On our last night, we ventured into town in time for sunset and waded out into the sea, the water a shimmering petrol-blue. Behind us, palm trees were silhouetted against a magenta and gold sky, the lamps on the restaurant tables like fireflies in the dusk; beyond, the mountains rose, dense with forest, bottle-green against the darkening sky. Afterwards we headed to the street behind the beach, Nergiz Sokak, for dinner at the Azmak Corba Salonu, a no-frills lokanta, where crispy pide (pizza) bubbling with cheese and a spicy Adana kebab, accompanied by glasses of Sprite, cost the princely sum of £18.
As we walked back through the quiet streets, it struck me that Akyaka’s “slow town” status has saved it from the fate of overdevelopment that characterises many of Turkey’s most picturesque resorts. Sometimes, schemes like this can seem like a lot of talk for not much result, but with Akyaka there’s a palpable awareness of the worth of a slower pace of life, both for locals and tourists. It’s a place that benefits from coming off-season – spring and autumn, when there’s even more time and space to really revel in the town’s spectacular scenery.
For me, having watched so many other Turkish towns change, it’s wonderful to discover a place that feels like the country I fell in love with almost three decades ago. Next year, we’re going back for a month.
Essentials
Annabelle Thorpe was a guest of otelz.com, staying at the Iskelem Otel (00 90 252 243 40 09; izkelemotel.com.tr), which offers doubles from £72 B&B; and Holiday Extras, which offers a week’s car parking plus an overnight stay at Gatwick from £225. EasyJet (easyjet.com) flies from Gatwick to Izmir from £104 return
Three more Turkish ‘Cittaslows’ to discoverFoca
Stretching along two bays, Foca is a town of two halves; most tourists head to Eskifoca (old Foca), where the harbour is crowded with fishing boats and the streets are home to elegant old Ottoman buildings that house restaurants and small shops. Stay at the Foca Antik Otel (doubles from £59 B&B; 90 533 157 18 88; focaantikotel.com), a chic, friendly boutique hotel in the heart of the old town.
Source link : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/turkey/akyaka-cittaslow-slow-cities-turkey-holiday-alternative/
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Publish date : 2023-11-11 03:00:00
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