Traces of Religion-Focused Spatial Development in Ayvalık, a Coastal Town

Authors : Gülşen ÖZAYDIN, Müge ÖZKAN ÖZBEK, Levent ÖZAYDIN, Eser YAĞCI

Pages : 1-18

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Publication Date : 2018-06-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Some of the coastal settlements in the Aegean Sea have been the center of commerce throughout history. Beyond being a transfer point where commercial goods arrive and leave, these ports helped shape cities around them as areas of cultural interactions. Within this context, other cities of the Aegean Sea region developed in similar ways. Even though these urban centers may become rivals in time, commonalities in their special formation appear vividly to an observant eye. The common elements as well as the ongoing relationships between the coastal towns in terms of production, population and cultural flow constitute an important part of the public memory of these towns. Doing a historical reading of Ayvalık sheds light on other settlements in the Aegean Coast as it reveals common values and shared memories of people. Such a reading also explains the existing cultural texture as a part of its historical heritage. Within this context, our goal is to investigate the spatial and social traces left by the various periods of Ayvalık by paying specific attention to church-centered settlements that contribute to urban planning of the area. 
Keywords : Ayvalık, coastal town, traces, religious focuses, door