According to legend, the son of Aydın's governor in the Ottoman period, fell in love with a young woman from Pazarköy but was rejected by the girl's father.

At this time, the town comprised two villages, Cuma Yeri (Friday Square) and Pazarköy (Weekday Market).

In 1402 Timur defeated Bayezid at the Battle of Ankara and took control of the Aegean region, expelling the Knights Hospitaller and giving the Nazilli area back to the Aydinid family.

[7] Nazilli has also been renowned for being an important dried fig producer towns of Anatolia.

The Basmane-Nazilli Regional railway service runs between İzmir and Nazilli.