Aliağa lies in the heart of ancient Aeolia. The town was named after a member of the influential Karaosmanoğullarıayan family, Karaosmanoğlu Ali Ağa, who owned an estate here. It was a township in Menemen district in 1937 and became a municipality in 1952. It finally separated from Menemen and became a district on 21 January 1982.
The remains of the ancient city of Myrina are within the boundaries of the district, located at about fifteen km north of Aliağa centre. Another ancient site is the yet unexplored Gryneion, near Şakran township on the peninsula, to the south of the center town, also at a distance of 15 km (9 mi). Visitors also often use the road from Aliağa to visit the remains of Aigai in Yuntdağı in Manisa Province.
In 2021, a monastery and floor mosaic have been found during an illegal excavation. Archaeologists believe that the monastery was used in the 4th century to the 14th century.[4]
The D.550 roadway runs through the city, between Muğla-Edirne and also to İzmir. Aliağa [6] is also connected to İzmir by İZBAN, a commuter railway operating around İzmir. İZBAN operates 15 daily trains from Aliağa Railway Station to Alsancak Terminal in İzmir. ESHOT operates the 834 [7] bus line to İzmir as well.
Economy
Ship-breaking
There are several facilities for dismantling and scrapping ships.[8][9]
The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic sped up the process of ship recycling because owners of idled cruise ships looked to stem the red ink.[10]
^"Carnival Cruise Line's Carnival Imagination is the 3rd to be scrapped". Cruise Mapper. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020. The 2,056-guest Carnival Imagination filed a cruise plan for Aliaga, Turkey, the spot of a major ship scrapping operation that became the final resting place for notable vessels like Princess Cruises' Pacific Princess - the "Love Boat.