Aydın

Aydin is a metropolitan municipality and provincial seat in Turkey's Aegean Region, at the heart of the lower valley of the Buyuk Menderes River, the ancient Meander, in a commanding position over the valley down to the coast. Known in antiquity as Tralleis in Greek and at various times as Anthea, Euanthia and, under the Seleucids, Antiochia, before becoming Guzelhisar and finally Aydin, the city had a population of 259,027 in 2022, forming the urban component of the Efeler district. Figs remain the province's best known crop alongside other intensive agriculture and some light industry, and the region pioneered railways in nineteenth century Turkey, with a modern six-lane motorway linking the city to Izmir and Adnan Menderes Airport in under an hour.