THOUGHTS ON MANISA CITY URBAN PLANNING DURING THE TIME OF SARUHANLI PRINCIPALITY

Manisa (Magnesia ad Syplum) is located on the northern slope of Spil Mountain. It is also on the intersection at the trade roads since Neolithic period. During the Latin invasion of Constantinople, Magnesia ad Syplum has chosen as a capital city of Byzantine Empire because it’s fortified location. It is famous for protecting the Imperium treasure. City conquered by Saruhan Bey who was the founder of the Saruhanogullari principality, after a long siege in 1313. The settlement inside the castle, began to move out of the city during the Hellenistic period. When the Turkish settlers arrive the area, City were already divided into two section: Inner and Outer castle. By the time of Ottomans, only two districts left in the Castle. However in the Saruhanly period, the settlement tended to move out of the city walls from the beginning. The most part of the urban development planned in Ishak Chelebi’s (1359-1388) reign. Also this process came into prominence with some specific examples in terms of architectural activities. Therefore, our aim is to make some observations about architectural activities and city plan of Manisa which is identified as the capital of a new culture; trying to understand and evaluate the city developments by means of existent architectural activities by taking political structure and period conditions into account.