21 Ocak 2013 Pazartesi
History
The city was under control of the Pergamon Kingdom for some time after
the death of Alexander the Great.The city once again began to thrive in 190 B.C.
while under roman rule, playing an important role for the development of
Christianity. A great cultural renaissance occurred in İzmir under the romans.
İzmir remained under roman rule until the fourth cuntury A.D., when the Roman
Empire split to two (A.D. 395). İzmir fell under Byzantine infulance and became
part of the Eastern Roman Empire, serving as one of the most important bastions
of Byzantium until the year 1320. During this period many Byzantine-style
structures were erected in İzmir. In addition, with the spread of the Christian
religion, a paralel increase in religious structure and art were also winessed.
Despite the fact that
İzmir was taken over by the (the upper half) was ruled first by Emir Çaka
Bey and later by Aydınoğlu Gazı Umur Bey of the Turkish Seljuk Empire (in
1320). In the 14th cuntury the castle and the lower part of İzmir were
conquered by the Knights of Rhodes (1344). In the 15th century, when the Otoman
sultan assumed control over Anatolia, he made İzmir a part of his empire, but
the Mongol khan, Timur, invaded the city the Otoman Empire at the time,
succeeded in retaining the city as capital of his kingdom until 1415, when
Otoman Sultan Mehmet I brought the city back
under his control. In 1422 Sultan Mehmet II made İzmir a permanent part
of the Otoman Empire.
Starting in the 16th century İzmir developed as a centre of trade of the Otoman
Empire and in the 18th and 19th centuries became an international commerce
capital under British, French, Italian and Dutch traders. After World War I
(1914-18), the Turkish goverment launched its struggle for independence. The war
for İzmir’s indepence ended on Spet. 9, 1922, and today İzmir holds a
prominent place in Turkey’s recent history.
Must See and What to buy ?
What to buy?
İzmir’s
commerce has been conducted for close to 100 years in the commercial centre of
Kemeraltı. The area hasn’t changed much over the years and stil maintains its
ancient look with shouting merchants, the sound of metalworkers, fishermen in
wet aprons and the fountain next to Sadirvan Mosque. Rope makers, jewellers,
printers, shoe-makers and ironsmiths all stil work in Kemeraltı as well. You
should definitely visit Kemeraltı when you are in İzmir in the future! İzmir’s
modern shopping facilities are loceted on the Kordon in Alsancak and on
Cumhuriyet Street in Karşıyaka. Kemeraltı’s neighbouring area, Çankaya,
has many exclusive boutiques and shops, and from there you can visit the shops
in Alsancak and Karşıyaka to shop some more. In addition, beautiful Turkish
carpets and kilims with wonderful motifs and designs are displayed in countless
shops. Beautiful examples of gold and silversmith work, leather shops and
souvenir shops can be found all over İzmir. In addition to Kemeraltı shopping
district, you can also find whatever you want in Alsancak, Konak, Çankaya
and ofcourse outside of İzmir in Çeşme, Selçuk and Bergama. If you are
interested in Middle Eastern belly dancing and want to take home a costume, İzmir
is the right place to be. İkiçeşmelik –İzmir single-handedly supplies
belly-dancing costumes from this area at a fair price.
Must-see
Kızlarağası
Han (inn), the historical Elevator, Clock Tower, Old Rıhtım and Fair
İzmir
Archaeology Museum, İzmir Atatürk Museum, the Kordon, Kemeraltı bazaar and
Havra Street
These
are the places you
should definitely visit before leaving İzmir…
Must
eat and buy
İzmir
meat balls, sea foods, Turkish hors d’oeuvre and çöp iş kebab… You
can buy from İzmir the most beautiful example of
Turkish carpet and kilim arts
and the precious Works of jewellery…
Dried figs and grapes can be found in
many shops arround İzmir; however, the tariş shop in Konak sell the best
quality at fair prices. Kemalpaşa cherries, Bergama Tulum cheese, a few bottles
of turkish Olive oil…
International Organizations and Festivals
İzmir International Fair
İzmir prides itself with its busy schedule of trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses. İzmir International Fair (IEF), the oldest member from Turkey of the International Union of Fairs is held every year in August–September at Kültürpark, which covers an area of 421,000 m² in the heart of the city with open-air theatres, the Painting and Sculpture Museum, art centers, amusement park, zoo, parachute tower, and other amenities. Aside from this main event, which acts as a central theme for many other secondary events, there are numerous others throughout the year. In 2007, for example, 35 national or international fairs and exhibitions were held in İzmir around the year and in relation to different areas of activity. These fairs have made great contributions to İzmir's social and cultural life.
EXPO 2020
İzmir is a global city that deserves to host the EXPO and is more than capable of doing so.
1. The EXPO 2020 Izmir would be the first EXPO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
2. Izmir is situated on the most western point of the East, and the
most eastern point of the West. This characteristic makes it a unique
intercultural bridge between countries.
3. İzmir is only 3 hours flight distance away from 48 countries on 3 continents.
The EXPO is an international organization that has maintained its
role as the world’s largest social event and that elevates the host city
and its country to the international scene. The Turkish Republic has
been a constant participant in the 160-year old EXPO organization. Our
country’s participation has always been greeted with great interest and
respect, but we have so far never hosted the event ourselves.
