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Izmir - Culture |
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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. The third Largest city in
Turkey, Izmir's port is second only to Istanbul's. A cosmopolitan and
lived city all year round, during the international Arts Festival
(June/July) and the International Fair (August/Sept), Izmir bursts with an
added vibrancy. Archaeological
Museum Ethnographical Museum Ataturk Museum Once a great center of
culture, Pergamon survives as one of Turkey's finest ar archeological
sites. It is located 89 km north of Izmir, near the modern city of Bergama.
In the Acropolis, on a hill above the modern town, are the remains of the
celebrated library, a steep and impressive theater, the Temple of Trajan
and the Temple of Dionysus, the monumental altar of Zeus, the Sanctuary of
Demter, a gymnasium laid out on three terraces and the Agora. Also visit
the Archeological Museum. The House of the Virgin Mary The
excavations at Bayrakli have unearthed a temple dedicated to Athena and
the wall of the Ionian city, which flourished here between the seventh and
fifth centuries B.C. Pottery dating to the third millennium B.C. has also
been uncovered. On Kadifekale, Mt. Pagos,
stand the impressive ruins of a castle and its walls, built by Lysimachus
in the reign of Alexander the Great, which still dominate Izmir today. The
castle offers an excellent vantage point to enjoy the magnificent view
over 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 the devastating earthquake of 178
A.D. The Sirinyer and Yesildere
Aqueducts, two examples of Roman engineering which span the Meles River,
supplied Izmir's water throughout Byzantine and Ottoman eras. An 18th century Ottoman inn,
the Kizlaragasi Han, a fine example of the architecture of the period, is
being restored to its former state. The symbol of Izmir, the Saat
Kulesi, or clock tower, stands in Konak Square, in the heart of the city.
A gift from the Sultan Abdulhamid, and built in 1901, it is decorated in
an elaborate, late Ottoman style. Recently restored old houses
fill the old quarter known as Karatas. Hydraulic elevators, Asansor,
provide access between the lower and upper streets and are now being
reconstructed. The internationally renowned singer, Dario Moreno, had a
house in this district that is being restored for conversion into a
museum. If you find yourself on Havra
Sokak, notice the old buildings and synagogues.
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
neighbourhood 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 trarffic 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: Levantines of
English extraction living in Buca built this church in 1835. The church is
famous for its woodcarving, 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 Ηesme. Turn left at
Inciralti crossroads to reach Balηova thermal springs one kilometre
down the road. Known as the Agamemnon Springs in antiquity, this may have
been the first hydrotherapy centre 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 oldfashioned 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 ίornova 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 centre by a 7 km
railway line. BUCA: Once Izmir's summer
resorts, 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 Ï:zmir is famous for its modern hotels,
sparkling clean sea and wonderful sandy beaches. CIPURA: Izmir's Iegendary
fish. Found widely in both the Mediterranean and Aegean, this delicious
fish with a dark blue back and silvery sides is now extensively farmed. Go
into any of Izmir's many seafood restaurants and order grilled Cipura,
accompanied by a salad of diverse local herbs and pure olive oil. What
could be more sublime! DOKUZ
EYLUL: 9 September
l922... The day when Izmir was liberated from three years of Greek
occupation following the Great Attack launched by the Turkish army on 26
August. One of the major events in the Turkish War of Independence, this
date is th e name of one of the city's universities. 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 centre of
the eastern world. The remains of the city are still spellbinding tod ay.
The magnificent temples, public buildings, villas and streets in Ephsus
have been excavated and restored by the Austrian Archaeological Institute,
and it requires little effort to imagine the cily as it was in its heyday.
FOCA: A picturesque fishing
town 50 km north of Izmir. A magnet for holliday makers during summer
today, Foca was an important Ionian town in antiquity. The Phokaians were
famed for their commercial prowess, courage and seamanship. They
establishe d trading cololnies 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. Yakup Bey built the mosque in 1592. It is roofed by a large dome
resting on eight piers, and noted for the decoration on the altar ni che
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 agencie s in
Izmir organise day tours to the House of the Virgin Mary and Ephesus. IMBAT : The sea breeze which
brings relief to Izmir's inhabitants in the blazing heat of high summer. 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. IZMIR
KOFTE: 'Izmir's
best-known local dish, now popular almost everywhere in Turkey. But to
enjoy it at its finest you must eat it at the house of an Izmir family or
in an old fashioned backstreet restaurant in the city. Finely minced meat
is kne aded with Onion juice, salt, pepper and fresh breadcrumbs. Shaped
into balls or fingers this mixture is fried, and placed on a bed of fried
green peppers, tomatoes and potatoes in a shallow pan. Serve hot. KADIFEKALE: Velvet Castle, to
be literal. This 4th century BC castle commands a bird's eye view of Izmir
and is the perfect place to watch the sun set over the city. KARS
IYAKA: 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 jewellers, drapers, shoemaker, and shops specialising 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. Izmir's esplanade is the
subject of a popular old song:"My lover seemed to say/Let us meet
on the Kordon one day/Perhaps at ten o'clock". LOKMA: Lokma is Izmir's
celebrated sweet pastry. Tiny balls of yeast dough are fried in hot oil
and steeped in 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
water pipes 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 though t
to have been invented here. On the hill, which rises steeply in the centre
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 heath centres 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 harbour 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
centur y 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 oriinally a settlement of the Aeolians, who were
conteporaries of the first Trojans, and dates back to the third miilenium
BC. The Ionians subsequently occupied the c ity, 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 n 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 fis
restaurants. WILD
HERBS: Dishes made with
fresh herbs have a special place in the Aegean cuisine. When spring comes
local markets are filled with green vegetables, many of them local wild
varieties gathered from meadows and mountains, such as radika, turpotu,
hardalotu, and cibes (the first shoots of cauliflower) and many more. The
leaves are washed, blanched and served with a ressing of lemon juice and
olive oil. |
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Hisar
Mosque is the largest and oldest in Izmir. Build in the 16th century, with
restorations in the 19th century, it has a delightful interior with an
interesting mimber (pulpit) and mihrab(altar). 
syrup as you wait. Queues olf customers gather at the stalls where the
best lokma is made. 
