Urla

The pleasant Aegean town Urla situated about 38 km. west of Izmir center and 11 km along the main road from Izmir.

Due to its closeness to Izmir, it is widely visited by the local people especially for their weekend holidays. The town holds typical Aegean characteristics.

Urla İskelesi, known in ancient times as Klazomenai, offers a marina and plentiful accommodation in all price ranges. The center of the town is about 4 km away from the sea-side. Menteş, Malgaça, Bademler, Barbaros, Demircili, Kuscular, Yagcilar, Özbek, Gülbahçe and Balıklıova are the villages that have nice beaches.

Urla was an important cultural centre in ancient times with probably the most ancient regularly used port in the world. It was originally the site of the Ionian city of Klazomenai, was inhabited by Dorians during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. During this period the mainland was emptied and Karantina Peninsula became more important. During the Byzantium period the town lost its importance and survives as a district of Izmir and Ephesos.

The oldest attested olive oil production facilities were found near antique city of Klazomenai. The traces also indicate first exports of olive oil by seaway. The trade by way of sea was getting worse and worse at the end of 16th century because of pirates.