The EXPOs are organized by the BIE and are international
organizations that, despite being associated with their host cities,
need the full backing of their respective states. Izmir lodged a bid for
the 2015 EXPO and competed with Milan during the voting held on March
31, 2008 in Paris; it lost by only 21 votes. Despite its loss, Turkey’s
performance in face of the six-time candidate, four-time host Italy was
considered an important success and paved the way for the 2020 EXPO bid.
Tips and Hints
1. A large part of
beaches of the resort are municipal. Only some of them belong to hotels.
Entrance to public beach is free, and the rental of beach equipment
will cost you a small amount of money - about US$1-2.
7. Entering mosques wearing shoes is prohibited. In some cases it can be put in a bag and taken along during an excursion. Tourists may not be allowed to enter the territory of some religious objects if their outfit is too revealing or bright. The legs must be necessarily closed at least until knees, and blouses and shirts must have long sleeves. Women will also need to cover their heads with a handkerchief.
2. Fixed prices on goods can only be in large
supermarkets and department stores. Do not forget to bargain in private
shops and markets. If the price of a product seems too high and the
seller does not want to give in, you just need to say goodbye politely
and leave the store. You can be sure that you will find a similar
product at a much more attractive price in one of the nearby shops.
3. Tipping are customary literally everywhere. In
restaurants tips are usually around 10%. The same amount of money should
be given to guides and taxi drivers. Tourists who expect to attend
local baths and beauty salons should not forget that the size of tips
here is at least 20%, and you will need to divide it between all the
staff.
4. Taxis are better to be taken at special parking or
called by phone. The cost of travel is best to clarify in advance, even
though the majority of taxis are equipped with counters. During the
period from midnight to 6 am taxis usually charge the double rate.
5. Tourists should keep in mind that many hotels have strict rules. Smoking is prohibited in the territory of some hotel complexes, while other hotels forbid their visitors to bring any food to hotel rooms. All rules should be clarified upon your arrival at a hotel.
6. Henna tattoos that are very popular among tourists have become a real problem. The reason is that they leave indelible
stains on bed linen and towels. Hotels usually charge heavy fines for
them.
5. Tourists should keep in mind that many hotels have strict rules. Smoking is prohibited in the territory of some hotel complexes, while other hotels forbid their visitors to bring any food to hotel rooms. All rules should be clarified upon your arrival at a hotel.
7. Entering mosques wearing shoes is prohibited. In some cases it can be put in a bag and taken along during an excursion. Tourists may not be allowed to enter the territory of some religious objects if their outfit is too revealing or bright. The legs must be necessarily closed at least until knees, and blouses and shirts must have long sleeves. Women will also need to cover their heads with a handkerchief.
8. Many gastronomic facilities close during the holy
month of Ramadan, and others completely exclude alcoholic beverages from
their menus.
9. Power supply voltage is 220 V. Some budget hotels can
use their own power generators. In this case electricity outages are
quite possible.
Architecture, Museums & Monuments in Izmir
Agora Open Air Museum
following serious earthquake damage in the 2nd century, the Agora was completely reconstructed by the Roman emperor of the time, Marcus Aurelius. Despite its considerable age, the Agora of Smyrna remains in a very good state of repair, with many Colonnades of stone Corinthian columns still standing today and providing a clear indication of how a Roman bazaar once appeared. Surrounding this ancient landmark is the remains of a Muslim cemetery, with a number of old tombstones being dotted around the perimeter. The Agora is easy to find and can be reached along the Anafartalar Caddesi, with free brochures ensuring that you will make the very most of your visit.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: free
Ephesus
was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era. In the Roman period, Ephesus had a population of more than 250,000 in the 1st century BC, which also made it one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean world
The city was famed for the Temple of Artemis (completed around 550 BC), one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Emperor Constantine I rebuilt much of the city and erected new public baths. Following the Edict of Thessalonica from emperor Theodosius I, the temple was destroyed in 401 AD by a mob led by St. John Chrysostom.The town was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 614 AD. The city's importance as a commercial center declined as the harbor was slowly silted up by the Cayster River (Küçük Menderes).
Ephesus was one of the seven churches of Asia that are cited in the Book of Revelation.The Gospel of John may have been written here. The city was the site of several 5th century Christian Councils, see Council of Ephesus. It is also the site of a large gladiators' graveyard.
Today's archaeological site lies 3 kilometers southwest of the town of Selçuk, in the Selçuk district of İzmir Province, Turkey. The ruins of Ephesus are a favorite international and local tourist attraction, partly owing to their easy access from Adnan Menderes Airport and via the port of Kuşadası.
Pergamon
The Attalid kingdom was the rump state left after the collapse of the Kingdom of Thrace. The Attalids, the descendants of Attalus, father of Philetaerus who came to power in 281 BC following the collapse of the Kingdom of Thrace, were among the most loyal supporters of Rome in the Hellenistic world. Under Attalus I (241-197 BC), they allied with Rome against Philip V of Macedon, during the first and second Macedonian Wars, and again under Eumenes II (197-158 BC), against Perseus of Macedon, during the Third Macedonian War. For support against the Seleucids, the Attalids were rewarded with all the former Seleucid domains in Asia Minor.
