To build public fountains in the street is one of the oldest traditions of Anatolian culture. For centuries in this country, fountains have been built in the street, squares and throughfares where crowds gather during the day. These fountains serve two purposes; one is to provide a service to the community, to try to cool them through the hot Mediterranean weather. The second purpose is to act as a memorial to those whose names they bear: in Anatolian culture it is a gift from those who built them to the generations to come, a gesture of goodness. This is also how Çeşme got its name as "Çeşme" in turkish means fountain or water tap.
The fountains, which date mainly from the Ottoman period, can still be seen on almost every street corner. Some of the fountains were named after local administrators, some after rich members of the community such as Fountain of Memiş Ibn-i Ahmed, Fountain of Hacı Memiş Ağa, Fountain of Şerif Ağazade, Fountain of Seyid-i Hasan Ağa, Fountain of Hafize Rabia Hatun, Fountain of Mehmed Kethuda, Fountain of Kaymakam Sadık Bey..
When you come across one of these historical fountains, drink from its delicious ice cold water. You'll be impressed by the beautiful stone carvings on these fountains and you'll cool off.
