Foca

Founding and Ancient Roots

Modern-day Foça is located on the site of the ancient Greek city of Phocaea, which was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League. According to historical records, the settlement was founded between the 9th and 8th centuries BC. It is believed that the first settlers were from mainland Greece (Phocis), led by Athenian leaders. The name of the city is traditionally associated with the word for "seal," an animal that remains a symbol of this coastline to this day.

Factors of Establishment and Prosperity

The transformation of a small settlement into a powerful maritime polis was due to several key factors:

• Geography: The city possessed a unique location on a peninsula with two natural and protected harbors, creating ideal conditions for anchoring ships.
• Maritime Navigation: The residents of Phocaea became famous as skilled navigators. Ancient historians, including Herodotus, noted that the Phocaeans were the first among the Greeks to make long voyages, not in broad merchant vessels, but in maneuverable 50-oared ships (penteconters).
• Colonization: Thanks to its maritime power, the city became the metropolis for many colonies in the Western Mediterranean and the Black Sea. The most famous city founded by emigrants from Phocaea is modern-day Marseille (Massalia).

Early Economy and Culture

Phocaea was a pioneer in the financial sphere of the ancient world. It was one of the first cities to begin minting its own coins from electrum—a natural alloy of gold and silver. Images on the coins (often a seal or a griffin) became a recognizable mark of quality in trade transactions of that time. The wealth accumulated through maritime trade allowed the city to develop monumental architecture and maintain sanctuaries, in particular, the famous Temple of Athena.

Key Historical Milestones

The history of Foça is a chronicle of maritime voyages, trade, and the succession of civilizations that have left their mark on the shores of the Aegean Sea.

Ancient Period

• 9th Century BC — Founding of the city by Greek colonists under the name Phocaea, which became an important center of the Ionian League.
• Around 600 BC — Period of maritime expansion, when the Phocaeans founded distant colonies, including Massalia (modern-day Marseille).
• 546 BC — Capture of the city by the Persian troops of the general Harpagus, which forced many residents to emigrate.
• 334 BC — The city passes under the control of Alexander the Great, entering the Hellenistic era.
• 132 BC — Phocaea becomes part of the Roman province of Asia, maintaining its importance as a port city.

The Middle Ages and the Ottoman Era

• 1275 — The Byzantine Emperor transfers control of the city to the Genoese Zaccaria family, which marked the start of large-scale alum mining.
• 1455 — The troops of Sultan Mehmed II conquer the city, annexing it to the Ottoman Empire.
• 1538 — Significant reconstruction and strengthening of the fortress walls to protect the harbor.
• 17th Century — The city continues to develop as an important trading port of the Ottoman Empire on the Aegean Sea.

Modern Day

• 1923 — Following the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, the city is officially established under the name Foça.
• 1990 — The region receives the status of a Special Environmental Protection Area, primarily to protect the endangered Mediterranean monk seals.
• 2013 — The historical trade routes and fortresses of the region, including Foça, are nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Stages of Development: From Ancient Port to "Slow City"

The evolution of Foça is a fascinating journey of transformation. Over millennia, the city has changed several roles: from a powerful maritime metropolis to a medieval industrial center and, finally, a cozy haven for those who appreciate silence and nature. Each of these stages has shaped the unique character of the resort that travelers see today.

• The Age of Great Navigators (7th–6th centuries BC)
  During this period, Phocaea was not just a city, but a center of maritime expansion. Local residents, known for their navigation skills, used fast ships for long-distance voyages.
  Influence on the city: It was then that Foça became a cultural bridge between East and West, spreading Ionian culture to the shores of France and Spain. This spirit of openness and connection to the sea is still felt in the city today.
• The Genoese Period and the "Alum Boom" (13th–15th centuries)
  With the arrival of the Genoese, the city's economy changed radically. The discovery of rich deposits of alum (a mineral essential for dyeing fabrics) turned the trading port into an industrial center of global importance.
  Influence on the city: To protect the mines and logistics, the settlement was divided into two parts—Old Foça (Eski Foça) and New Foça (Yeni Foça). This historical division into two districts with different atmospheres remains to this day.
• Ottoman Architecture and Fortification (from the 15th century)
  Becoming part of the Ottoman Empire, the city acquired strategic military importance. Fortress walls were rebuilt, and the urban landscape was enriched with mosques, hammams, and residential quarters.
  Influence on the city: This period saw the formation of Foça's recognizable architectural style—stone houses with tiled roofs, which today are the hallmark of the historical center and create its unique coziness.
• A Course Toward Ecology and Cittaslow Status (Modern Day)
  At the end of the 20th century, the city moved away from mass industrialization in favor of nature conservation. The creation of a protected area for Mediterranean monk seals and joining the international "Slow City" (Cittaslow) network in 2011 defined its modern development path.
  Influence on the city: Foça has become a symbol of calm, mindful relaxation, where priority is given to local gastronomy, crafts, and the preservation of an authentic atmosphere free from the hustle and bustle of metropolises.

