Known in Turkish as
"Beautiful Izmir" the
city lies at the head of
a long and narrow gulf
furrowed by ships and
yachts. The climate is
mild and in the summer
the constant and
refreshing sea breezes
temper
the
sun's heat. Behind the
palm-lined promenades
and avenues which follow
the shoreline, the city,
in horizontal terraces,
gently ascends the
slopes of the
surrounding mountains.
Izmir is the third
largest city in Turkey
and its port is second
only to Istanbul. A
cosmopolitan and lively
city all year round,
Izmir bursts with an
added vibrancy during
the international Arts
Festival (June/July) and
the International Fair
(August/September).
The original city was
established in the third
millennium B.C. (at
present day Bayrakli),
at which time it shared
with Troy the most
advanced culture in
Western Anatolia. By
1500 B.C. it had fallen
under the influence of
the Central Anatolian
Hittite Empire. In the
first millenium B.C.
Izmir, then known as
Smyrna, ranked as one of
the most important
cities of the Ionian
Federation. During this
period, one of the
city's most brilliant,
it is believed that
Homer resided here.
Lydian conquest of the
city, around 600 B.C.,
brought this period to
an end. Izmir remained
little more than a
village throughout the
Lydian and subsequent
sixth-century B.C.
Persian rule. In the
fourth century B.C. a
new city was built on
the slopes of Mt.
Pagos
(Kadifekale) during the
reign of Alexander the
Great. Izmir's Roman
period, beginning in the
first century B.C., was
its second great era.
Byzantine rule followed
in the fourth century
and lasted until the
Seljuk conquest in the
11th century. In 1415,
under Sultan Mehmet
Celebi, Izmir became
part of the Ottoman
Empire.
MUSEUMS
The Archaeological
Museum, near Konak
Square, houses a superb
collection of
antiquities including
the statues of Poseidon
and Demeter which, in
ancient times, stood in
the Agora. (Closed on
Mondays)
Next to the Archaeology
Museum, the Ethnography
Museum contains
folkloric artifacts,
which include a fine
collection of Bergama
and Gordes carpets,
traditional costumes and
camel bridles. (Closed
on Mondays).
The Ataturk Museum is
situated on Ataturk
Caddesi in an old Izmir
house used by the
founder of the Turkish
Republic. It exhibits
photographs of the
leader as well as some
of his personal effects.
(Closed on Mondays)
The Fine Arts Museum,
located in Konak,
displays the works of
famous Turkish painters.
(Closed on Mondays)
The Seljuk Yasar Art
Museum is a private
museum on Cumhuriyet
Bulvari with a
collection of
20th-century Turkish
art. (Closed on Sundays)
The Natural History
Museum in Bornova acts
as a natural reserve of
the Aegean Region
landscapes' historical
preservation. (Closed on
Sundays)
The Odemis Archeological
Museum is about 60 km
east of Izmir and
displays regional
artifacts. (Closed on
weekends).
The Tire Archaeological
Museum is about 50 km
east of Izmir. (Closed
on weekends)
HISTORICAL SITES AND
MONUMENTS
The excavations at
Bayrakli have unearthed
a temple dedicated to
Athena and the wall of
the Ionian city which
flourished there between
the seventh and fifth
centuries B.C. Pottery
dating back to the third
millennium B.C. has also
been uncovered.
On Kadifekale (Mt. Pagos)
stands the impressive
ruins of a castle and
its walls which were
built by Lysimachus in
the reign of Alexander
the Great, and which
still dominate Izmir
today. The castle offers
an excellent vantage
point to enjoy a
magnificent view of the
Gulf of Izmir.
The Agora, or
marketplace, in the
Namazgah Quarter was
originally constructed
during the rule of
Alexander the Great.
What remains today,
however, dates from the
rebuilding under Marcus
Aurelius after a
devastating earthquake
in 178 A.D.
The Sirinyer and
Yesildere Aqueducts, two
examples of Roman
engineering spanning the
Meles River, supplied
Izmir's water throughout
the Byzantine and
Ottoman eras.
The Saint Polycarp
Church is the oldest
church in Izmir and
symbolizes the Seven
Churches of the
Apocalypse. Saint
Polycarp was martyred at
age 86 in A.D. 155 at
Kadifkale by the Romans.
