Cunda Island, formerly known as Alibey Island and fully deserving the title of the pearl of the Aegean, is a fairytale place that those visiting Ayvalik must drop by at the first opportunity, mesmerizing everyone with its untouched historical texture and sincere atmosphere. Thanks to the island being connected to the mainland by a historical bridge also known as "Turkey's First Bosphorus Bridge", it is in an extremely easily accessible location by road without the need for a ferry or boat. Turning into a quiet and melancholy fishing town in the winter months, Cunda becomes one of the most popular holiday routes of the Aegean coasts with the arrival of summer months, with the vitality in its streets, colorful shops, and lively nightlife.
Historical Greek Houses, Bougainvilleas, and Civil Architecture
While walking in the narrow, shaded, and winding side streets of Cunda, which are closed to vehicle traffic, you feel like you are in a time machine belonging to past centuries. Historical stone Greek houses with colorful bay windows, high ceilings, and large courtyards, surrounded by pink and white bougainvilleas, decorate the tiring but aesthetically flawless cobblestone streets like lace. These neo-classical buildings, many of which have been carefully restored faithfully to their original state and converted into luxury boutique hotels, art galleries, design cafes, or elegant restaurants, create tremendous backgrounds for photography enthusiasts, architects, and history buffs. The fine workmanship on the door knockers, stone carving, and wood carvings in the window details are admirable against the aesthetic understanding of the past.
Rahmi M. Koc Museum (Taksiarhis Church) and Lovers' Hill
The old Taksiarhis Church, which determines the silhouette of the island and is one of its most important and magnificent historical structures, currently serves as the Rahmi M. Koc Museum after a long and meticulous restoration process. Drawing attention with its impressive exterior architecture, high dome, and original frescoes in its interior, the structure fascinates visitors as an architectural masterpiece and also offers a rich, international collection of toys, antiques, and classic cars. The restored historical Windmill located on Lovers' Hill (Asiklar Tepesi), which is one of the highest points of the island and offers a wonderful view, and the Sevim & Necdet Kent Library right next to it are other important touristic and cultural points that must be seen and photographed while in Cunda.
The Island's Cafes, Mastic Coffee, and Boutique Shopping
While wandering through the historical streets, it is almost an unwritten custom to drink mortar coffee pounded in a stone mortar or the region's famous Turkish coffee with mastic gum to relieve tiredness in nostalgic coffeehouses you come across in the shadow of stone buildings or in small squares. You can find handmade jewelry produced with eye-straining labor by local artisans, wooden kitchenware made of olive trees, organic olive oil and lavender soaps, and authentic local souvenirs at the stalls set up along the coast with the start of the afternoon coolness. Cunda Island promises its guests an unforgettable holiday that will be engraved in memories, full of not only its sparkling sea but also its deep-rooted history, elegant architecture, and cultural riches.