Introducing Alibey Island

Named after a hero of the Turkish War of Independence, Alibey Island (Alibey Adası), known to the locals as Cunda Island (Cunda Adası), lies just offshore, facing Ayvalık across the water to the west. It can be reached by ferry or by dolmuș taxi – it’s linked to the mainland by a causeway – and is generally regarded as a quieter extension of Ayvalık itself, with residents of both communities regularly shuttling back and forth between the two.

The ferry docks at a small quay lined with fish restaurants. Behind these sits a small, distinguished-looking town made up of old (and in parts rather dilapidated) Greek stone houses. As with Ayvalık, the people here were compelled into a population exchange in the early 1920s, in this instance with Muslims from Crete.

Just to the east of the ferry pier is the town’s main square. There are a half-dozen ATMs on the seafront and an information board with maps in the car park at the eastern end of the esplanade. Behind the square is a small tourist market with stalls selling jewellery and other trinkets.

One of the most famous relics of the town’s Greek past, the Taksiyarhis church (1873) – not to be confused with the older church of the same name in Ayvalık – perches on a small hill, just inland from the tourist market. Though it avoided being turned into a mosque, the church suffered severe damage during an earthquake in 1944, and today stands in picturesque decrepitude. Inside are some faded and rather forlorn-looking frescoes. You’ll also see a few Greek-stylewindmills that vaguely recall Mykonos but went into retirement decades ago.

The prettiest parts of the island are to the west, where there are good beaches for sunbathing and swimming, and north, much of which is taken up by the Pateriça Nature Reserve. This has good walking routes and, on the north shore, the ruins of the Greek Ayışığı Manastır ı (Moonlight Monastery).

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/alibey-island#ixzz3rnC7WRjK