According to tradition,
when they tried to burn
him at the stake the
flames wouldn't touch
him so they finally
stabbed him to death.
The church was
reconstructed in 1620.
The Kizlaragasi Han
(inn), a fine example of
18th-century Ottoman
architecture of the
period, is being
restored to its former
glory.
The symbol of Izmir, the
Saat Kulesi, or Clock
Tower, stands in the
heart of the city at
Konak Square. It was a
gift from Sultan
Abdulhamid, and was
built in 1901 in an
elaborately decorated
late Ottoman style.
MOSQUES
Hisar Mosque is the
largest and oldest in
Izmir. Built in the 16th
century, and restored in
the 19th century, it has
a delightful interior
with an interesting
mimber (pulpit) and
mihrab (niche showing
the directi
on to Mecca).
Other mosques in Izmir
are Salepcioglu
(20th-century), Sadirvan
(17th-century with
19th-century
restorations) and
Kemeralti
(17th-century).
All these are situated
close to the Kemeralti
Quarter.
PARKS
Kulturpark, the main
park of the city, offers
a variety of activities.
It is the site for the
International Izmir Fair
and contains an
amusement park, zoo,
restaurant and quiet
gardens.
Olof Palme Park,
situated in Karsiyaka,
is a relaxing place to
stop. It also has sports
facilities. Karsiyaka is
ancient Cordelia.
Next door, the Adnan
Saygun Park, a center
for artistic activities,
contains an amphitheatre
for concerts and
theatrical productions,
as well as the Open-Air
Museum Park, which has
statues scattered
throughout the grounds,
Insan Haklari (Human
Rights) Park has lovely
modern statues,
including the huge
Flying Dolphins
Monument.
Muammer Aksoy Park is a
lovely seaside park with
a nice view of Izmir
Bay. Turgut Ozal
Recreation Park, located
in Bayrakli, offers a
number of recreational
and sports activities
ART, CULTURE AND
ENTERTAINMENT
For many years Izmir has
enjoyed a reputation as
a cosmopolitan city of
culture. The Izmir
Cultural Center hosts
opera and ballet
performances as well as
musical concerts. The
city is home to the
Aegean Philharmonic
Orchestra and boasts a
thriving theatrical
community. During the
annual Izmir
International Festival,
international and local
artists perform at
various venues in the
city and surrounding
area, including the
theatre at Ephesus. Take
a horse- drawn carriage
along the promenade
during the day and
afterwards spend the
evening in the lively
atmosphere of the bars
and cafes around
Kordonboyu, Passport
Pier and Karsiyaka.
SHOPPING
In the streets of the
Kemeralti Market area,
it is possible to find
fascinating antiques,
both fine and fun
jewelry, a great variety
of clothing, and the
dried figs and raisins
for which Izmir is
famous. The fish
restaurants in this
colorful area serve up
the local specialities
of tranca and cipura,
two types of sea bream.
The best modern and most
elegant shops are on the
Kordon Promenades in
Alsancak and Karsiyaka
and on Cumhuriyet Avenue
and in Passport.
Around Izmir
Balcova, on the
road to Cesme, is one of
Turkey's largest thermal
spas, with excellent
facilities for guests.
Camalti, 15 km
west of Karsiyaka, is an
area of coastal marshes
and salt fields that is
preserved as an
important bird sanctuary
the - Izmir Bird
Paradise. Enthusiasts
can spot many species,
including flamingoes and
pelicans.
The Yamanlar Camligi,
a pine forest near the
lovely Lake Karagol 40
km northeast of
Karsiyaka, is a popular
picnic spot that also
has restaurants and a
swimming pool.
A Hittite bas-relief is
carved into the rock at
Kemalpasa (20 km from
Izmir) in the Karabel
Pass.
Belkahve, the
highest point above
Izmir, overlooks the
Gulf of Izmir and is a
relaxing spot to enjoy a
cup of Turkish coffee.
Formerly a favorite
haunt of Ataturk's, it
is now the site of the
largest statue in his
honor. In the village of
Birgi is the Cakir Aga
Mansion, a fine example
of traditional Turkish
architecture.
