“With Salih” Population: 111,400
Old names: Evlad-i Salih (Child of Salih)
Market days: Wednesday, Friday
Salihli was a town with the good fortune to find itself on the rail route from İzmir to Afyon which gave it a leg up in the development stakes. However, the old town was largely destroyed by the retreating Greeks at the end of the Turkish War of Independence (1919-22). Now almost entirely modern, it’s not a place you would probably opt to visit in its own right. However, if you want to explore the ruins of Sardis at nearby Sart you may well need to spend the night here. If so, there are some perfectly reasonable hotels near the otogar. And you will quickly realise that this is the place to try out the local specialty of odun köfte, meatballs cooked on skewers beside rather than actually over a wood fire. Try them at one of the many restaurants on tree-lined Bankalar Caddesi.
The only sight of any real interest is the Merkez Yeni (Karaman) Cami which dates back to 1889 and has a pleasingly elegant interior belying its austere outside. 
There are a few relatively old houses near the train station which is also where you’ll find most of the meyhanes and gazinos serving alcohol.
This is an area which is densely planted with vines for wine-making.
In the 1950s Salihli became home to a population of Kazakhs from Xinjiang who were fleeing the Chinese Cultural Revolution. They became known to the locals as Türkistanlılar.
Sleeping
The town centre hotels cater to a mix of tourists and business travellers and can be busy mid-week. Why not take advantage of the thermal springs hereabouts at one of the large spa hotels on the outskirts of town?
Lydia Sardes Thermal Hotel. Tel: 0236-715 5555
Transport info
The otogar is still just five minutes’ walk from the town centre with the marketplace right beside it.
Day trip destinations
Kula-Salihli UNESCO Global Geopark
