Isola di Bozcaada
Seconda isola egea abitata della Turchia, Bozcaada ci entusiasma fin da subito.
Second Aegean’s island inhabited of Turkey, Bozcaada excites us right away.
Prima di iniziare…ecco la prima parte del viaggio, una volta lasciata Istanbul.
Before starting … here’s the first part of the journey, once we left Istanbul.
Bozcaada, Kusadasi, Efeso, Pamukkale
Paesaggi pittoreschi e case curate in ogni minimo dettaglio rendono l’isola di Bozcaada un vero e proprio gioiellino.
Picturesque landscapes and homes with attention to detail make the island a real gem.
The fortress dominates the center of town and is the only real tourist attraction on the island. Dates back to Ottoman although in later years was repeatedly rebuilt by the Genoese and Venetians.
La fortezza
Nonostante l’isola sia molto piccola (5km x 6Km), vi consigliamo di affittare un motorino (50 TL mezza giornata, 70TL tutto il giorno) per godervi ed esplorare al meglio ogni suo angolo più nascosto.
Potreste noleggiare anche la bici ma le strade per raggiungere le spiagge non sono proprio facili da percorrere.
Although the island is very small (5 km x 6 km), we suggest you to rent a scooter (50 TL half-day, all day 70TL) to enjoy and explore every corner more hidden.
You could also rent a bike but the roads to the beaches are not exactly easy to navigate.
Le spiagge più belle si trovano tutte lungo la costa meridionale.
If you do not want to rent anything, don’t worry, in the center of Bozcaada is active a dolmuš service that reach, with 3TL , the main beaches, all equipped for the most part: Ayazma, Sulubahçe, Habbele
The best beaches are found all along the southern coast.
We have chosen those that seemed the wildest: Akvaryum beach and Mitos beach.
The first beach is more ventilated than the latter that remains covered by the coast.
Along the way, you’ll see lots of vineyards: in fact the island is famous for its wine! Try it … it’s not bad and even the grapes are really good .. you’ll find everywhere!
Il tramonto, spettacolare, ammiratelo al faro (Bati Burnu), nella parte nord-ovest dell’isola, esattamente sotto le 17 pale eoliche….vedrete, sarà davvero emozionate…la maestosità delle pale poi renderà ancora tutto più suggestivo!
We suggest you to admire the sunset, really spectacular, to the lighthouse (Bati Burnu), in the north-west of the island, just below the 17 wind turbines …. you will see, will be very excited … the majesty of the wind turbines will make it even more attractive!
- Il faro
In the evening, for dinner, you’ll be captured by one of the many restaurants of the center . Choose the one that inspires and you certainly will not be disappointed … lots of fish and lots of wine will be the main ingredients of your meal. We have chosen the Sandal.
The after dinner was spent with a tour of the many stalls and a glass of wine with some local boys. Keep in mind that no one speaks English on the island … even at the tourist information point , we were equipped with a mini Italian – turkish vocabulary!
We chose to sleep at Kale Painsyon. With a dominant position as for the center, has been a very nice place to stay. The owner is a very kind person.
Il giorno succesivo, dopo un po’ di mare, ripartiamo di notte con il pullman…direzione Kusadasi (da Bozcaada traghetto fino a Geyikli, dolmuš, pullman fino a Ezinee infine pullman fino a Kusadasi – totale 8 h).
The day following, after some hours at the beach, we leaved again, at night, by bus towards Kusadasi (by ferry from Bozcaada to Geyikli, dolmuš, bus to Ezine, bus to Kusadasi – total 8 h).
Insieme a Selcuk, infatti, viene solitamente scelta come punto di appoggio per visitare l’area circostante.
Noi abbiamo preferito Kusadasi perchè sul mare.
Kusadasi is purely a tourist town and it will serve as a basis for two days to reach Pammukkale and Ephesus more comfortably.
Together in Selcuk, in fact, is usually chosen as a base for exploring the surrounding area.
We choose Kusadasi because is near the sea.
Sezgin Hotel Guest House (Arsanlar Caddesi 68) è stata la nostra scelta, un ostello senza troppe pretese ma molto comodo e centrale. Sergin, il proprietario è davvero una persona squisita…pronto a dare consigli e molto accogliente…sono note le cene in ostello tutti insieme!
Sezgin Hotel Guest House (Arsanlar Caddesi 68) was our choice, a hostel unpretentious but very convenient with central location. Sergin, the owner is really a delicious person … ready to give advice and very friendly … they are known in the hostel dinners together!
A circa un’ora di distanza vi troverete ad Efeso, uno dei siti archeologici meglio conservati di tutta la Turchia.
About an hour away you will come to Ephesus, one of the best preserved archaeological sites in Turkey.
