Istanbul

Izmir

AGORA Revealed in central Izmir during excavations carried out in 1932-1941 in the district of Namazgah. covering an area of 120 x 80 meters, 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 the Izmir Archaeological Museum. 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 which span the Meles River, supplied Izmir's water throughout the Byzantine and Ottoman areas. Saint Polycarpo Church remains are of the oldest church in Izmir, and symbolise the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse community. Saint Polycarpo was martyred at Kadifekale by the Romans in 155 A.D. According to legend, when they tried to bum him, the flames wouldn't touch him and they finally stabbed him to death. The church was reconstructed in 1620 by Süleyman the Magnificent.

ALSANCAK (Punta) A select neighbourhood with a unique character in modern Izmir. Stretching from the waterfront and expanding inland, most of the area has been transformed into a pedestrian precinct, so there is very little traffic to disturb shoppers and strollers. The streets are lined by modern buildings and attractive shops that lead onto the square where Alsancak train 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. In the center of Cumhuriyet Meydani, or Republic Square, stands the Atatürk Monument, an impressive statue of Atatürk sitting on a horse and facing the sea. Erected in 1933, the Monument commemorates the liberation of the city by Turkish Forces.

BALCOVA POPULATION : 67.423 DISTANCE FROM iZMiR : 9 km DISTANCE FROM iZMiR : 9 km Advantages Offered by Balçova : Proximity to the main tourism regions and Izmir, It is a centre of domestic and foreign tourism with its mountains and thermal spas, It is a centre of shopping, entertainment, recreation and cultural activities. You will find this spa is on the outskirts of Izmir on the road to Urla and Çesme. Turn left at Inciralti crossroads to reach Balçova. Balçova, an important county of Izmir with its naturel pecularities is situated at the southwest of Izmir. One of the most important places of the county is Balçova Thermal Foundation formerly known as Agememnon spa. The foundation has an international hotel with an open and an indoor pools. If you want to have some pine air you can take the cable lift at Balçova. Thermal springs only 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 Cº.

BASMANE In this district are Izmir's old fashioned shopping streets, the park where the famous "Izmir International 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 centre by a 7 km railway line.

An American family’s impression in Bornova "My husband and I have been living in Bornova for three months now. One of the first things we noticed is the people walking everywhere. There is a great variety of shops where you can buy almost anything you need without having to drive or find a place to park. The shopkeepers are quite friendly and helpful. If they don’t have what you are looking for they can usually tell you where to find it and some will even get the item for you to purchase later. "We were glad to discover our tap water is safe to drink".   Daily, the cry of the simit (bread ring) sellers is heard on the streets, offering fresh baked goods, delivered, and smells of fresh bread come from the bakery on the first floor of our apartment building. The narrow, winding sidestreets are called "Sokak" and often there are blossoms and fruit trees in the yards. Main thoroughfares lead to downtown Izmir and points beyond. Access to public transportation is easy. The beautiful campus of Ege (Aegean) University is nearby. We enjoy the wide selection of restaurants and there is a corner grocer (Bakkal) on almost every block. It has been a delight getting to know our neighbors. Of course, they are curious about the foreigners in their midst. They are also attracted to our toddler daughter Emily, since all Turks share a love for children. But mostly, they have taken a genuine interest in our welfare and helping us feel welcome here. Despite the language and cultural differences they are quite adept at communicating care and concern through their hospitible nature. One family was very instrumental in helping us furnish our home and get settled. What Americans call "random acts of kindness" seem to be the norm here. Even the children know how to be kind. Emily is in the stage where anything she is holding is "mine". Rather than make a fuss, the neighbor children are pleased to let her play with their toys. One of the things we really like about living here is that people can let their "children play outdoors with no fear of someone kidnapping them". Certainly, there are challenges to adjusting to a new culture, but we find the benefits of living here worth the effort.

BUCA Once Izmir's summer resort, Buca is today part of the city. With a population of 200,000 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 built imposing mansions here. Not until the 1950s did Buca undergo radical change as various institutions moved into the mansions. Their extensive gardens are now under conservation.

