IZMIR
Izmir is located in the west of Turkey along the Aegean Sea. It is the third largest city in Turkey after Istanbul and Ankara with 3.1 million inhabitants. It is a city known for its student population in Turkey giving off a feeling of youth and vitality. The city offers a mix of cultural, historical and archaeological sites. A proudly liberal and deeply cultured city, it has been an important Aegean port since ancient times, when it was the Greek city of Smyrna, and its kordon (promenade) by the sea is as charming and lively as any in the world. It is a great place to visit if you want to immerse yourself in Turkish culture and enjoy the unique local cuisine. You can complete your visit to Izmir with the beautiful surrounding beaches such as Kuşadası, Çesme, or Marmarıs. It is the perfect and suitable place for International Education Camp / summer camp as the local lifestyle is as relaxed as it is welcoming.
History
Izmir is the ancient city of Smyrna, founded by settlers from Greece in the early 1st millennium BC. During the following millennium, it gained in importance as it came under the successive domination of Lydia, then Greece, and finally Rome. By the 2nd century, it was one of the three most important cities in the Roman province of Asia, along with Ephesus and Pergamon. During the Byzantine period, however, it lost influence to Byzantium (ancient Constantinople and modern Istanbul) to the north. It experienced a revival after its conquest by the Ottomans in 1415 and soon became the most sophisticated and prosperous trading city in Turkey.
After the fall of the Ottoman Empire in the aftermath of the First World War, the Greeks seized the city, only to be driven out after fierce fighting.
The result of the fighting and the ensuing fire was the destruction of most of the old city and tens of thousands of victims. On day of Atatürk’s recapture of Smyrna
(9 September 1922) marked a turning point in the decisive turning point in the Turkish War of Independence. Independence.
Iconic places
Kemeralti Market
This labyrinthine bazaar, which dates back to the 17th century and stretches from Konak Square to the ancient agora, is home to shops, restaurants, craft workshops, mosques, cafes, tea gardens and synagogues. Discovering the crowded and colourful streets, historic places of worship, hidden courtyards and caravanserais, is a dive into the authentic izmir.
The main artery of the market is Anafartalar Caddesi. Together with the historic Hisar and the Sadirvan and Kestanepazari mosques, it serves as a landmark. Everyone, including the locals, gets lost in the bazaar, which allows you to stumble upon unexpected treasures and adds to the charm of the place. Look for the Kizlaragasi Han (Cevahir Bedesteni; near 895 Sokak, KemeraltI Market, Konak) an Ottoman bedesten (warehouse) and kervansaray (caravanserai) built in 1744, similar to the Iç (interior) Bedesten of Istanbul’s famous Grand Bazaar.
Kordon
izmir cannot be separated from this iconic waterfront promenade, which stretches north from Cumhuriyet Meydani to Alsancak, and south from Konak Pier to Konak Meydani. A triumph of urban renewal, these two lanes feature lawns, bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways, and are dotted with bars, cafés and restaurants to the east. Crowds flock here at the end of the day to meet friends, relax on the lawns and watch the sun set.
A few museums and sights line the kordon, including the Zübeyde Hanim Museum Ship (Zübeyde Hanim Müze Gemisi; Pasaport Pier, Konak), the Arkas Art Centre and the Atatürk Museum.
Konak Meydan
In a pedestrian area of Cumhuriyet Bulvari, this large square,
named after the Ottoman government palace (Hkümet Konağı; 1872) to the east, is the heart of the city. Here we find the Konak Clock Tower (Konak Saat Kulesi) from the late Ottoman period, designed by the French architect Raymond Charles Péré in 1901 for the 25th anniversary of the coronation of Sultan Abdulhamit II. Next to it stands the pretty Yali Camii (Shore Mosque; Konak Meydani; 1755) covered with Kütahya tiles.
To the north, jutting out into the sea, the Konak pier (Konak iskelesi), designed by Gustave Eiffel, dates from 1890. A shopping centre was recently built here.
Izmir Museum of Art and History
Unfairly ignored by visitors, this museum is divided into three pavilions. Its collection of ancient objects is one of the richest in the country, and its sculpture pavilion, filled with masterpieces from Smyrna, Teos, Millet and Pergamon, is memorable. In the Precious Objects and Ceramics Pavilions, jewelry, coins and crockery are displayed in a slightly old-fashioned way, but with explanations in English. Among the highlights is the numismatic collection in the Precious Objects Pavilion, which contains coins minted in Sardis during the reign of King Croesus. The coins date from the early 7th century BC and are made of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver. The jewels on display here are no less sumptuous.
The sculpture pavilion contains so many treasures that it is difficult to name just a few. Don’t miss the friezes from the temple of Dionysus at Teos and those from the theater (dazzling) and other buildings in Miletus. Upstairs, you can admire remarkable fragments of sculptures found in the mausoleum of Belevi, near Ephesus, dating back to the 3rd century BC.
On the ground floor, note the statue of Kaistros, god of the River, coming from from Ephesus and dating from the Roman period (2nd century), or the Hellenistic stele with three incredibly realistic silhouettes of Tralles realistic silhouettes from Tralles (Aydin) and the high relief of of Poseidon and Demeter from the from the agora of izmir.
Izmir Mask Museum
Occupying an old mansion on a street lined with bars, this small museum on three levels displays an interesting collection of decorative and ceremonial masks from around the world, as well as the death masks of great historical figures, including Atatürk, his successor, President Ismet Inönü, and the poet Nazim Hikmet.
Culinary specialities
Boyo: A fried pastry made from flour, sunflower oil and a little tahini; traditionally eaten with hard-boiled eggs and a glass of sübye (a drink made from melon seeds and sweetened water).
Gevrek: A local version of simit (a ring of bread soaked in water and molasses and sprinkled with sesame seeds), with less sesame and salt.
Kumru Sandwich: Made with soft bread, mature Kars kaşar cheese, Urfa sausage and a local tomato puree; its name, which means “Turkish turtle from the shape of the sandwich. Beware, the version with cottage cheese, fresh tomatoes and green pepper sold by some street stalls is not authentic.
Şambali: A cake made with almond semolina, yogurt and sugar. After baking, it is drizzled with syrup and covered with kaymak (double cream). Söğüs Poached tongue, cheek and brains of lamb or mutton, served cold in bread with onions, parsley, mint, tomatoes, cumin and chilli powder.