Aigai Antique City (Manisa-City Center)
Located at Köseler village, about 49 kilometers to Manisa, and called with the name Nemrut Kale, Aigai is one of the 12 Aiol cities in Western Anatolia mentioned by Herodotus. History of the city, overlooking the city on a rocky hill, dates back to 8th century BC. No excavation works have been made in the city, which is understood to have been greatly damaged during the earthquake in 17th century and has later been restored, and server as an important commercial center during the Hellenistic period. City walls are built according to the conditions of the land. The city walls encompass remains like a three-story agora and walls carrying the structure, an assembly building, terrace-walled stadium, theater and the Demeter Temple.
Sardes Antique City (Salihli)
Remains of Sardes Antique City, capital of Lydia State, are located at Sart Township of Salihli District. It has been understood from excavation works that Sart and the vicinity have been the place of settlements for over 5000 years, and that it has been an important settlement during the Roman and Byzantine periods too.
During the Lydia State, known to be the first place where coins were minted, Sardes city have become rich thanks to agriculture, cattle raising, trade and gold mining at Paktolos (Sart ) Creek. During the early Byzantine period of 14 centuries starting from 7th century BC until the 7th century AD, Sardes maintained its position as an important city both for transportation and commerce. Mentioned in the Holy Bible’s Revelations chapter as one of the seven churches in the Western Anatolia playing an important role in the spread of Christianity to the West, Sardes also has a distinctive religious importance.
Again, the synagogue (2nd century AD) in Sart antique city near İzmir-Ankara Highway (M. is one of the oldest samples of its type in Anatolia.
Niobe (The Crying Rock): (Manisa-City Center)
One of the myths housing the Spil Mountain, which rises on the southern part of the city, is about Niobe. Tantalos’s daughter Niobe was born in Manisa, and again according to the myth, her childhood was in this region together with goddess Leto. Later married to the Theban King Amphion, Niobe gives birth to 14 children, seven daughters and seven sons. Her childhood friend and Zeus’ wife Leto has two children, Apollon and Artemis. Boasting about her children at every occasion, Niobe’s saying that she has many children but Leto has only two angers goddess Leto and asks her children to punish Niobe. All of Niobe’s children are killed by Apollon and Artemis’s arrows. Niobe cries near the corpses of her children for days. Finally, God Zeus mercies Niobe and transforms her into stone at the skirts of Spil mountain to end her sufferings.
Water drops flowing up until recent years from the eye socket-like indents of this rock at Çaybaşı Locality in Karaköy neighborhood are interpreted as the teas of Niobe and used to be called “The Crying Rock” by people. Resembling a natural rock formation from close distance, and looking like a woman’s head when looked at a distance in western direction, this rock is one of the top tourist attractions.
Spil Mountain
This is a mountain identified with the city of Manisa, rich in history, mythology and flora, 24 kilometers from Manisa city center following the North road, and about 50 kilometers from İzmir city center following the South road. Bears the title of national park since 1968, and is controlled by Manisa Provincial Directorate of Environment and Forestry. Spil Mountain rises as high as 1517 meters to Karadağ peak rising from the 60-meter level of Gediz River. The mountain is surrounded by deep valleys, with river beds in the valley. There is a lake to the east of park at 600 m named as "Leech Lake" because it is full of leeches. Moreover, the name of the "Atalanı" locality close to the peak comes from an application of horse retirement during the Ottoman Period, practiced by letting the horses into the wilderness[1]. There are bungalow style houses at Atalanı location. There are also caves in Spil Mountain. The mountain is forested. The mountain has a rich flora including some endemic species like Manisa tulip. There are other forms of wild animals in addition to famous jades.
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