Foca, ancient Phokaia, is the only unspoilt resort town along the Aegean. The beautiful Aegean Sea, tiny streets with old stone buildings, hospitable people, all kinds of fish, the Siren Rocks all of this is Foca.

A legend is told in Foca: The Black Stone. Noone seems to know where it is yet everyone seems to step on it. And this Black Stones makes everybody come back to Foca once again. If it were for us we would say Foca is Black Stoned out. Not falling in love with this beauty is impossible.

Nowadays the town is symbolized with the Mediterranean Monk Seals yet the earlisest symbol of the town is a "rooster". In the ancient times rooster statnes had decorated the town hall, temples and their fishing boats. .

Phokaians were great sailors: 50 oared and 500 passenger capacity boats were first built in Foca. Their sailing ability and adventureous spirit provided them great trading opportunities with overseas. The most important colonies founded by Phokaians are Amysos (Samsun), Lampsakos (Lapseki), Elea (Velia in Italy), Alaia in Corsica, Massalia (Marseilles), Nice and Antibes in Southern France, Ampuria in Spain.

Phokaia is the first Ionian city to be destroyed by the Persians in 6 th. century BC. The 18 - 20 m. high fortifications of the city could not stop the Persians and for unconditional surrender 24 hours was requested from the Perisan commander Harpagos. The request was accepted yet the next morning Harpagos found none in town. Phokaians taking the secret underground tunnels already had sailed away with all their valuables. Alexander The Great freed Phokaia in the 4 th. century BC. but the golden age of the city was never back. Onwards The seleucids, Pergamon Kingdom, Roman and Genoevese, Byzantine and Ottoman periods were realized.