The Attalids ruled with intelligence and generosity. Many documents survive showing how the Attalids would support the growth of towns through sending in skilled artisans and by remitting taxes. They allowed the Greek cities in their domains to maintain nominal independence. They sent gifts to Greek cultural sites like Delphi, Delos, and Athens. They defeated the invading Celts. They remodeled the Acropolis of Pergamon after the Acropolis in Athens. When Attalus III (138-133 BC) died without an heir in 133 BC, he bequeathed the whole of Pergamon to Rome, in order to prevent a civil war.
According to the Book of Revelation, Pergamum is a dwelling place of Satan and a location of his throne, and someone called Antipas was martyred there.
The Ottoman Sultan Murad III had two large alabaster urns transported from the ruins of Pergamon and placed on two sides of the nave in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
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Start your exploration of the city by walking to Konak Square. This is the most large-scale square in the city, which overlooks the Gulf of Izmir. Several important tourist attractions are located in the immediate vicinity of the square. Here visitors will find a small old mosque and the tower of Saat Kule. The square is a great place for leisure walk. It is always very crowded and is distinguished by lively atmosphere. Tourists will also find Archaeological Museum not far from the square. This is one of the best known and most visited cultural institutions of Izmir. Among the items exhibited there visitors will find a collection of antique glassware, jewelry, mosaics and ancient sculptures that belong to the prehistoric era.
Bazaar is an interweaving of numerous narrow streets and alleys,
the territory of which is fully occupied by various retail stores,
craft shops and eating places. Tourists will also find here several old
mosques and beautiful national buildings, which were built in the 18th
century. It should be noted that all historical buildings of the city
are regularly reconstructed, so they look very well. Caravan Bridge is
one more interesting historical object. The small bridge over the Melez
River was built just recently, but according to historical data a bridge
was on that site even many centuries ago. That bridge was constantly
used by numerous caravans that crossed the river, heading to central
parts of the country.
Cuisine of Izmir / What to eat ?
Aegean region
and particularly İzmir that dates back 8 thousand years in history and
that reflect the lovely face of nature have had a cuisine that has been
transferred and diversified from generation to generation. Therefore,
the “Aegean Cuisine”, with its entirely unique characteristics, has
acquired a prominent place among different cuisines
The first thing that comes to mind when speaking about the Aegean cuisine is of course the olive and the olive oil.Just as Karadeniz springs to mind when talking about “anchovies” and Southeastern Anatolia with “kebab”, “olive oil” creates the same effect for the Aegean region. Thus has been the effect for 500 years. The antique olive oil mill that was revealed in the excavations in Klazomenai, which Heredot mentions among the “Twelve Ionian cities” and which is to the northern coast of the Urla-Çeşme peninsula is the biggest proof of this fact. We also learn from the labels placed on the amphoras in the submerged shorelines of the dark blue waters of the Aegean Sea that the trade of olive oil had been taking place among all the trade colonies from the Aegean to the Mediterranean.
Sometimes Sometimes a taste integrates with the place it originates from, and they are called as such. İzmir Meatballs and İzmir Lokma are among the taste specific for İzmir.
In addition to the frequent use of plants in cooking, such vegetables as cowpea, leek and aubergines are also used more, compared to other regions. Keşkek, which is a type of rice, “börek” with aubergines, pastries with lentils, “katmer”, various types of stew and “gözleme” are among the lists of food for special occasions. There are so many different dishes that come from Creta to İzmir and go from Anatolia to Creta and to the shores across the Aegean Sea that one cannot list them here. Each culture around the Aegean region, such as the Greek, Greek people of Turkish nationality, the Bosnian, the Albanian, Jewish people and the Levantines have also created a common cuisine with the common cultural values that we share. The “boyoz”, which is a pastry type made by Jewish people has become associated with İzmir and the liver of Prishtina has become the main side-dish eaten at the sunset. Thus, the cuisines of both sides of the Aegean Sea have combined so much that they are inseperable.
People from the Aegean region sprinkle olive oil with black pepper, salt and thyme and eat it by dipping toasted or freshly-made bread inside it, accompanied by the sharp Bryndza cheese. If olive oil is the first actor of the Aegean cuisine, then the second ones are the thousands of different plants that live in this region. In fact, if we were to define the Aegean cuisine as a green one, we wouldn’t be wrong.
Hibiscus, climber, nettle, “cibez”, turnip plant, acanthus, succory, blessed thistle, corn rose, patience dock, chickweed, plantago, “helvacık”, chicory, glasswort, asparagus, “arapsaçı”, “marata”, “tarla çakısı”, “tarla çivisi” and watercress… The list goes on and on.
These plants are cooked as little as possible and thus preserve their colours and the miracles they get from nature till they get to your table. One can get deliciously rich tastes when lemon juice and golden-coloured olive oil is added to them.
