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Çeşme, which was known as CYSSUS in the first age, was the ILDIRI quay of ERYTHRAI, which is thought to be one of the 12 IONIAN cities, on the west coast of Anatolia in about 1000 B.C. Therefore, Çeşme should be considered together with its history. ERYTHRAI which has great importance with respect to archeology and tourism had a great financial power in the 7th and 8th centuries BC. In this period, the city had business relations with Eastern Mediterranean and especially with Cyprus and together with the Island Chios it kept the slave and wine trade. ERYTHRAI was attacked first by the LYDIANS and then by the PERSIANS and it was severely damaged. However, in the 14th Century BC it again became a rich state. In the 2nd Century BC, the city was first committed to the Kingdom of Pergamon and then to the Roman Empire. In the Roman period, the Çeşme locality attained the name CYSSUS. ERYTHRAI, which remained in the Byzantine territory when the Roman Empire was split into two, had lost its significance. Especially in the period when the faith in the religions with multi-god and idols was strengthened, most of the antique structures were put on fire and were collapsed.

In the middle ages, during the time of Çakabey, Erythrai and Çeşme localities which were committed to the Byzantine Empire were captured by the Turks. At the SELJUK’s period, CLOSEMENIA Peninsula was captured by ÇAKABEY father-in-law of the First Kılıçaslan, in 1081 A.D. The city which was again committed to the Ottoman Empire by Yıldırım Beyazıt then it was captured by Aydınoğulları once again by Timur after Ankara War in 1402.In 1422 it was recaptured by the Ottomans.

After the World War I,when our country was divided, Çeşme was invaded by the Greeks. But during the Turkish Independence War, on September 16th in 1922, it was saved from the invasion of the enemies by the troops of Fahrettin Altay Pasha. As it is understood from its name, the place shelters many historical fountains.

In Çeşme, the perpendicular alignment of the mountains to the sea has created magnificent natural beauties. The land is generally covered with stony and rocky hills and among them are small lowlands. The land is mainly agricultural. The soil has gravely, sandy and limy structure. In some parts, there are loamy and calcareous surfaces too. Numerous quays, clear sea, sun, fine sand, sulphurous waters boiling inside the sea are scattered all over the coastal side of the peninsula, which is about 29 km long. It has about 20 sandy beaches; Şifne Little Harbour, Pırlanta, Pasha Harbour, Ilıca Beach, Çiftlik, Altın Kum (Golden Sand), Çatal Azmak, Sakızlı Bay, Tekke Beach, Aya Yorgi and others.

Since the north winds do not blow in Çeşme at summer times, it has fantastic bays with calm water such as Altınkum, Pırlanta and Tursite. At the same time, our ILDIRI town is embellished with very important historical monuments remaining from the Bronze Age. AYAYORGI which is said to be an abyss, where leprous people used to live in the old times, is a natural bay with a half crescent shape.
Since Çeşme is such a host, which embraces you with its incomparable smooth sandy beaches, ever clean sea, and with its sun, via which you can have the right sun-tan you wish without getting distressed, you would find different pleasure in every beach, which are more beautiful from one another, along the 29 km coastal line of Çeşme that you would see. Would you like to cool in a calm sea and then sunbath on a warm sandy beach, or would you like to hire a yacht and travel the islands or would you like to explore the richness in the depths of the sea after you putting on your diving tube, or would you like to dance with the wind on your surf board? Only imagining will be enough for you.
Ilıca and Şifne thermal baths are natural sources, which are complementary to the opportunities for sea in Çeşme, and render it rich with respect to the values of tourism.