Architectural Character and Urban Planning

The architecture of Foça is a rich layering of civilizations, where ancient ruins stand alongside Genoese fortifications and Ottoman residential quarters. The city does not aim for the sky; its urban concept is dictated by respect for the historical landscape and the sea, maintaining cozy low-rise buildings.

Eras and Styles

Several key architectural periods can be traced in the city's appearance, each leaving behind its own material evidence:

• Archaic and Hellenistic (Ionic Order): The oldest layers of the city. Although many structures have been destroyed by time, archaeological zones preserve traces of the greatness of ancient Phocaea.
  Examples: The ruins of the Temple of Athena (one of the oldest in the Ionian world) and the ancient theater carved into the rock, dating back to the 4th century BC.
• Medieval Fortification (Military Architecture): A period when the safety of trade routes was paramount. Walls and towers were built to be functional and massive, often using spolia (stones from ancient buildings).
  Examples: Beşkapılar Castle (Five Gates). Originally Byzantine, it was expanded by the Genoese and later reconstructed by the Ottomans, representing a blend of engineering solutions from different centuries.
• Ottoman Period and the 19th Century (Traditional Residential Architecture): The era that shaped the current "postcard-perfect" view of the waterfront and old streets. The style is characterized by a synthesis of Greek and Turkish building traditions.
  Examples: Stone mansions with wooden bay windows and shutters, the Fatih Mosque (built during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent), and the Kayalar Mosque.

Iconic Elements of the Urban Environment

The special charm of Foça is found not in individual monuments, but in the cohesive fabric of the historical buildings that have been successfully preserved.

The Stone Houses of Foça
The city's hallmark is its historical residential houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries. They are characterized by local stone masonry, which keeps the buildings cool in the summer heat. Among them, the so-called "Tower Houses" (Kule Evleri) stand out—a unique type of housing located slightly away from the center. These tall structures served a dual function: comfortable living and defense against attacks from the sea.

Urban Harmony
Unlike many resorts, Foça has avoided chaotic development with concrete hotels. Thanks to strict regulations and its status as a protected area, two- to three-story buildings with tiled roofs dominate the landscape, harmoniously integrated into the natural setting of the bay.

Notable Figures of Foça

The history of the city is inextricably linked with the names of great navigators, architects, and rulers whose influence extended far beyond the Aegean region. Here are the key figures who left their mark on the annals of Foça.

The Ancient Era

• Dionysius of Phocaea (5th century BC)
  Role: Admiral and naval commander.
  Significance: He commanded the combined Greek fleet during the famous Battle of Lade (494 BC) against the Persians. He is known for introducing strict discipline and intensive training for the sailors of the Ionian League, attempting to turn the merchant fleet into a fighting machine.
• Protus (Euxenus) (7th–6th centuries BC)
  Role: Navigator and colonizer.
  Significance: The legendary leader of the Phocaean expedition that founded the city of Massalia (modern-day Marseille) in the south of France. His marriage to the daughter of a local Celtic chief became a symbol of the peaceful interaction between Greek and local cultures, marking the beginning of the prosperity of Phocaea's most famous colony.
• Telephanes of Phocaea (5th century BC)
  Role: Sculptor and artist.
  Significance: A master whose art was prized at the courts of the Persian kings Darius and Xerxes. He worked on decorating palaces in Persepolis and Susa, becoming a vivid example of the cultural influence of Ionian Greeks on the art of the East.
• Theodoros of Phocaea (4th century BC)
  Role: Architect and theorist.
  Significance: A famous architect mentioned by Vitruvius. He designed the Tholos (a circular building) in the sanctuary of Athena at Delphi—a masterpiece of ancient architecture—and wrote a treatise on this structure, contributing to the theory of architectural orders.

Middle Ages and Modern Times

• Benedetto Zaccaria (c. 1235–1307)
  Role: Genoese admiral, diplomat, and Lord of Phocaea.
  Significance: He received control of the city from the Byzantine Emperor. He organized the industrial extraction of alum, turning Foça into one of the wealthiest trading centers in the Mediterranean. It was under his rule that the city walls were significantly strengthened to protect against pirates.
• Ferit Oğuz Bayır (1899–1998)
  Role: Writer, educator, and public figure.
  Significance: One of the ideologues of the "Village Institutes" movement in Turkey. He lived and worked in Foça for many years, making a huge contribution to the cultural development of the region during the Republican period. One of the city's parks bears his name, and his works preserve the ethnographic history of the region.