Izmir Highlight and General Info
A brief information about Izmir, tourist attractions, museums,
historical sites, old churches, sightseeing places and more...
General Info
Izmir is a metropolitan city in the western extremity of Turkey and the
third most populous city in Turkey, after Istanbul and Izmir.
Once the ancient city of Smyrna, İzmir is now a modern, developed, and busy
commercial center, set around a huge bay and surrounded by mountains. The
broad boulevards, glass-fronted buildings and modern shopping centers are
dotted with traditional red-tiled roofs, the 18th century market, and old
mosques and churches, although the city has an atmosphere more of
Mediterranean Europe than traditional Turkey.
İzmir owes its position as an economically and socially dynamic city to its
location, climate and the fact that it has been a home to many different
cultures and religions. Persians, Ancient Greeks, Assyrians, Romans,
Byzantines and Ottomans are just a few of the dozens of different
civilizations that the city has hosted throughout its long history.
Lying on an advantageous location at the head of a gulf running down in a
deep indentation, midway on the western Anatolian coast, it has been one of
the principal mercantile cities of the Mediterranean Sea for much of its
history. Izmir hosted the Mediterranean Games in 1971 and the World
University Games in 2005.
In classical antiquity the city was known as Smyrna. Izmir has almost 4,000
years of recorded urban history and possibly even longer as an advanced
human settlement. Set in an advantageous location at the head of a gulf in
a deep indentation midway along the western Anatolian coast, the city has
been one of the principal mercantile cities of the Mediterranean Sea for
much of its history. Its port is Turkey's primary port for exports in terms
of the freight handled and its free zone, a Turkish-U.S. joint-venture
established in 1990, is the leader among the twenty in Turkey.
Izmir Map
Highlights of Izmir
The prominent information, districts and other attractions in and around
Izmir are listed below in alphabetical order:
AGORA: Revealed in central Izmir during excavations carried out in
1932-1941 in the district of Namazgah. eovering an area of 120 x 80 m, the
agora throws invaluable light on Roman period Izmir. it was not only a
market place, but the location of public institutions and the Temple of
Zeus. The agora is open to the public between 9.00 -12.00 and 13.00 -18.00.
The statues found here are on exhibit in Izmir Archaeological Museum.
ALSANCAK: A select neighborhood with a unique character in modern Izmir.
Stretching from the waterfront esplanade inland most of the area has been
transformed into a pedestrian precinct, so there is no traffic to disturb
shoppers and strollers. The streets lined by modern buildings and
attractive shops lead onto the square where Alsancak station stands. Dating
from 1858 the colonial architecture of the station distinguishes it in
style from the rest of the city. Trains to Buca, Aydin and Denizli depart
from here.
ANGLICAN CHURCH : This church was built in 1835 by Levantines of English
extraction living in Buca. The church is famous for its wood carving,
beautiful stained glass windows and huge organ.
ASANSOR: The city's famous public elevator, and a symbol of Izmir. This
elevator links Mithatpasa street below with Halil Rifat Pasa street at the
summit of the precipitous hill. It was built in 1907 and restored by the
municipality in 1993. The upper terrace has a breathtaking view over the
city and the bay. Here there is an Open-air cafe, a restaurant and a
Genoese tavern.
BALCOVA: This spa is on the outskirts of Izmir on the road to Urla and
Çesme. Turn left at Inciralti crossroads to reach Balçova thermal springs
one kilometer down the road. Known as the Agamemnon Springs in antiquity,
this may have been the first hydrotherapy center of the ancient world.
Today there are modern facilities for visitors to the hot springs and
luxury hotels. The temperature of the water is 63 degrees C.
BARLAR SOKAGI: Street of Bars. Some of the attractive old houses under
conservation order in Alsancak now house bars and restaurants.
BASMANE: In this district are Izmir's old fashioned shopping streets, the
park where the famous Izmir Fair is held each summer, and Basmane station.
The trains to Manisa, and suburban rail buses to ßornova and other
destinations leave from this station.
BORNOVA: A suburb of Izmir, Bornova was the hub of the Levantine community
in the late l9th and 20th centuries. Today it houses the campus of Ege
University. The Izmir-Manisa road passes through Bornova, which is linked
to the city center by a 7 km railway line.
BUCA: Once Izmir's summer resort, Buca is today part of the city. With a
population of 200000 in 1990, Buca is today a commercial and university
district. The British Levantine merchants who ran businesses in Izmir from
the late l8th century onward s built imposing mansions here. Not until the
1950s did Buca undergo radical change as various institutions moved into
the mansions, whose extensive gardens are under conservation.
CLIMATE: Typical Mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and warm wet
winters. The average temperature is 18 degrees C. Snowfall is extremely
rare, and approximately 148 days of the year are clear and sunny
.
CLOCK TOWER: Another symbol of the city, this picturesque clock tower in
Konak Meydan was built in 1901 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of
Abduhamit II's accession to the throne. The clock itself was a gift of
Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany. The 25 m high tower is currently being
restored.
CESME: This popular and attractive resort west of Izmir is famous for its
modern hotels, sparkling clean sea and wonderful sandy beaches.
EPHESUS: An ancient city three km from the town of Selcuk south of Izmir.
During both the Hellenistic and Roman periods Ephesus was the most
important port and cultural center of the eastern world. The remains of the
city are still spellbinding today. The magnificent temples, public
buildings, villas and streets of Ephesus have been excavated and restored
by the Austrian Archaeological Institute, and it requires little effort to
imagine the city as it was in its heyday.
