[1] A largely modern town, it is best known for the spa resort at nearby Termal, a popular summer retreat for residents of Istanbul.

[6] In the Byzantine period the town retained some its importance due to its geographic location, and emperors frequently used it as a disembarkation point from Constantinople.

Thus Emperor Heraclius landed here in 622, at the beginning of his counter-offensive against the Persians, and Romanos IV Diogenes did the same in 1071, on his way to the Battle of Manzikert.

[6] In the 9th century, the town was also the site of one of the beacons that transmitted news from the frontier with the Abbasid Caliphate, and contained an imperial hostel for travellers.

In the late 10th century, however, Leo of Synada described Pylae as little more than a village, where cattle, horses, pigs and other animals were gathered to be shipped to Constantinople.

[8] At this time, the Yalova Peninsula genocide occurred which were committed by the Greek Army against the local Turkish population.

In the town itself the only significant attraction is the so-called Yürüyen Köşkü (Walking Pavilon), a pretty waterside villa which was used by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkey, during his visits.

It takes its name from the fact that Atatürk preferred to have it dismantled and moved slightly rather than cut down a tree that was impeding the view as its grew.

The local football team is Yalovaspor, which plays in the Turkish Regional Amateur League.Yalova has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa, Trewartha: Cs), with cool, wet winters and hot, relatively dry summers.