Izmir kitchen is famous for its meals with olive oil, salads and fish alternatives. The various herbs cultivated in consequence of the geographical features of the region are indispensable for the meals. Stinging nettle, mallow, cibez, stifno, wild radish, chicory, blessed thistle, dock, kusotu, helvacik, dandelion, samphire, asparagus, tangle, watercress are the most well-known herbs of Izmir. Olive oil has been used for almost two thousand and five hundred years in Izmir kitchen. The most significant proof for this is the ‘Olive oil Atelier’ which was found in Klazomenai ancient city in Urla and is the oldest model of the olive oil factories in the World. The kitchen tables are can not be thought without olive oil in Izmir… Green beans with olive oil, artichokes with olive oil, kidney bean with olive oil, stuffed vegetables with olive oil, leeks, celery, cowpea, carrot meal, zucchini with olive oil and dill and aubergine with olive oil…
The first thing that comes to mind when speaking about the Aegean cuisine is of course the olive and the olive oil.Just as Karadeniz springs to mind when talking about “anchovies” and Southeastern Anatolia with “kebab”, “olive oil” creates the same effect for the Aegean region. Thus has been the effect for 500 years. The antique olive oil mill that was revealed in the excavations in Klazomenai, which Heredot mentions among the “Twelve Ionian cities” and which is to the northern coast of the Urla-Çeşme peninsula is the biggest proof of this fact. We also learn from the labels placed on the amphoras in the submerged shorelines of the dark blue waters of the Aegean Sea that the trade of olive oil had been taking place among all the trade colonies from the Aegean to the Mediterranean.
Sometimes Sometimes a taste integrates with the place it originates from, and they are called as such. İzmir Meatballs and İzmir Lokma are among the taste specific for İzmir.
In addition to the frequent use of plants in cooking, such vegetables as cowpea, leek and aubergines are also used more, compared to other regions. Keşkek, which is a type of rice, “börek” with aubergines, pastries with lentils, “katmer”, various types of stew and “gözleme” are among the lists of food for special occasions. There are so many different dishes that come from Creta to İzmir and go from Anatolia to Creta and to the shores across the Aegean Sea that one cannot list them here. Each culture around the Aegean region, such as the Greek, Greek people of Turkish nationality, the Bosnian, the Albanian, Jewish people and the Levantines have also created a common cuisine with the common cultural values that we share. The “boyoz”, which is a pastry type made by Jewish people has become associated with İzmir and the liver of Prishtina has become the main side-dish eaten at the sunset. Thus, the cuisines of both sides of the Aegean Sea have combined so much that they are inseperable.
Olive
oil forms the essence of the Aegean cuisine. Meat dishes, vegetables,
rice, stuffed food are all cooked solely with olive oil.
People from the Aegean region sprinkle olive oil with black pepper, salt and thyme and eat it by dipping toasted or freshly-made bread inside it, accompanied by the sharp Bryndza cheese. If olive oil is the first actor of the Aegean cuisine, then the second ones are the thousands of different plants that live in this region. In fact, if we were to define the Aegean cuisine as a green one, we wouldn’t be wrong.
Hibiscus, climber, nettle, “cibez”, turnip plant, acanthus, succory, blessed thistle, corn rose, patience dock, chickweed, plantago, “helvacık”, chicory, glasswort, asparagus, “arapsaçı”, “marata”, “tarla çakısı”, “tarla çivisi” and watercress… The list goes on and on.
These plants are cooked as little as possible and thus preserve their colours and the miracles they get from nature till they get to your table. One can get deliciously rich tastes when lemon juice and golden-coloured olive oil is added to them.
Izmir kitchen is famous for its meals with olive oil, salads and fish alternatives. The various herbs cultivated in consequence of the geographical features of the region are indispensable for the meals. Stinging nettle, mallow, cibez, stifno, wild radish, chicory, blessed thistle, dock, kusotu, helvacik, dandelion, samphire, asparagus, tangle, watercress are the most well-known herbs of Izmir. Olive oil has been used for almost two thousand and five hundred years in Izmir kitchen. The most significant proof for this is the ‘Olive oil Atelier’ which was found in Klazomenai ancient city in Urla and is the oldest model of the olive oil factories in the World. The kitchen tables are can not be thought without olive oil in Izmir… Green beans with olive oil, artichokes with olive oil, kidney bean with olive oil, stuffed vegetables with olive oil, leeks, celery, cowpea, carrot meal, zucchini with olive oil and dill and aubergine with olive oil…
20 Ocak 2013 Pazar
12 great things to do in Izmir
Is it worth visiting İzmir,
first-time visitors to Turkey often ask, and the short answer, if they
only have a week, is probably not, as it's easier to use Selçuk as a
base from which to visit Ephesus than to try to get to grips with
Turkey's third largest city.
With a bit more time up their sleeves, though, they certainly might want to add İzmir to the itinerary since this is a city that is not only becoming more interesting for visitors with every passing year but is, with the addition of the İzban train line to the old Metro, getting ever easier to navigate, too.
Here are our suggestions for getting the best out of İzmir.
Feed the pigeons with
the locals in Konak Square
Konak Square is, in many ways, the heart of old İzmir and while you scatter seed for the thousands of pigeons who congregate here you can admire the elaborately carved clock tower (1901) that is the symbol of the city, the petite, tile-clad Konak Cami, and a cactus garden that grows ever more beautiful as it matures.
