Province · Costa do Egeu

Manisa

Manisa, inland from İzmir, has Sardis, capital of the kingdom of Lydia, Mount Spil and its tulips, the Mesir paste festival and the volcanic geopark of Kula.

In the photo: Roman gymnasium of Sardis, Manisa

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Manisa

Manisa lies inland from the Aegean coast, northeast of İzmir, in the Gediz river valley. The capital, also called Manisa, sits at the foot of Mount Spil (Spil Dağı); the rest of the province is vineyards, olive groves and historic towns.

Sardis (Sart), near Salihli, was the capital of the kingdom of Lydia, of King Croesus, where some of the earliest coins were minted. The site has the Roman gymnasium, the synagogue and the Temple of Artemis and is a UNESCO site.

Three of the seven churches of the Apocalypse were where Manisa now stands: Sardis, Thyatira in Akhisar, and Philadelphia in Alaşehir. In the capital, the Muradiye Mosque, designed by Sinan, recalls that several future Ottoman sultans ruled the city when they were princes.

Mount Spil National Park has limestone formations, the rock of Niobe linked to a Greek legend, and Manisa’s wild tulips. To the east, the UNESCO Kula-Salihli Geopark features volcanic cones, lava fields and fairy chimneys, and Kula preserves 19th-century wooden Ottoman houses.

Mesir paste, a sweet made from dozens of herbs and spices, is distributed at the Mesir festival, a nearly five-century-old tradition recognized by UNESCO. Manisa kebab and the region’s raisins are other local products.

When to go

March to June and September to October are usually the best times: the Mesir festival typically takes place in March, and Mount Spil’s tulips usually bloom in April and May. Summer is hot and dry in the Gediz valley, and visits to Sardis are better early in the day. Winter is mild in the valley and colder on Mount Spil.

Getting there

The nearest airport is Adnan Menderes (ADB) in İzmir; the city of Manisa is close to İzmir, linked by road and regional train. Confirm schedules before booking. To reach Sardis, follow the Salihli road; regional buses serve Salihli, Kula, Akhisar and Alaşehir.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Manisa

Can you visit Sardis from İzmir?

Yes, in a day. Sardis is near Salihli, east of İzmir, and the road trip passes through the Gediz valley. If you leave early, you can combine Sardis and the houses of Kula in the same trip.

What is the Mesir festival?

It is the festival of Mesir paste, a sweet of herbs and spices that, according to tradition, cured the mother of Sultan Suleiman. In March, the paste is thrown from the top of the Sultan’s Mosque in Manisa to the public. The festival is on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.

When do Manisa’s tulips bloom?

The wild tulips of Mount Spil usually bloom in April and May. They are protected and can be seen along the national park’s trails.

What to see in the Kula geopark?

Dormant volcanic cones, dark lava fields, basalt columns and pastel-colored fairy chimneys in the Gediz valley. The town of Kula has 19th-century wooden Ottoman houses.