Güzelçamlı

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Coordinates: 37°43′N 27°14′E / 37.717, 27.233
Güzelçamlı Çamlı
General view of Güzelçamlı from Halimin Tepesi (Halim's Hill)
Location of Güzelçamlı within Turkey.
Country	Turkey
Region	Aegean
Province	Aydın
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	09x xx
Licence plate	09
Website: www.guzelcamli.bel.tr

Güzelçamlı (locally also called Çamlı in short) is a sea-side town with own municipality in the district of Kuşadası in Turkey's Aydın Province, and a rising tourists' resort. It is situated at a distance of 23 kilometers following the shoreline south to the internationally famous tourism center of Kuşadası, in the same bay, and the town of Güzelçamlı borders on the Dilek Peninsula - Büyük Menderes River delta national park to its south. The town's permanent population is around 10,000 but rises at least to around 50,000 and possibly more in the summer with the tourists and owners of secondary houses. Güzelçamlı is becoming increasingly popular in the market for Foreign purchases of real estate in Turkey.

The history of Güzelçamlı reaches as far back as the 700's BC. In the Ionian era, the locality was the convention place of the Ionian city states and was named Panionion. The Ionians had formed a federation consisting of 12 Ionian cities and also held games here to mark their gatherings. During the excavations in 1957-58 an antique theater was uncovered which had 12 rows of seats carved out of rock. Many famous battles were fought in this area, including the Battle of Mykale between Greeks and Persians.

During the Ottoman period, the town used to be called Rumçamlısı (Greek Çamlı) and was entirely populated by Greeks. In the last phase of the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) (on 7 September 1922 precisely), with the Turkish army approaching, the town population had fled by boats and took refuge in the nearby island of Samos and the town had remained empty for about two years. In 1924, it has been re-populated by Turks from Leftere near Kavala in the frame of the Exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey. The settlement's name was changed to Güzelçamlı and after having had the status of a village for seventy years, Güzelçamlı was made into a township with own municipality in 1992.

Map of Güzelçamlı and extensions

Today, Güzelçamlı is an unspoiled resort town. There are several hotels, small pensions, holiday houses, restaurants, bars and shops. Monday is the traditional market day of the town. A traditional bazaar is set along the main street once a week. The local people have not lost their customs and traditions and are very helpful and friendly with the holiday makers. On the beaches and at the bays of the 30 km (19 mi) coastline, besides absolutely clean water, are also possibilities for sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, water skiing, fishing, diving and boat tours. Other possibilities are paragliding,mountaineering, trekking, bird watching, botany tours, horse riding, cycling and partly hunting. The thermal baths and the Turkish baths of Davutlar is 5 km (3 mi) away and provide services 12 months a year. In Güzelçamlı, there is usually a gentle breeze from the sea during the day and a breeze from the mountain during the nights.