Sip a ‘fincanda pişen'
coffee beside the Kızlarağası Han
Just as the real meyhane action off İstanbul's İstiklal Caddesi has migrated from the Çiçek Pasajı to Nevizade Sokak so İzmir's coffee-drinking action has migrated from inside the lovely restored Kızlarağası Han to the narrow bazaar streets beside it where students gather to sip Turkish coffee boiled directly in a cup. The difference in taste? Not much that you'd notice. The atmosphere? Fantastic, and quite enough to set you up to explore the Kemeraltı Bazaar, a network of crumbling hans and narrow pasajs (arcades) wrapped around a collection of late Ottoman mosques, the finest of them is the Şadırvanlı Cami, whose ablutions fountain is covered with intricate paintings. Best lunch stop? Wherever you can grab a table at Hisarönü in front of the Hisar Cami.
Taste the old Turkey on Anafartalar Caddesi
Anafartalar Caddesi loops round the bazaar from Konak before tripping its way east towards Basmane Station. The bazaar is full of cruise passengers checking out the bargains but you may well have Basmane to yourself. Here, once-grand houses gone to seed are now stuffed with ultra-cheap hotels for long-stay residents down on their luck. Cafes with two or three tables rub shoulders with greengrocers and hardware shops. On one corner stands the Dönertaş Sebili, one of the most impressive public water dispensaries to be seen outside İstanbul; in another, the ruins of Romano-Byzantine villas that appear to have been destroyed during seventh-century Arab incursions are still being uncovered.
Ponder the Roman past in the Agora
Great new interpretation panels have made the site of the old Roman Agora, off Anafartalar Caddesi, a much more interesting place to visit. Check out in particular the earthquake-strengthening measures that were taken after a temblor of A.D. 178 brought its magnificent buildings crashing down.
Ponder the even remoter past at Tepekule
The oldest settlement of the İzmir area was around Yeşilören, near Bornova, after which a walled town seems to have been established around 6000 B.C. in what is now the suburb of Bayraklı, accessible on the İzban. Come here to see the “earliest presently known stone fountain of Western civilization” and to admire the reconstructed columns of the ancient Temple of Athena.
Inspect the ancient cisterns inside Kadifekale
Take the bus uphill from Konak to explore Kadifekale (Velvet Castle) on a site possibly chosen by Alexander the Great. The restored walls are impressive, as are the remains of huge cisterns used to store water (afterwards you may want to hop the İzban to Şirinyer to inspect the ancient aqueducts that helped bring the water into town). Here, too, you'll find women from Mardin weaving brightly colored runners on unusual horizontal looms. The surrounding hillside is being cleared of housing and planted with trees as part of a project to bring in more tourists.
Escape from traffic
in the grounds of the Kültür Parkı
Feeling the strain of the pounding city traffic? Then take a break in the grounds of the Kültür Parkı. The Central Park of İzmir, this large green space is dotted with statues, sports facilities, tea gardens, arts spaces, even a parachute tower -- plus you can cut through it to get from Basmane to Alsancak.
Take the poor man's cruise from Konak to Karşıyaka
Every day cruise ships dock in Alsancak Harbor and disgorge hundreds of tourists intent on getting to Ephesus. Beat them at their own game by taking the ferry from Konak to Karşıyaka, the Moda of İzmir, where a few fine old mansions still lurk amid the promenade apartment blocks. Here you'll find the extraordinary “road to nowhere” sculpture built to commemorate murdered Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. Return fare: less than TL 4. Pleasure factor: a million dollars.
Admire the view from the top of the Asansör
İstanbul may have been built on seven hills but İzmir is actually the more obviously hilly city and, in areas like the Karataş quarter, getting about can involve hacking up and down some heart-stopping staircases. In İstanbul the answer was the state-funded Tünel from Karaköy to Galata. In İzmir it was the Asansör, an elevator enclosed in a lofty brick tower that was paid for by philanthropist Nesim Levi Bayraklıoğlu. It goes without saying that the bay views from the top are stunning, and that there's a restaurant poised to take advantage of them. Get to the bottom of the Asansör on foot from Konak along Mithatpaşa Caddesi or to the top by the Metro to Üçyöl.
Cafe-hop your way
round the side streets of Alsancak
The great fire that raged along the Kordon for four days in September 1922 wrote off many of İzmir's finest buildings. Fortunately the little terraced houses of Alsancak with their cute little cumbas (upstairs bay windows) survived, and many now accommodate small cafes, bars and restaurants. One of the most interesting is Jackson's, which once housed the British consul, but you'll soon find your own favorite.
Check out the exhibits
in Alsancak's new Mask Museum
İzmir's least missable museum is the archeology one, just uphill from Konak Square, where you'll be able to inspect the finds from the Agora and other local Roman sites. Even more interesting was the Ethnography Museum housed in an old hospital right next door, but this is currently closed for restoration. Recently, though, İzmir has decided to inject a lighter touch into its museum scene. In Alsancak one of the lovely old houses now showcases an unexpected collection of masks from all around the world, while up on the winding Varyant road behind the Archeology Museum a new Toy Museum has just opened. Coming soon: a Cartoon and Humor Museum.
