancient times, Mediterranean monk seals have made Foca their home. Indeed, the name Foca is derived from the ancient Phokaia, which means "town of seals".

"Typically AEGEAN"

Appropriately enough, a statue of a seal in the town square is one of the first sights to greet you as you enter Eski Foca. Foca's quiet coves also attract their fair share of tourists. Before you set off to explore the town, pick up a few brochures from the tourist information office. From there, wander through the cobblestone streets of the market towards Kucukdeniz. With its ancient stone houses, fish restaurants and colourful fishermen's boats bobbing in the harbour, Kucukdeniz is the heart of Eski Foca. Take a moment to notice the interesting knockers on the doors to the stone houses decked with hanging flowerpots. Most of Foca's small hotels and pensions are in Kucukdeniz, only steps away from its charming beach and blue Aegean waters.

"View of the small bay of ESKIFOCA"