Local News

Apollo Temple “is top cultural attraction in Aydin”

So there it is. Finally official. The Temple of Apollo in Didim was the most popular historical site in Aydin to be visited in 2024. It is even more remarkable given that the biggest emphasis always seems to be on Aphrodiasis – and the world heritage site of Ephesus up the road! According to data…

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Solar power plant to convert Didim’s sun into energy

A 200-acre site in Akköy for 28,000 solar panels has moved a step forward this week. An inspection and evaluation meeting will be held on February 26 to assess the plans for the solar power plant (SPP) with storage facilities. An Istanbul-based energy company is behind the 10 megawatt (MW) storage SPP and plans to…

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A step back in time: Reimagining Didyma’s Sacred Road

By Jay Jean Jackson – Some 2,500 years ago, the annual spring festivities were starting. They’d taken place, and would continue to do so, for many centuries. The atmosphere around Miletus and Apollon Temple would have been buzzing like the crowds at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The sacred stones (Gyllos) are placed…

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Didim expat author to appear in new anthology

Maximilian Sam, the alter ego of Voices columnist Chris Evans, has stories appearing in a new anthology, Not Marriage Material, coming out on Valentine’s Day (14 February). The anthology, collected by Sue Bavey, brings together stories and poetry from 20 authors to celebrate the ones who got away and the ones we were lucky enough…

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Didim Mayor listens to Yali Street traders’ concerns

Didim Mayor Hatice Gençay has met with several tradesmen from Altinkum’s coastal tourism strip on Yali Street to discuss and exchange information about projects that will shape the future of the region. Deputy Mayors Aydan Aşık Turgut, Ali Çelik and Kaan Topçuoğulları also attended the meeting held in the Didim Municipality Council Meeting Hall. One…

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Didim’s clean air cited as best in Aydin

Didim has always boasted of having the cleanest air to breathe – now it’s official. Air quality measurements conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change revealed that there were serious differences in air quality between the districts of Aydın. While Didim was at the top of the list, recording the best air…

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Reality of renewing a residence permit

Residence permits, whether permanent or temporary, have been the hottest of topics in Turkiye for the past year, writes Chris Evans. Confusion has been the default emotion for most. It has seen many expats of all nationalities leave the country as uncertainty has caused unnecessary stress. Twists and turns Voices has covered every twist and…

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Wasteful Didim Efeler 09 slips to another defeat

By Chris Evans – Sport is all about emotion. Adrenaline flows during a game. What differentiates the decent player from an exceptional one is being able to calm the emotions in those critical moments and convert the chance. The likes of Troy Deeney taking a penalty or Johnny Wilkinson with that drop goal prove the…

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Plans for 2025 discussed by Didim Mayor

Didim Mayor Hatice Gençay spoke recently on a number of issues. Amphitheatre She reiterated her hopes that the town’s Amphitheatre will reopen this year. The amphitheatre has not been in use for several months as it remains mired in a legal dispute. But Mayor Gencay said the amphitheatre will be in active use in the…

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Pottery and shipwrecks of Didim’s Aegean coast

By Jay Jean Jackson I am a regular swimmer and snorkeler off Sagtur beach near Akkum Plaji. Over time, I have noticed a lot of pottery fragments on the seabed. I never knew if they came from centuries ago or from people throwing rubbish into the sea the night before. Fortunately, I have an underwater…

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