Enjoy a fish supper at sunset on the Kordon
Hard though it may be to believe it but one of the highlights of your trip to Turkey could actually turn out to be a fish supper eaten in one of the many restaurants that line the Kordon, the landscaped promenade that skirts the Bay of İzmir and is perfectly poised to scoop some superlative sunsets. Kordonboyu Balık Pişiricisi is one of the best if you can manage to land a table there. Can't afford the premium prices? Then grab one of İzmir's famous kumru sandwiches stuffed with white cheese and tomatoes from a vendor working the shoreline. Fresh mussels stuffed with rice and pine nuts and sprinkled with lemon make an equally tasty alternative.
article by todayszaman.com
19 Ocak 2013 Cumartesi
Transportation in Izmir
İzmir is served by national and international flights through the Adnan Menderes International Airport and there is a modern rapid transit line running from the southwest to the northeast. The city is trying to attract investors through its strategic location and its relatively new and highly developed technological infrastructure in transportation, telecommunications and energy.
Transportation Types
- Air
- The Adnan Menderes International Airport is well served with connections to Turkish and international destinations. Its new international terminal was opened in September 2006 and the airport is set on its way for becoming one of the busiest hubs in Turkey. The city-to-airport shuttle buses are operated by the private company Havaş which run on two lines; the first connecting Karşıyaka (in the city's northern part) and the second connecting Alsancak (in the south) with the airport. Trains remain a comparatively slow alternative, while the metro line that will reach the airport is under construction. The taxis are not cheap and can cost up to fifty U.S. dollars, depending on the distance.
- Bus
- A recently built large bus terminal, the Otogar in the Pınarbaşı suburb on the outskirts of the city, has intercity buses to destinations across Turkey. It is quite easy to reach the bus terminal, since bus companies' shuttle services pick up customers from each of their branch offices scattered across the city at regular intervals, free of charge.
- Rail
- İzmir has two historical rail terminals in the city centre. Alsancak Terminal, built in 1858 and Basmane Terminal, built in 1866 are the two main railway stations of the city. The Turkish State Railways operates regional service to Ödemiş, Tire, Aydın, Söke, Nazilli and Uşak, as well as inter city service to Ankara, Afyon and Bandırma (İstanbul via İDO connection).
Alsancak Railway Station (1858) in İzmir, where the first railway line in the Ottoman Empire, the İzmir–Aydın line, entered service two years earlier, in 1856
Transport within the city
Co-ordinated transport was introduced to İzmir in 1999, the first place in Turkey to apply the lessons of integration. A body known as UKOME gives strategic direction to the Metro, the ESHOT bus division, ferry operations, utilities and road developments. İzmir has an integrated pre-pay ticket, the Kentkart (Citycard). The card is valid on metro (subway), buses, ferries and certain other municipal facilities. The Kentkart allows use of multiple forms of transport within a 90-minute window for the price of a single fare. For situations where it is necessary to use the car for travel within the city, the number of car rental companies in the various districts serving about 1000.Bus
All major districts are covered by a dense municipal bus network under the name ESHOT. The acronym stands for "E elektrik (electricity); S su (water); H havagazı (gas); O otobüs (bus) and T troleybüs (trolleybus)." Electricity, water and gas are now supplied by separate undertakings, and Izmir's trolleybus system ceased to operate in 1992. However, the bus company has inherited the original name. ESHOT operates about 1,500 buses with a staff of 2,700. It has five garages at Karataş, Gümrük, Basmane, Yeşilyurt and Konak. A privately owned company, İzulaş, operates 400 buses from two garages, running services under contract for ESHOT. These scheduled services are supplemented by the privately owned minibus or dolmuş services.
Urban ferries
Metro
1) Üçyol
2) Konak
3) Çankaya
4) Basmane
5) Hilal
6) Halkapınar
7) Stadyum
8) Sanayi
9) Bölge
10) Bornova
11) Ege University
12) Evka 3
An extension of the line between Üçyol and Üçkuyular, which aims to serve the southern portion of the city more efficiently, is currently under construction. Basic fare on the Metro is TRL 1.25 but only TRL 0.95 if the Kentkart is used. About 12% of passengers pay cash and the rest use Kentkart, 35% at reduced rate and 53% at standard rate. The Metro carries about 30 million passengers per year, and by the end of September 2005, 160 million passengers had travelled since the opening of the metro in May 2000. A more ambitious venture named İZBAN has begun involves the construction of a new 80 km (50 mi) line between the Aliağa district in the north, where an oil refinery and its port are located, and the Menderes district in the south, in order to reach and serve the Adnan Menderes International Airport. The line comprises 31 stations and the full ride between the two ends takes 86 minutes.
Commuter Rail
Established in 2006 and began operations in 2010, İZBAN was formed to revive commuter rail in İzmir. Currently, İZBAN operates a 80 km (50 mi) long system, with 31 stations, consisting of two lines: the Southern Line and the Northern Line.
İZBAN A.Ş. operates the railway and is owned 50% by the Turkish State Railways and 50% by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. İZBAN is a part of the municipality's Egeray project.