The cities of the Seven
Churches of the
Apocalypse, mentioned by
St. John in the Book of
Revelati
on, are all
found in Turkey: Efes
(Ephesus), Izmir
(Smyrna), Bergama (Pergamum),
Akhisar (Thyatira), Sart
(Sardis), Alasehir
(Philadelphia), and
Eskihisar (Laodicea).
Tours of one to four
days can be arranged to
see several or all of
the churches.
The Cesme Peninsula,
lapped by the waters of
the Aegean Sea, lies
west of Izmir. The name
"Cesme" meaning
fountain, refers to the
many springs found in
the area during the 18th
and 19th centuries. It
is one of Turkey's most
beautiful coastal
stretches surrounded by
clear blue sea, with a
landscape of aniseed,
sesame and artichoke
fields dotted with fig
and gum trees. In the
unspoiled bays you can
swim in absolute peace.
Visitors will find
excellent holiday
accommodation,
restaurants, and sports
and entertainment
facilities. A
14th-century Genoese
fortress, restored and
enlarged by the Ottomans
in the 16th century,
dominates the small port
of Cesme 80 km from
Izmir. Today the
town is
a popular holiday resort
with excellent
accommodation and
restaurants. The
16th-century
caravanserai near the
fortress, built by Suleyman the
Magnificent, has been
converted into a hotel,
while the 19th-century
Church of Hagios
Haralambos has been
restored as the Emir
Caka Art Gallery.
Thermal baths offer a
health-oriented escape
from modern life.
Excellent shopping for
the finest quality
carpets, leather goods,
as well as souvenir
items is also possible.
At night, a lively, fun
atmosphere pervades the
town, especially in the
restaurants, cafes, bars
and discos along the
promenade. Cesme hosts
an annual International
Song Contest in the
summer. Yachts can be
hired to explore the
peninsula's splendid
coastline. Also, ferries
make the run from "Cesme"
to Venice on a weekly
basis.
The very popular holiday
center of Ilica boasts
an excellent white sandy
beach and the
outstanding facilities
of the Altin Yunus
Marina and Holiday
Complex. The bay here is
ideal for water sports,
especially win
dsurfing
and sailing. The thermal
baths around Ilica are
very popular, the best
being located on Sifne
Bay. Pasa Limani (Pasha
Harbor) also has a
campsite which offers
comfortable facilities.
In Ilica Bay, the
colorful International
Cakabey Optimist Yacht
Race is held every year
in July.
Ildiri, a quiet seaside
village 20 km northeast
of "Cesme" was ancient
Erythrai. Those who
climb up to the
Acropolis at dusk are
rewarded with a
beautiful sunset over
the bay and islands.
Nearby Gerence Gulf is a
pristine inlet northeast
of the Cesme Peninsula
which can be reached by
yacht or car. The
natural surroundings are
relaxing while the bay
is ideal for water
sports. In Dalyan, a
fishing village built on
a sheltered deep water
inlet just north of "Cesme"
some of the region's
best fish restaurants
border the quay of the
lively marina.
Tourists are attracted
by the variety of
accommodations at
Ciftlik and by a long,
sandy beach (Pirlanta
Plaj), just outside the
town to the southwest.
Tursite camping
facilities are available
to the south, and nearby
is one of the area's
best beaches, the
Altinkum Plaj (Golden
Sand Beach).
Windmills, some of which
have been converted into
attractive restaurants,
dot the hill above
Alacati, a delightful
and typical Aegean town.
Alacati lies to the
south inland from Ilica
and the coast. A couple
kilometers to the south
is a good beach. Many
lovely bays along the
coast southeast of the
town are accessible only
by yacht, ensuring
peaceful and relaxing
anchorage in this
popular sailing region.
Known in ancient times
as Clazomenae, Urla
Iskelesi offers a marina
as well as plentiful
accommodation in all
price ranges.
Restaurants on the top
of Guvendik hill afford
a marvelous view of the
bay and its islands.
The prosperous little
fishing village of
Cesmealti is notable for
its simple yet excellent
fish restaurants.
As you drive along the
panoramic coastal road
of Karaburun Peninsula
you pass several
peaceful bays and quaint
fishing villages:
Balikliova, Mordogan and
Karaburun among others.
At Karaburun, pleasant
hotels, tea gardens and
fish restaurants sit
between the beautiful
mountain backdrop and
the clear, clean water.
