'Hidden treasure' in Turkey’s Aegean town getting ready for tourists

Located in the western province of Manisa's Soma district, the Darkale village is famous for its traditional Turkish house architecture lying in the laps of nature. Often described as a "hidden treasure" as it is reached by passing through a valley, the village awaits visitors to amuse them with its history and excursion activities that include hiking, cycling, and rock climbing after the end of the pandemic.

Located in a deep valley three kilometers from Soma, and also known as "Tarhala," the Darkale village has around 800 houses. Leaning against the rocky mountains, the village attracts attention with its beautiful natural scenes.
The village dates back to the Kingdom of Pergamon and was once an important settlement during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. It fascinates visitors with its structures like the ones in Safranbolu and Beypazarı houses.

Another feature of the village is the water fountain under the historical Kırkoluk Mosque. People living in the surrounding neighborhoods fill soft drinking water in their jugs and take it to their homes.

The village is believed to have had a population of 1,000 people in the first years of the Turkish Republic but due to the emigration that started in the 1980s, it is now home to just around 60 people.

In order to draw attention to the region and keep it alive with tourism, a group of volunteers initiated the "Darkale Renewal and Protection Project" with the support of the Manisa Governorship, Soma District Governorship, Soma Municipality, Soma Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The efforts of the volunteers have started to show positive outcomes. Many weddings have taken place in the region where numerous people, including a Japanese couple, took their vows in the nostalgic ambiance of...