DIDIM (DIDYMA)
       Located 70 km (40miles) south of Kusadasi, Didim is a summer resort famous with it's long beaches and near by historical sites such as Miletos, Priene and the Temple of Apollon . Altinkum (Meaning Golden Sand in Turkish) near Didim which was once a tiny fishing village has turned into a small touristic town hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars. Altinkum is the most famous bay and beach of Didim. Didim has a coastal length of 50 km (30 miles).

THE HISTORY OF DIDYMA
        On the southwest Aegean coast of Anatolia, Didyma the sacred place of ancient Anatolia, is only 4 km away from the seaand 15 kms. to the south of Akkoy, a small village of city of Aydin. Didyma was a sacred place starting from the 8th century B.C. There are two important temples; Apollon and Artemis temples.
        The Apollon temple was the more prominent one of these two. Before Hellenistic age in Anatolia, the temple of Apollon was a small archaic temple, far earlier than the foundation of the remarkable sanctuary of worship devoted to god Apollon.
During archaic and Hellenistic periods, the temple of Apollon became a prime sacred site for Anatolians. The whole structure was destroyed by Persions in 494 B.C. and the cult of Apollon was taken to Persia.
        Didyma was reconstructed and the cult statue was brought back from Ekbatana under the leadership of Diadochen Seleukos I. He began to build a new temple in place of the old one in 300 B.C. The whole structure was completed in more than 300 years. During the Byzantine age, the temple was used as a fortress and later as a church. An earthquake, in the 15th century, damaged the temple and the surrounding structures. Since then it is left as a ruin.

ALTINKUM
        Set on a sandy bay, Altinkum is a purpose-built resort with a relaxed and informal atmosphere. This is a place for people who love the beach, and there are no fewer than four within easy reach. The Main Beach in front of the resort is a long wide stretch of golden sand, where you can bask in the sun, potter in a pedalo or try out a range of water sports. A mile away, beyond the harbour, the Third Beach offers a quieter environment and its waters are clear and sparkling.
         When you finally tear yourself away from the sea, Altinkum’s shops offer an interesting range of value-for-money goods and souvenirs. Well worth looking out for are leather bags and jackets, designer clothes, Turkish carpets, onyx vases, ornaments and keyrings and gold jewellery in unusual designs. Not forgetting the weekly market in neighbouring Yenihisar, which sells everything from spices to clothes and gives you the opportunity to haggle and have some fun.
          You can’t come to Altinkum without visiting some of the nearby ancient sites. Only 4km away is the Temple of Apollo at Didyma. Three columns still stand to their full height measuring 19.70 metres and 2.40 metres in width. A mass of marble stumps gives an idea of the colossal size of the original structure. Other sites worth visiting include the classical Greek city of Prienne and the ancient port of Miletus, now landlocked by the silting up of the River Maeander. Ask your JMC representative for details of trips available.