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Situated on the side of the slope at an altitude of 600 meters above the sea level, The Kursunlu Monastery, is believed to be a Byzantine orthodox monastery built in the 11th century AD.
In the consequence of the immigrations of early Christian believers, the region became an outstanding religious center for education. The monastery, looking the excellent view of Kusadasi and Davutlar, pretends to be hidden from the view as it is located among the trees and plants.
It was an ideal location to the Christian monks for escaping from religious persecution and concealing themselves from the attacks of Iconodules and non-believers. The long distance of the monastery to the nearest settlements, provided a safer protection and a better location to worship.
The monastery consists of a dining room, a cellar, a kitchen and bedrooms for monks, a small chapel and a necropolis. The ceiling of the across-planned chapel was ornamented with the geometrical decorated frescoes from the Iconoclastical period.
As the rests were clearly representing the religious events and personalities, it was obviously proved that they were belonging to the second half of the 9th century, having the traces of the post-iconoclastical. Painted either on an overcoat or directly on the walls, frescoes were themed on the life of Jesus Christ and the scenes from the gospel.
The monastery is in the 12th km at the right of a modest road, that the highway linking Davutlar to Soke turns into. It may be visited by a private car or by a jeep safari.
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