Favourite places in Izmir
ALSANCAK:
Alsancak is the centre of shopping and fantastic cafes. There are modern buildings and attractive shops along the street and many people prefer to go there for shopping. Shops and cafes are located in streets and they are far from the main street, so people are not disturbed by the traffic.
Alsancak is the place that the teenagers prefer to go. Because there are lots of fantastic cafes and these cafes have delicious foods. Also, Hilton hotel is located in this neighboorhood and it's game centre is prefered by most of the teenagers. Also, you can see adults who are playing game in this game centre. It is a place for having fun and people from every age can have fun there.
BARLAR SOKAGI:
Street of Bars. You can find live music in those bars and discos can be prefered too. The bars are different from the usual bars because attractive old houses are restored and run as a bar.
ASANSOR:
An elevator from 19th century. It is 51 metres in height. It links Mithat Paşa street to the Halil Rıfat Paşa street. It was built in 1907 and restored by the municipality in 1993. On the upper side, there is an open-air cafe and a restaurant that offers you a delicous meal with a breathtaking view of İzmir and the bay.
BALCOVA:
It is on the roads of Urla and Çeşme. If you want to go to Balçova Thermal Springs turn left at İnciraltı cross roads.It is one kilometre away. 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.
CLOCK TOWER:
Clock tower is another symbol of İzmir and it was build in Konak Meydan in 1901. It is heart of the city and it can be said to be a meeting place for many people. 25 M HIGHT
BORNOVA:
Ege Universty's campus is located in this area and İzmir Manisa roads passes through Bornova.İt is seven kilometre away from the city centre.
CESME:
Cesme, which is 80 km away from İzmir is a holiday resort with excellent accomodations and restaurants. Altınyunus, Sheraton, Ontur are some of the famous hotels that are usually prefered by tourists. Restaurants in Dalyan Köy are the most popular places for eating fish and watching the beautiful, clear, blue waters of Çeşme. Çeşme has also got a wonderful night life to have fun. Seaside, Joy, Nispet, Mekan are some of the night clubs.
FOCA:
It is a fishing town 50 km away from Izmir. Foça is famous with it's phoakaians. You can find them on the islands and it will be very entertaining to go these islands by ship. Also, Foça have many hotels and pensions. You can eat fresh fish there because as I said before it is a fishing town.
HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY:
It is said that Virgin Mary had spent her last years there. It is located between Selçuk and Ephesus. Travel agencies in İzmir organise day tours to this place.
KADIFEKALE:
The castle offers you an excellent view of İzmir.
KARSIYAKA:
It is located on the north shore of İzmir and is means "opposite shore"People who live in Karşıyaka think that, they are diffirent from people of İzmir and they have an individual culture and history. Also they have their own football team. They are always quarrel with Göztepe football team and it is impossible to pass near them after Karşıyaka and Göztepe matchs.
KEMERALTI:
It is one of the shopping centres of İzmir. It is consist of narrow streets and here you can find jewellers, drapers, shoemaker, and shops specialising in all kinds of goods from leather to olives and cheese. The atmosphere of the buildings are very different from other shopping centers because, they have been in Konak Kemeraltı since 19th century and the buildins are old fashioned.
KORDON:
It is located between Konak meydan and Alsancak. It becomes one of the most crowded places at the weekends. Especially young people prefer to go there because there are bars and some places for shopping.Kordon is also famous with it's horse-drawn phaetons with colorful ponpons and young lovers loves to wander with them. Kordon is very famous that there are lots of songs that are written for Kordon :
"My lover seemed to say/Let us meet on the Kordon one day/Perhaps at ten o'clock".
This is one of the popular old songs.
PASAPORT:
The name of the dock between Konak and Cumhuriyet Meydan. Pasaport Dock was built in 1876. This area was full of old fashioned coffee houses which served waterpipes as well as tea and coffee, but today pubs took their place.
PERGAMUM:
The place where parchment is thought to have been invented. İn the centre of Pergamum Acropolis and the world's steepest amphitheatre is located. This amphi theatre has 16,000 seats. This complex was one of the foremost heath cent ers of the ancient world.
SELCUK:
It is 94 km away from İzmir. 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, also Kuşadası is twenty minutes away from there.
URLA:
Urla is a resort 42 km from Izmir n the road to Cesme. People of İzmir spend their summers and weekends here. 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.
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, such as radika, turpotu, hardalotu and many more. The leaves are washed, blanched and served with a ressing of lemon juice and olive oil.
İZMİR'S BAY;
İzmir's bay is very dirty. But it's going to clean by some people. They are working for it. And somewhere, sea's smeel is very bad. You feel very bad because it.
9 Eylül 1922 / İZMİR
"I love all İzmir and people of İzmir; I am sure that; beautiful İzmir's perfect people love me,too."
It was said by Atatürk in 1922
Alsancak is the centre of shopping and fantastic cafes. There are modern buildings and attractive shops along the street and many people prefer to go there for shopping. Shops and cafes are located in streets and they are far from the main street, so people are not disturbed by the traffic.
