AKKOY – The nest of Peregrine Falcons – Tobacco and Strawberry Fields
Every Thursday Market Bazaar of Akkoy Village
AK=White, Köy=Village White Village, because of the lime-stone that villagers built their homes.
Akkoy is a village on the north of archaic Miletos city in the western part of Asia. The name of it is derived from Turkish. As the walls of the houses are made of local white stone, it is called “Akkoy” (“Ak” white + “koy” village). before 1922 there were about 4000 Greek inhabiting in this village.
These Greeks were the people brought from Peloponnesus and Crete regions of Greece in 1770 during the rein of 26.th Sultan of Ottoman’s, Mustafa the 3rd and his deputy Ivazzade Halil Pasa or Silahtar Mehmet Pasa the 9th in order to compensate the decreasing the population due to the disasters like earthquake, malaria, cholera, and to make the lands plant able.
these people were experienced in farming and tobacco planting. roughly 50-60 years after they came with emancipation of Greece in 1821 most of these people went back to Greece, maybe to the Peloponnesus region or Grit.
the ones who didn’t leave Akkoy lived in this village for another 150 – 155 years and eventually on the 5th of September by the Greek Navy boats waited at Didim – Altinkum shores during the dusk they left Turkey by fleeing to nearby Greek islands or to Samos island.
Greeks, settled in Akkoy after brought from Greece in 1870, thanks to the help of German archaeologists came for excavations in Miletos ancient site constructed a primary school and a church called Aiyos Georgia.
On the 41.th page of Mikrasiana Pragmate written by Eystratiu Draku 1.th Greek author tells us about Akkoy in 1884, used to be an important place close to ancient city Miletos, lovely school with 40 pupils and a teacher, the church in Akkoy which 200 Christian families dwell, located on south-west of the village. 30 rich families of Muslims coming from Balat village have settled in Akkoy later on. Apart from being the oldest village of the region possesses great importance in terms of economy and agriculture. thanks to continuing agricultural affairs. Akkoy which has got the Gendarme station and school in which pupils from nearby villages used to come in the early years of republic is now a district with 450 families and 1400 inhabitants and struggling for getting the right of being a town governed by a municipality, despite it’s closeness to ancient Didyma and Miletos city Akkoy is a lovely village with it’s intact village life, natural beauties, appropriate bays for fishing. its unexplored moreover is an example village for the others.
Listed Buildings Of Akkoy
Each stone placed side by side was like a letter in mysterious stone writings. Stone upon stone rose into the walls lining the narrow streets, but the walls still keep their secrets. Houses that are cool in summer and warm in winter, and courtyards on many levels are concealed behind them. None of their windows ever come face to face with those of a neighbouring houses but to the best breeze supplying air circulation and the scenic view of streets which also covered with local white stone. This architecture woven of stone belongs to a culture with very ancient roots.
library building
Akkoy library in 1800’s used to be a clothing store where all British textile were brought here by boats and delivered to the towns like Kusadasi, Soke then to the other towns inland. today it is the largest village library with its books.
Birdwatching
Akkoy is also home for peregrines, kestrels, flamingo’s, pelicans and other species of birds which are endangered of their generations. peregrines and can be seen on old houses lining the streets of the village between may to end of June. And it is taking its place on the map of bird watchers from all over the world. flamingos and pelicans live at the lagoon of the Menderes river, just located on the south west coast of the village.
alternative to tobacco: “strawberry fields forever”
Farmers are looking for new incomes such as strawberries, tourism, fishing, etc. Tobacco itself a real hard work done by families. Akkoy has got best quality tobacco because of hot climate in summers and sometimes each harvest takes more than 18 months.
strawberry fields can be the answer of a new income and the tourism followed by.
Visitors of Akkoy can visit Akkoy’s market bazaar on Thursdays.
After having drinks under the pine trees at one of the coffee shops with locals, strawberry field was the next stop located at the Tasburun just outside of Akkoy.
Cafe Olive Art and Poetry
Cafe Olive Art Gallery in Akkoy Village
The journey time from Altinkum to Akkoy which takes 20 minutes and the concept of many different things such as peregrines for wild life, old Greek Ottoman houses for history, local market for culture are making this excursion more attractive to visitors.
Village wine
after tobacco farming well supported by those day’s government, many vineyards have changed into tobacco farms. but still most of the families have their own vineyard in Akkoy and some of them make their own wine.
travel Tips
Akkoy Local market is held on Thursdays. Its is not a big market bazaar. Try cheese, village vine, buy olive oil soap.
Akkoy is only 10 kilometres away from beach.
Akkoy in the early spring, place for birds and bird watchers. If you are interested of wild life and especially Peregrine falcons Akkoy is the place to stop for taking photographs.
People are mostly well educated and familiar to tourists.To visit ancient Miletus, you should drop off here for waiting for local minibus (Balat Birlik) runs between Balat – Altinkum or you can walk the distance of 5 Km’s from the village Akkoy.
Best buys: Ask for olive oil or olive oil soaps, straw hats, bags all hand made. Visit Art Gallery Cafe Olive for a locally painted oil or acrylic on canvas.
How to get to Akkoy ?
its on your way to Milet, it is on your way to Soke
There are travel agents organizing tours from Altinkum.
If you like to visit AKKOY by yourselves journey to Akkoy takes only 20 minutes by local Didim Seyahat minibusses from Altinkum.
If you are travelling from Kusadasi, get a midibus to Soke first then change to Didim Midibusses to Altinkum.
If You are travelling from Bodrum, Drive to Miletos (yellow sign post), Akkoy is the second village after Akyenikoy, up to hill between strawberry fields and vineyards.
Cafe Olive (also art gallery and local information center for Akkoy visitors, center of DidimGuide) is located on the crossroad of Didim – Milet on the left hand corner.
Japan TV NHK filmed a documentary in Miletos near Akköy.
Didim Guide . Com Documentary film THALES of… door ErkinTime