The visit is very interesting, the ruins are a lot. We visited the site in the late morning … do not recommend it because it really hot and will not find anything inside … so organize yourself before with water, etc.
From the 129, Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and an important commercial center. During its heyday came to 250,000 inhabitants. In Efeso, there was worshiped Artemis, goddess of Fertilia and a temple was built in her honor. It was considered one of the seven wonders of the world for the size and extraordinary arichitettura. It was entirely destroyed, unfortunately there is nothing left only some little part.
Nike di Efeso
On Curetes street, you will also find public toilets for men…at the time was considered one of the main places of socialization. Even those who had private bath, they subscribed to a kind of membership card to access it and have a chat with friends.
latrine pubbliche per gli uomini
Sulla stessa via, noterete anche la Fontana di Traiano eretta in suo onore ed in occasione di una sua visita ad Efeso.
Sulla fontata era riportata un’ incisione che diceva: “ho conquistato tutto ed ora tutto è sotto i miei piedi“.
Considerate, guardando la foto sottostante, che in relazione alla sfera (che rappresentava il mondo), il piede di Traiano era molto più grande essendo le dimensioni della statua esageratamente più alte rispetto alla statura reale dell’imperatore.
On the same street, you will also notice the Fountain of Trajan and erected in his honor on the occasion of his visit to Ephesus.
On the fountain, there is a sentence: “I won everything and now everything is under my feet.”
Consider looking at the photo below, in relation to the sphere, that the foot of Trajan was much bigger compared to the real height of the emperor.
Fontana di Traiano
dettaglio Fontana di Traiano
Terza biblioteca al mondo dopo quelle di Alessandria e Pergamo, pare che all’interno vi fossero conservati circa 12.000 rotoli di papiro, la Biblioteca di Celso è stata fatta edificare dal figlio di Celso, Gaio Giulio Aquila, proprio in onore del padre morto nel 117.
The third library in the world after those of Alexandria and Pergamum, it seems certain that there were about 12,000 preserved rolls of papyrus, the Library of Celsus was built by Gaius Julius Aquila, the son of Celsus , in honor of his father who died in 117 .
biblioteca di Celso
L’intero edificio è decorato secondo quello che chiamano il “barocco asiatico”. Fate inoltre caso alle quattro nicchie presenti sulla facciata, all’interno di ognuna c’è una statua celebrante le virtù di Celso: sophìa, aretè, èunoia ed epistème ovverosaggezza, virtù, benevolenza e sapienza.
Pay attention to the four niches on the facade, within each there is a statue celebrating the virtues of Celsus: Sophia, arete, or episteme èunoia: wisdom, virtue, benevolence and wisdom.
Do not miss the Temple of Hadrian, one of the main attractions of the site, known for its beautiful decorations that cover much of its surface.
Tempio di Adriano
Sul primo arco è raffigurata Tiche, la dea della fortuna, sul secondo invece Medusa con il preciso compito di tenere lontani gli spiriti maligni.
On the first arc is depicted Tyche, the goddess of fortune, on the second is depicted Medusa with the specific task of warding off evil spirits.
Tiche - dea della fortuna
Medusa
anfiteatro
This is a little taste of Ephesus … its history and its wonders are so many that you can not help but deepen once in place … you will be enchanted.
Il giorno successivo, dopo 4h di pullman, raggiungiamo la famosissima e tanto attesa Pamukkale.
The next day, after 4 hours by bus, we arrived at the famous and much-anticipated Pamukkale.
Pamukkale
Il paesaggio è bellissimo, il primo impatto sicuramente vi colpirà.
Tuttavia, per riuscire ad apprezzarlo fino in fondo cercate di andarci nella primissima mattinata o nel tardo pomeriggio.
Nelle ore centrali della giornata è pieno di gente, troppa, e il luogo perde in attimo tutta la sua magia ed il suo fascino.
The landscape is beautiful, the first impact will surely hit you.
However, to be able to appreciate it, we suggest you to go in early morning or late afternoon.
In the middle of the day is full of people and the place could lose all its magic and charm.
Facendo attenzione, potrete immergervi fino alle ginocchia nelle varie vasche godendo dei benefici delle acque termali.
Pamukkale means “Cotton Castle”. Declared World Heritage by UNESCO since 1988, this site Natural site in the provinces of Denizli travertine terraces with ITS, has Become One of the main attractions of Turkey.
Carefully, you can dive down to his knees in the various pools enjoying the benefits of thermal waters.
To go to the old swimming pool, where you can swim among the ruins, you have to pay an extra ticket (25TL) and tell the truth it is not worth. If you go there when it is full of people the water will be cloudy and the experience could be not good for you!
piscina antica