Seferihisar, Turkey

Welcome to Seferihisar, a charming coastal district located in the İzmir Province of Turkey. With its rich history, stunning natural beauty, and delicious local cuisine, Seferihisar is a hidden gem that is not to be missed. The district is bordered by Urla to the west and Menderes to the east, and touches İzmir’s westernmost metropolitan district of Güzelbahçe in the north. Seferihisar town center is situated slightly inland at an altitude of 28 m and the urban area extends towards the sea as composed of eight quarters, with some distance among some, and one of which, the neighborhood called Sığacık stands somewhat separately from the rest at a distance of 5 km, and has its own port and made a name as a tourism resort by its own right. The wide area of the district center partly accounts for the high number of the population and an urbanization rate of only 51%, and the general impression observed is rather rural in some of its sections. Both the center town and the district as a whole preserves an overall outlook of a pleasant resort area bearing typical Aegean characteristics and it is estimated the population reaches the level of 150,000 people during the touristic season. The districts economy is still largely based on agriculture, with the production of tangerines and satsumas standing out, and only increasingly on tourism, with the presence of several housing projects or vacation villages, pensioners opting to settle in the region due to its quiet charm and under the impetus of a university campus that is in phase of being built. At a distance of 45 km from İzmir center, the connections with the metropolis are made easily, especially once reached the six-lane highway in Urla. Seferihisar is where the ancient city of Teos is located and its highly interesting await further research and discoveries. The districts literacy level is 99%. Seferihisar district counts eight depending villages and two larger settlements which have their own municipal administrations (Doğanbey and Ürkmez). The district center of Seferihisar, spreading over eight officially delimited quarters, accounts for roughly half of the total district of population estimated as being slightly over forty thousand (34.761 in the last census of 2000). As such, it is one of the smaller districts of İzmir Province and the inward immigration level is rather low at only 0.18% despite rising interest in recent years by pensioners, those seeking secondary summer residences and university academia. The real estate market thus remains underexploited in striking contrast with the districts of Urla and Çeşme neighboring Seferihisar to the west. Several projected housing projects and the move by Yaşar University to its campus in phase of being built in the town are expected to change the present trend of stagnation. Çakmaktepe is the highest point of the district with 680 m. Two streams, Kocaçay Stream and Hereke Stream cross the district area to join the sea within its boundaries and these generally dry up in summer. Five small dams are built on these streams and their affluents for agricultural irrigation purposes and there are also two artificial lakes built for the same objective. Four small islands depend Seferihisar district and a fifth near Doğanbey locality, connected to the mainland by a small causeway but still called Çıfıtkalesi Islet (ancient Myonnesos, still also often called as such locally) is a prized location for rock climbers. Seferihisar district also has several beaches and bays along its 27 km coastline. The districts most popular sights of interest is its depending small port of Sığacık with the Genoese – Ottomans. In 2008 that small port was redesigned by Turkish architect Günay Erdem and Turkish landscape architect Sunay Erdem. At 2010 construction of this new port ended and revealed its current state as Teos Marina. The ancient city of Teos is located between Seferihisar and Sığacık. There is also the rock of Myonnesos and the ruins locally called Karaköse, both near Doğanbey township. The other ancient city found within the district, Lebedos, is located further south, near Ürkmez township. A French vacation village is located near Sığacık. Since citrus fruits occupy a considerable share in Seferihisars agricultural production, the districts economy is relatively outward, including international, oriented, and Seferihisar realized exports nearing 10 million US Dollars in 2006. Other notable agricultural products include olives and vegetables, with viniculture and production of flowers grown under greenhouse conditions becoming increasingly important in recent years. Tourisms growing importance is attested by the increase to a total bed capacity of 4,539 for the district as a whole in recent years. Only ten of the districts 1381 enterprises are registered as pursuing industrial activities, with nearly a thousand active in small-scale crafts and trades. Nine companies are registered exporters. There are 12 companies with foreign capital operating in Seferihisar district and among these one, corresponding to a capital of about 5 million US Dollars, was constituted in the last decade. There are four banks providing services through four branches in Seferihisar. The total number of residences in Seferihisar district is 12,146, the part occupied by secondary residences owned by seasonal inhabitants starting to correspond to a significant share in this number. The literacy rate nears hundred per cent and the number of students per teacher is quite comfortable at 16. As a basic indicator of health services, there is one doctor for 1,495 patients. The yearly income level per inhabitant was calculated at 2,693 US Dollars in 2007, well below the national and provincial average. Seferihisar was struck by a moderate tsunami generated by an earthquake on October 30, 2020. One person drowned in the advancing waves. Seferihisar became the first Turkish town named a member of the Cittaslow movement in December 2009. As the newest member of the movement, Seferihisar hosted a football tournament between several Cittaslow cities in June 2010. Come and experience the beauty and charm of Seferihisar for yourself!