Dikili, Turkey

Dikili is a coastal town and a district of Ýzmir Province in the Aegean Region of Turkey. The district is quite pittoreque both along its shoreline and in its interior parts and is a popular summer resort. The center town of Dikili is situated at about north of Ýzmir, served by a good road. The notable township of Çandarlý (ancient Pitane) is a depending center and is located close to Dikili.The whole area of the district abounds in places of natural beauty as well as spots of historical interest. There is a crater lake in Merdivenli village, and ancient caverns in Demirtaþ and Delitaþ villages as well as pine forests extending towards the Madra Stream. The area is also famous for its thermal springs, which are in Nebiler, Bademli and Kocaoba villages. Furthermore, the beaches in Bademli and Denizköy localities are important touristic attractions of the region. Dikili has a fine port large enough to accommodate three passenger ships simultaneously, and the port has good land transport connections.Another must see is the Merkez Mosque which is a rare example of a wooden construction dating from 1789. Its particularity is in having been built without using any nails in the construction.Dikili also has a rich history extending back to prehistory, and the ancient and as yet unexplored site of Atarneus is located nearby. The site is called "Atarna" locally. Dikili town center is situated opposite the Greek island of Lesbos (Midilli in Turkish).