Alsancak is the place that the teenagers prefer to go. Because there are lots of fantastic cafes and these cafes have delicious foods. Also, Hilton hotel is located in this neighboorhood and it's game centre is prefered by most of the teenagers. Also, you can see adults who are playing game in this game centre. It is a place for having fun and people from every age can have fun there.
BARLAR SOKAGI:
Street of Bars. You can find live music in those bars and discos can be prefered too. The bars are different from the usual bars because attractive old houses are restored and run as a bar.
ASANSOR:
An elevator from 19th century. It is 51 metres in height. It links Mithat Paşa street to the Halil Rıfat Paşa street. It was built in 1907 and restored by the municipality in 1993. On the upper side, there is an open-air cafe and a restaurant that offers you a delicous meal with a breathtaking view of İzmir and the bay.
BALCOVA:
It is on the roads of Urla and Çeşme. If you want to go to Balçova Thermal Springs turn left at İnciraltı cross roads.It is one kilometre away. 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.
CLOCK TOWER:
Clock tower is another symbol of İzmir and it was build in Konak Meydan in 1901. It is heart of the city and it can be said to be a meeting place for many people. 25 M HIGHT
BORNOVA:
Ege Universty's campus is located in this area and İzmir Manisa roads passes through Bornova.İt is seven kilometre away from the city centre.
CESME:
Cesme, which is 80 km away from İzmir is a holiday resort with excellent accomodations and restaurants. Altınyunus, Sheraton, Ontur are some of the famous hotels that are usually prefered by tourists. Restaurants in Dalyan Köy are the most popular places for eating fish and watching the beautiful, clear, blue waters of Çeşme. Çeşme has also got a wonderful night life to have fun. Seaside, Joy, Nispet, Mekan are some of the night clubs.
FOCA:
It is a fishing town 50 km away from Izmir. Foça is famous with it's phoakaians. You can find them on the islands and it will be very entertaining to go these islands by ship. Also, Foça have many hotels and pensions. You can eat fresh fish there because as I said before it is a fishing town.
HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY:
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It is said that Virgin Mary had spent her last years there. It is located between Selçuk and Ephesus. Travel agencies in İzmir organise day tours to this place.
KADIFEKALE:
The castle offers you an excellent view of İzmir.
KARSIYAKA:
It is located on the north shore of İzmir and is means "opposite shore"People who live in Karşıyaka think that, they are diffirent from people of İzmir and they have an individual culture and history. Also they have their own football team. They are always quarrel with Göztepe football team and it is impossible to pass near them after Karşıyaka and Göztepe matchs.
KEMERALTI:
It is one of the shopping centres of İzmir. It is consist of narrow streets and here you can find jewellers, drapers, shoemaker, and shops specialising in all kinds of goods from leather to olives and cheese. The atmosphere of the buildings are very different from other shopping centers because, they have been in Konak Kemeraltı since 19th century and the buildins are old fashioned.
KORDON:
It is located between Konak meydan and Alsancak. It becomes one of the most crowded places at the weekends. Especially young people prefer to go there because there are bars and some places for shopping.Kordon is also famous with it's horse-drawn phaetons with colorful ponpons and young lovers loves to wander with them. Kordon is very famous that there are lots of songs that are written for Kordon :
"My lover seemed to say/Let us meet on the Kordon one day/Perhaps at ten o'clock".
This is one of the popular old songs.
PASAPORT:
The name of the dock between Konak and Cumhuriyet Meydan. Pasaport Dock was built in 1876. This area was full of old fashioned coffee houses which served waterpipes as well as tea and coffee, but today pubs took their place.
PERGAMUM:
The place where parchment is thought to have been invented. İn the centre of Pergamum Acropolis and the world's steepest amphitheatre is located. This amphi theatre has 16,000 seats. This complex was one of the foremost heath cent ers of the ancient world.
SELCUK:
It is 94 km away from İzmir. 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, also Kuşadası is twenty minutes away from there.
URLA:
Urla is a resort 42 km from Izmir n the road to Cesme. People of İzmir spend their summers and weekends here. 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.
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, such as radika, turpotu, hardalotu and many more. The leaves are washed, blanched and served with a ressing of lemon juice and olive oil.
İZMİR'S BAY;
İzmir's bay is very dirty. But it's going to clean by some people. They are working for it. And somewhere, sea's smeel is very bad. You feel very bad because it.
9 Eylül 1922 / İZMİR
"I love all İzmir and people of İzmir; I am sure that; beautiful İzmir's perfect people love me,too."
It was said by Atatürk in 1922
İzmir International Fair
İzmir International Fair
İzmir prides itself with its busy schedule of trade fairs, exhibitions and congresses. İzmir International Fair (IEF), the oldest member from Turkey of the International Union of Fairs is held every year in August–September at Kültürpark, which covers an area of 421,000 m² in the heart of the city with open-air theatres, the Painting and Sculpture Museum, art centers, amusement park, zoo, parachute tower, and other amenities. Aside from this main event, which acts as a central theme for many other secondary events, there are numerous others throughout the year. In 2007, for example, 35 national or international fairs and exhibitions were held in İzmir around the year and in relation to different areas of activity. These fairs have made great contributions to İzmir's social and cultural life.
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