From Manastir Mountain,
you can enjoy an
unforgettable view of
the Karaburun coast, the
Foca coastline opposite,
and the entrance to the
Gulf of Izmir. On the
southern side of the
Cesme Peninsula, near
the town of Seferihisar,
is the small picturesque
marina of Sigacik. This
important yachting
center is surrounded by
fortifications dating
from the Genoese period
and is a good point from
which to visit the
Temple of Dionysus at
the ancient site of Teos
as well as lovely Akkum
beach.
South of Akkum, the New
Neptune Holiday Village
has windsurfing and
diving schools and it is
the best area for these
sports. Also in the
Torbali area, between
the villages of Ozbeykoy
and Yenikoy lie the
ruins of an ancient
metropolis.
Gumuldur has excellent
tourist facilities
beautiful beaches,
restaurants and hotels.
Near Ahmetbeyli (Claros)
to the east, stands the
Apollo Temple and the
remains of the colossal
statue of Apollo. Here
you can also enjoy a
good fish dinner or a
swim at the town's wide
beach. A winding
panoramic coastal road
leads from Ahmetbeyli
south to Pamucak beach.
The ancient Phocaea,
Foca, once formed part
of the Ionian
Federation. Today it is
a modem lively holiday
town on two deep bays.
The pleasant
accommodations, clean
beaches and inviting
restaurants make it an
attractive holiday spot.
Those seeking the
perfect tan can find it
on the natural rock
terraces of the Siren
Islands.
Dikili, frequented by
cruise liners bringing
visitors to Pergamon, is
Bergama's harbor town
set in a relaxing
atmosphere with many
pleasant restaurants
lining the Kordon
Promenade. Stop at the
little port of Candarli,
the ancient Pitane, to
see the Genoese fortress
there, one of the best
preserved in Turkey.
Ayvalik is a charming
port, situated amid
beautiful pine woods.
Nearby, the Seytan
Sofrasi (Devil's Table)
offers a splendid
panorama of the
archipelago along the
Gulf of Ayvalik and the
little island of Alibey
(Cunda), where there are
pleasant seafood
restaurants. Sarimsakli
Beach is one of the most
beautiful beaches in the
area.
The Gulf of Edremit,
also known as the Olive
Riveria, has a number of
charming seaside
resorts: Kucukkuyu,
Altinoluk, Akcay (a
thermal center with
numerous springs),
Edremit, and Oren. All
have beautiful beaches,
together ringing the
Gulf of Edremit and
offering visitors a wide
choice of hotels and
guest houses with views
of the sea. Here also is
situated the beautiful
Kaz Dagi National Park,
with magnificent
landscapes, restful
green areas and several
hot springs. According
to mythology it was in
this area that the
world's first beauty
contest was held. Under
the shadow of Kaz Dagi
(Mt. Ida, 1774 meters)
in Pinarbasi, west of
Akcay, Paris gave the
golden apple to
Aphrodite in the famous
"Judgement of Paris."
Izmir, the Pearl of
the Aegean
"Beautiful Izmir" where
Homer of Anatolia, the
famous epic author, was
born is an important
center for tourism, art,
culture, trade and
industry. The city of
Izmir, known for its
cheerful, smiling and
hospitable people, is a
large and important port
in Turkey. The delicious
and fresh produce of the
fertile Aegean plains
are exported to the
world from here.
The first settlement
center of Izmir was at
Bayrakli in 3000 B.C.
and Izmir came under the
influence of the Hittite
State after 1500 B.C. In
the fourth century B.C.,
Alexander the Great had
the citadel constructed,
which can be seen at
Kadifekale today, and
rebuilt the city at the
foot of Kadifekale. The
city gained importance
during the Roman Period
and after the Byzantine
Period Ottoman
sovereignty started.
Izmir, which was saved
from enemy occupation on
9 September 1922 in the
War of Independence,
became Turkey's third
largest city in a short
period of time.
Archaeological
excavations still
continue in the old town
of Izmir at Bayrakli,
where Homer lived. The
Bayrakli findings are
exhibited at Izmir
Archaeological Museum.
The ruins of the agora
and aqueducts at
Kizilcullu are works
remaining from the Roman
Period in the city. The
clock tower at Konak
Square, which is the
center of the city, is
the symbol of the city.