FOCA: A picturesque fishing town 50 km north of Izmir. A magnet for holiday
makers during summer today, Foca was an important Ionian town in antiquity.
The Phokaians were famed for their commercial prowess, courage and
seamanship. They established trading colonies at distant ports, and were
the founders of the French port of Marseilles (the ancient Massalia).
HISAR MOSQUE: The city's most magnificent mosque in the district of Hisar
next to Kemeralti office complex. The mosque was built by Yakup Bey in
1592. It is roofed by a large dome resting on eight piers, and noted for
the decoration on the altar niche and pulpit.
HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY: This holy Christian shrine on Mt.Bulbul between
Selcuk and Ephesus was sanctified by Pope Paul VI in 1967, after the
Vatican confirmed that the Virgin Mary had spent the last years of her life
here. Numerous travel agencies in Izmir organize day tours to the House of
the Virgin Mary and Ephesus.
IZMIR FAIR: Since I932 this international trade fair has been the highlight
of the summer season in Izmir. From late August to early September the fair
doubles as a popular festival of music and stage events in the Culture
Park.
KADIFEKALE: Velvet Castle, to be literal. This 4th century BC castle
commands a bird's eye view of Izmir and is th perfect place to watch the
sun set over the city.
KARSIYAKA: The name of this district of Izmir on the north shore off Izmir
Bay means "opposite shore", as indeed it is. The inhabitants of this
pleasant residential area with its Own esplanade claim an identity distinct
from the rest of the city. In their view, Karsiyaka is a town in its own
right with an individual culture and history.
KEMERALTI: The old fashioned shopping district of Izmir, consisting of
narrow streets winding their way from Konak towards central Izmir around
Anafartalar Caddesi. Here you can find jewelers, drapers, shoemaker, and
shops specializing in all kind s of goods from leather to olives and
cheese. The atmosphere of an earlier century still pervades the buildings
here, with their distinctive 19th century doorways and roof tiles.
KORDON: The famous esplanade between Konak Meydan and Alsancak is packed
with promenades on weekends and fine evenings. As families and young lovers
hand in hand stroll along the waterfront, horse-drawn phaetons with
colourful ponpons swinging from the harnesses es trot past, and cars cruise
by.
PASAPORT: (Not a printing error, but the Turkish for "passport). The name
for the dock and pier between Konak and Cumhuriyet Meydan. Pasasaport Dock
was built in 1876. The dock building is in the Turkish revival style
inspired by Ottoman and Selcuk architecture which was popular in the 1920s
and 1930s. Until not so long ago the area was full of old fashioned coffee
houses which served waterpipes as well as tea and coffee, but today pubs
have supplanted most of them.
PERGAMUM: The remains of this magnificent ancient city are situated north
of Imir. Founded in the early 3rd century BC, Pergamum was the most
powerful and extensive kingdom of Western Anatolia throughout the
Hellenistic period. Parchment is thought to have been invented here. On the
hill which rises steeply in the center of Pergamum is the Acropolis and the
world's steepest amphitheatre with seating for 16,000 people. The remains
of temples Of Athena and Dionysus. The splendid altar of Zeus at the
entrance of the Acropolis was taken to Berlin Museum by Carl Humann in
1871. A fligth of 20 steps leads up to this remarkable structure, which
dwarfs the room at Berlin Museum, as it awaits expectantly the day when it
will be released from confinement and return to its hilltop site in
Pergamum. The ruins of the Asclepion on the plain below reveal almost all
the original features as a result of the excavations. Named after the god
of medicine Asclepios, this complex was one of the foremost health centers
of the ancient world.
SELCUK: A town in the foothills of the Aydin mountains 94 km south of
Izmir. SeIcuk is the site of Ephesus Museum, a magnificent castle and the
6th century Basilica of St.John. The road to the resorts of Marmaris and
Bodrum passes through Selcuk, w hile Kusadasi, port of call for many yachts
and cruise liners, is just a twenty minute drive to the north.
SMYRNA: The ancient name for Izmir and the heroic Amazon who founded the
city according to Herodotus and Strabon.
TEOS: The ruins of Teos are set amidst olive groves at one end of Sigacik
harbor near Seferihisar, famous for its beaches and thermal springs. Thales
relates that Teos was selected as capital of the league of twelve Ionian
cities in the 7th century BC. The largest temple of Dionysus ever built in
Teos.
TEPEKULE: Excavations at Tepekule in the district of Bayrakli have thrown
light on Izmir's early history. Izmir was originally a settlement of the
Aeolians, who were contemporaries of the first Trojans, and dates back to
the third milenium BC. The c ity was subsequently occupied by the Ionians,
and the Lydian King Alyattes conquered the region in 600 BC, razing Izmir's
temples and houses. Today the ruins of the Temple of Athena and houses can
be seen at Tepekule.
URLA: Urla is a resort 42 km from Izmir on the road to Cesme. Izmirians
spend their summers and weekends here, the site of the ancient Ionian city
of Klazomenai. This city was the birthplace of the illustrious philosopher
Anaxogoras, and is latterly also famous for a local pastry dish "katmer"
and for its meat and fish restaurants.
Izmir Tours
Click here for daily tours and excursions from Izmir
Everyday departure tours of Ephesus, Pamukkale, Pergamon, Priene,
Miletus, Dydima with pick up from Izmir hotels and cruise ships.
Daily private and groups tours from Izmir.
Izmir Hotels
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