Discover Aydin: cultural history and hotels

If you’re looking for a hotel in Aydin, the city’s historic highlights may play a role in choosing your destination. Aydın combines Ottoman architecture with archaeological collections: Üveys Paşa Camii represents religious architecture, while külliyes bring together several types of buildings. At the Aydın Archaeology Museum, the focus is on archaeological objects and the museum’s galleries. These differences can help you assess the destination’s cultural character according to your interests.

Ottoman architecture in Aydın

Üveys Paşa Camii is the oldest surviving mosque from the Ottoman period in central Aydın. It was built from stone and brick in 1568–1569. Its prayer hall has a square floor plan and is topped by a single dome. There is also a three-part portico, likewise topped with domes, and the minaret stands on the northwest side. The prayer hall, portico, and minaret give the building a clearly articulated form. The mosque can therefore be viewed in terms of both its construction date and historical significance, as well as its individual architectural features.

Külliyes and their components

Nasuh Paşa Külliyesi is located in the Köprülü district and consists of a hamam, a medrese, a mescid, and a han. An inscription above the han’s entrance dates the construction of the külliye by Nasuh Paşa to 1708. The han has two floors, is of the Ottoman urban courtyard-han type, and is also known as Zincirli Han. The complex can thus be understood in terms of its different building types as well as the han’s individual name.

Cihanoğlu Külliyesi is also located in the Köprülü district. It consists of a mosque, a medrese, a sebil, and a fountain. Both külliyes bring together several architectural forms, but differ in their composition: the Nasuh Paşa Külliyesi includes a hamam and a han, while the Cihanoğlu Külliyesi includes a sebil and a fountain. Ramazan Paşa Camii offers another historical perspective. According to a foundation deed dated 1595, Ramazan Paşa, the brother of Üveys Paşa, built its original structure; it was completely destroyed in the 1899 earthquake.

Archaeological collections at the museum

The Aydın Archaeology Museum is located in the Ilıcabaşı district in central Aydın. Its collection includes archaeological objects made of stone, glass, and terracotta, as well as coins and mosaic floors. This brings together several materials and different types of objects: you can think of the museum in terms of both materials and its coins and mosaics. The museum opened on August 17, 2012.

The rooms also provide an overview of the institution. The ground floor contains an entrance hall, an exhibition gallery, and an information room. An elevator makes it easier for people with disabilities to visit the museum. The first floor has a 530-square-meter temporary exhibition hall, a children’s workshop, and a multipurpose hall with seating for 130 people. These named rooms and facilities complement the collection by showing how the museum is laid out.

Different ways to explore the city’s history

The buildings and the museum offer different areas of focus: Üveys Paşa Camii centers on the architecture of a single mosque and its Ottoman-era construction. The külliyes offer a way to explore ensembles comprising several building types, while the museum focuses on archaeological objects and exhibition spaces. When choosing Aydin as a destination, you can weigh these differences according to whether you’re more interested in architectural forms, historic building complexes, or museum collections.

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For the main travel overview: Aydin.