The tower was built in
1901 by order of Sultan
Abdulhamid, for his 25th
anniversary of ascending
the throne. The clock of
the tower was a gift
from the German Emperor,
Wilhelm II. The tower is
25 meters high, over a
base with three marble
steps. The largest
Ataturk statue in Turkey
is at Belkahve, where
Ataturk entered Izmir.
The old Izmir houses
that were restored in a
section of the Alsancak
District, called Punta,
take one into the past
of the city. The
Kizlaragasi Hani, the
most beautiful restored
inn
in the city, was
constructed in the
eighteenth century. The
monumental portal of the
inn, which has more than
one thousand rooms on
four sides, is on the
western facade. The Kemeralti and
Kestanepazari Mosques,
constructed in the
seventeenth century, and
the Basbudak, Corakkapi,
Hatuniye and Konak
Mosques built in the
eighteenth century are
small and charming
mosques located near
Kemeralti. The Kemeralti
Bazaar is the most
interesting and active
market place worth
seeing in Izmir. Almost
everything is sold at
this bazaar which is
spread over a large
area. There are old syna-
gogues at Havra Street
of the bazaar.
The Kulturpark, at the
center of the city, is
the place where the
annual International
Izmir Fair is held and
attracts great interest.
The city is also known
for the "International
Izmir Festival" which is
among the most
influential festivals in
Turkey. The activities
during the festival, in
which famous artists
participate, are
followed with interest.
The Cesme Peninsula,
located to the west of
Izmir, is a large
peninsula. There are
mountains, forests,
numerous beaches,
settlement centers,
holiday towns and
ancient cities in the
environs. Urla Wharf and
Cesmealti are famous for
their beautiful beaches
and islands. Balikliova
attracts visitors with
its fresh fish, and
Mordogan and Karaburun
with their virgin,
untouched shores and
nature, where narcissus
and hyacinth are grown
in the mountains in the
wintertime.
Cesme, connected to
Izmir by a highway, is
among the most developed
holiday towns in Turkey.
There is a large harbor
for ferry boats at Cesme,
which adopted this name
because of the large
number of fountains
built there during the
Ottoman Period. Ferry
boat trips are organized
from this harbor to
Greece and Italy. The
splendid Cesme Citadel
was constructed by the
Ottomans in the
sixteenth century. The
restored citadel is
visited as a museum
today. The Kanuni Sultan
Suleyman Caravanserai,
which was also restored
and transformed into a
hotel, dates back to the
sixteenth century. There
are ideal racing courses
and coves for yachts to
overnight in Cesme,
where yachting is also
rather developed, with
the Altin Yunus (Golden
Dolphin) Marina in the
lead. An International
Song Contest is
organized every year at
Cesme, famous as the
town of festivals and
night life.
Ilica is a developed
thermal spring center
close to Cesme. By the
long, sandy beaches
extending at Ilica, the
hot mineral water
sources are under the
sea, which is not seen
anywhere else in the
world. There are more
than 250 thermal water
sources found in Ilica
Cove alone.
There are beautiful
coves around Sigacik, an
important yachting
center to the south of
the Cesme Peninsula. In
the neighborhood of
Sigacik there is the
ancient city of Teos
which was the religious
belief center of
Dionysus, the god of
wine. Southeast of
Sigacik, Gumuldur, which
is known for its beaches
and ancient city of
Claros with its Temple
of Apollo, are points of
interest for the
tourists.
Foca (Phocaea),
the holiday town to the
north of Izmir, was an
important trade center
of the ancient world.
The Phocaeans, who were
also sailors,
established trade
colonies in various
parts of the Mediterrane-
an. As a matter of fact,
famous cities on the
French Riviera such as
Marseilles, Nice, and
Cannes were founded by
the Phocaeans. The song
"Marseille" was an old
Phocaean folk song taken
to France by the
Phocaeans, which later
became the national
anthem of the French (La
Marseillaise). There are
beautiful coves and
islands in the vicinity
of Foca. The Siren rocks
at the entrance to the
Foca harbor are ideal
places for sunbathing
and diving. Candarli and
Dikili are located to
the north of Foca.
Candarli is worth seeing
with its beaches,
citadel and ancient city
of Pitane. Dikili is an
important harbor in the
northern Aegean and is
known for its beaches.
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