TÜRSAB GASTRONOMY AND CULTURE TOURISM EXPERT COMMITTEES EXAMINED MANISA'S TOURISM DESTINATIONS ON SITE
Upon the invitation of Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, an information and inspection tour to Manisa was conducted from October 1-4, 2026, with the participation of our İzmir RRB President İsmail Hakkı Karadeveci, our Gastronomy Tourism Expert Committee President M. Tümay İmamoğlu, our Culture Tourism Expert Committee President Hakan Çokgezen, İzmir RRB Board Members, and Expert Committee Vice Presidents.
The program, organized under the coordination of the Tourism Branch Directorate of the Manisa Metropolitan Municipality's Department of Culture, Art, and Social Affairs, was also attended by Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Besim Dutlulu, Secretary General Burak Deste, Deputy Secretary General Ulaş Aydın, and the Head of the Department of Culture, Art, and Social Affairs, Ural Sevener.
As part of the program, the Egea Olive Museum and the Thyateira Ancient City were visited in Akhisar, where pideli paça soup, Akhisar katmeri, and Akhisar köftesi were tasted; in Alaşehir, the Philadelphia Ancient City, St. Jean Church, Alaşehir Congress House, and Kurşunlu Han were visited, and Alaşehir Kapaması and Alaşehir Tahinli Pide were tasted. Within the scope of the Lydia Ancient Vine Route, the region's viticulture and gastronomy values were examined on-site.
In the city center of Manisa, Şehzadeler Park and Mesir Museum, Yunus Park and Ottoman Museum, Manisa Liberation Museum, Çanakkale Martyrs' Monument and Atatürk Exhibition Hall, Niobe (Weeping Rock), Ulu Mosque, Manisa Mevlevi Lodge, Muradiye Mosque, Sultan Mosque, Medical History Museum, and Kurşunlu Han were visited. At the end of the day, the delegation came together at an Information Meeting hosted by Manisa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Besim Dutlulu.
In Kula, the Kula Geopark, Fairy Chimneys, Basalt Columns, and Historical Houses were visited, and Kula Stew, Kula bread, and roasted chickpeas were tasted; in Salihli, the Temple of Artemis and the Ancient City of Sardis were visited, and Salihli Wood Meatballs were tasted. On the last day of the program, the Aigai Ancient City and the Manisa Archeology Museum were visited, and the tour was completed after tasting Manisa kebab and flirty coffee at Yeni Han.
In the program where Manisa's gastronomy, culture, history, and nature tourism values were examined on-site, evaluations were made regarding the promotion of existing routes and the development of new tourism collaborations.
