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Aristotle lived in Assos and St
Paul visited, but today
visitors go to Assos,
just south of Ayvacık, (not Ayvalık)
as a tranquil Aegean-coast seaside
retreat amid ancient ruins (map),
with a selection of good boutique
hotels.
Though officially named Behramkale (BEHH-rahm-kah-leh),
most people still call the town by
its ancient name of Assos. It
was founded in the 700s BC by colonists
from Lesvos. Aristotle came
here and married King Hermeias's niece,
Pythia, before sailing over to Lesvos.
Atop a hill surrounded by olive groves
are the ruins of the Doric-style Temple
of Athena (530 BC) surrounded by
crumbling city walls and an ancient
necropolis (cemetery). Nearby is the
14th-century Ottoman Murad
Hüdavendigar Mosque. The hill
offers spectacular views of the Aegean
Sea and the nearby Greek island
of Lesvos.
Down the steep seaward side of the
hill at the water's edge is the hamlet
officially named Behram,
but actually called İskele (Dock,
Wharf) by everyone, with old stone
houses now serving as inns,
hotels and restaurants.
It's hopelessly charming and
picturesque.
The small pebbly beach is
less of an attraction than the boat
tours and
the picturesqueness
of the hamlet itself.
These days, the nearest Lesvos
ferry services are from Ayvalık
and Dikili,
to the south. The way to get to Assos
is by bus from Çanakkale or
Ayvalık. You'll probably have to
get off the bus at Ayvacık (not Ayvalık)
and switch to a minibus or taxi to
make the final 19-km (12-mile) run
into Assos.
The nearest small airport is at Çanakkale,
the nearest large one is Adnan
Menderes Airport south of Izmir.
The Bandırma-Izmir
train stops
at Balıkesir,
161 km (100 miles) to the east. Going
by bus is
faster.
Distances & Travel Times
Ayvacık: 19 km (12 miles) N,
25 minutes
Ayvalık: 130
km (81 miles) NW, 2.25 hours
Balıkesir:161
km ( 100 miles) E, 2.5 hours
Bandırma: 257
km (160 miles) NE, 4 hours
Bergama: 180 km (112
miles) SE, 2.75 hours
Çanakkale:
79 km (49 miles) N, 1.5 hours
Istanbul: 419
km (260 miles) NE, 6.5 hours
Izmir: 370
km (230 miles) S, 5.5 hours
Assos Hotels
Aegean
Turkey
Ferries
to/from the Greek Islands
Turkey
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