It is believed that Kuşadası was founded by Ions in the area of Yilanci Burnu with the name of Neopolis as a part of Ephesus.
Lelegians in 3000s BC, Aiols in the 11th century BC, Ions in the 9th century BC dominated the region. The region located between Büyük Menderes and Gediz rivers takes the name of Ionian in ancient times. The Ions who are merchants and sailors soon became enriched by overseas trade and had a superior political power. They established 12 cities named "Ion Colonies" in history.
Kuşadası was one of the main ports of Anatolia that opened to the Mediterranean in antiquity. It was called Neopolis in that time. In the 7th century BC the Lydians, whose capital was Sardes became dominant in the region.
The Persian domination that started in 546 BC continues until Alexander the Great seized all of Anatolia in 334 BC. After that, as a synthesis of Greek civilization and native Anatolian civilization in Anatolia- a whole new era- a new concept of art and culture becomes dominant and this age is called "Hellenistic Age". Ephesus, Miletus, Priene and Didim are the most famous cities of this era.
In the 2nd century BC Romans dominated the region. In the early years of Christianity, Ephesus becomes a religious centre with the fact that Virgin Mary and one of her apostles St. Jean settled here. Miletus is the Episcopal center in the Christian era, as well. It is known in the Byzantine Period as "Ania". Kuşadası was a harbor used by pirates in the Middle Ages.
The city was founded earlier on the foot of the Pilav mountain, in the place called the Andes Tower. After a while, the Venetians and Genoese were economically dominant in this shore which used to belong to the Byzantines.
With the reasons of transportation difficulties; Kuşadası was taken from Andes Tower district and it was established with the name Scala Nuova (New Port) in its present place.
Pigeon Island, which is today linked to Kuşadası and has a historical castle on it, was an outpost protecting the borders in the time of the Byzantines. Pigeon Island, which served as an important military base for the city by Venetians and Ottomans, saw a major renovation in 1834 and its famous castle was built. The name "Kuşadası" comes from this castle.
In 1186, with the 2nd Kılıç Arslan’s seize of the region, the Turkish domination starts here. The region became an export gate of the caravan routes to the Aegean region in this period. However, the sovereignty of the Seljuk State took a short time due to the 1st Crusades and the region again passed into the hands of Byzantium. After the fall of the Seljuk State, Aydınoğulları dominates the region for a while.
In 1413, Kuşadası joined the Ottoman Empire sovereignty with 1st Mehmet (Çelebi). After this date, the city was completely in the hands of the Turks and started to fill with the works of the Turks. The current caravanserai and the walls surrounding Kuşadası were built by Mehmet Pasha.
The city surrounded by the walls was then only accessible from three gates. While one of them that is called “Portcullis” still remains, the other two are not available today.
Kusadasi entered the occupation of Italy during the War of Independence between 1919-1921, after the withdrawal of them, it entered the occupation of Greece. On September 7, 1922, the city liberated from the enemy.
Kuşadası, which was connected to Izmir after the declaration of the Republic, was included in Aydın in 1954. "Small Island" or "Pigeon Island" is the source of the present name of the city. From the 1970s onwards, the city went to an entirely touristic structure.
Mild Mediterranean climate is dominant in the region. Winters are rainy and warm, summers are hot and arid. Humidity rate is very low. Average weather temperature in winter months is approximately 10°C-15 °C. Weather temperature can reach up to 40°C in summer months.
The borders of the town are the coastal rubble of the east and south east of the Kuşadası bay and the low-lying vessels that lie behind it. The east and south are surrounded by mountains. Kuşadası, bordered by Selçuk and Pamucak from the north and Dilek Peninsula from the south, is in the middle of important tourist attractions such as Ephesus, The House of the Virgin Mary, Priene, Miletus, Didim, the Temple of Artemis, Selçuk Museum, İsabey Mosque, Pigeon Island. The marina presents a very vivacious and colourful social life especially in summers with a lot of beaches, hotels, motels, campsites, holiday villages and entertainment venues.
Çıban (Yavansu), Venüs, Güzelçamlı and Davutlar hot springs, Aslanlı and Zeus Caves, Dilek Peninsula National Park and the coves and spas in the Park host a lot of domestic and foreign tourists in springs, summers and autumns. Tavşan Island, Su Island and Sandal Island greet you if you would like to cruise around the Dilek Peninsula.
On the edge of Dilek Hill in the northern part of the national park, the walls of the Panionion, which is known as the meeting place of twelve Ionian city associations and the remains of the parliament building have reached the present day. Here, you can visit the ancient castle of the Venetians and the town of Anaia, which is only 2 km south east of the castle. The antique city Pygela is located at the north of the town.
The Pigeon Island, which is home to a Byzantine castle built in the rocks, and Small Island Castle which is a 19th century construction were important naval defense centers of the Ottoman Empire against the pirates. The walls surrounding Kuşadası also belong to the Ottoman Empire.