ÇiĞLi POPULATION : 98.250 DISTANCE FROM iZMiR : 23 km Advantages Offered by Çiğli : Çiğli is one of the most dynamic districts of Izmir in terms of industrialization. The highest salt production of Turkey takes place in Çamaltı that is within the borders of Çiğli. The Izmir Bird Paradise that is considered to be the capital of world birds is the focus of the tourism activities in this district. Çiğli that is 20 km from İzmir has motorway and railway connections with it.

iZMiR ATATÜRK ORGANIZED INDUSTRIAL ZONE Izmir Atatürk Organized Zone is a role model for industrialization without inflicting damage to the environment. Izmir Atatürk Organized Zone was established by the Aegean Chamber of Industry to the northwest of Izmir and to the south and north of the road leading to the Çiğli Airport. 400 companies in the region have already started their activities and the construction of 95 companies is underway. There will be plants from all industrial sectors apart from the leather industry, heavy industry and LPG Filling plants. The textile, food and machinery industry form the majority of the plants. Currently, 25.000 people are working with the plants in the zone. When the construction of the plants is completed and the existing plants start to work with full capacity, the number of the employees will increase to 55.000-60.000. The exports of the region are about $1 billion/year and its imports are $600 million/year For More Information : Aegean Region Chamber of Commerce

GAZiEMiR POPULATION : 75.329 DISTANCE FROM iZMiR : 20 km Advantages Offered by Gaziemir : The hypermarkets, showrooms and workshops located on the Aydın motorway are meeting the needs of travellers. It is going to be a production centre through the construction of new factories. Through the motorway and railway connections and the Adnan Menderes Airport it is possible to reach every corner of Turkey for more detail : AEGEAN FREE ZONE

KADiFE KALE (Velvet FORTRESS) : 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. On Kadifekale, Mt. Pagos, stands the impressive ruins of a castle and its walls, built by Lysimachus in the reigion 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.

KARŞIYAKA 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 atmosphere, 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. Standing in Karşıyaka, The Flying Dolphins is a monument that symbolizes friendship and brotherhood.

KEMERALTI In the streets of Kemeraltı Market area,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 fascinating antiques, jewellers, drapers, shoemaker, and shops specialising in all kinds of goods from leather to olives and cheese a great variety of clothing, and the dried figs and sultanas for which Izmir is famous. The atmosphere of an earlier century still pervades the buildings here, with their distinctive 19th century doorways and roof tiles. If you find yourself on Havra Sokak in Kemeraltı, notice the old buildings and synagogues.

The Kızlaragası Han is a fine example of the architecture of the period in 18th century Ottoman inn. Kızlaragası Hanı with its special ambiance was built by Hacı Beşir Ağa in 1741, next to Hisar Mosque. An  Ottoman Inn is typically wholly built of stone. There was a courtyard with a small mosque in the middle. Today this inn is restored and being used as a shopping mall. Hisar Mosque is the largest and oldest in Izmir. Built in the 16th century, with restorations in the 19th century, it has a delightful interior with an interesting mimber (pulpit) and mihrab (altar). 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. The other mosques in Izmir are Salepçioğlu (20th century), Şadırvan (17th century with 19th-century restorations) and Kemeraltı (17th century); all are situated close to the Kemeraltı.

KEMALPAŞA (NYMPHAION) POPULATION : 67.223 DISTANCE FROM iZMiR : 29 km Advantages Offered by Kemalpaşa : Its fertile soil, favourable climate and marketing conditions render the agricultural production profitable, High production of sultanas and cherries, Kemalpaþa is one of the most industrialized regions of Izmir. Food industry , machine tools and chemicals industry are well - developed, The Mountain Nif, that was the ancient name of the district, has been proclaimed to be a national park. It is very suitable for adventure and ecological tourism. In Kemalpaşa a Byzantian palace rises up from inside the gardens on the plain with its castles and ramparts. This settlement area was called Nymphaion beginning with the Roman period. Then it was called Nif and today it is called Kemalpaşa . In the Karabel passage near Kemalpasa two war reliefs belongig to the Hittites in the 13th century B.C. were Found. These are typical hittite reliefs with their stone carved nisches picturing the conical hats, short dresses, bows and javelins of the Hittites. Kemalpaşa Organized Industrial Zone: This zone is established on an area of 410 hectares on the Izmir - Tugutlu - Ankara highway and the chemistry plastics industry has the highest share among all the industries in the zone. This zone is very attractive because it is only 20 km from Izmir and is close to the airport and sea port. Kemalpaşa Organized Industrial Zone: This zone is established on an area of 410 hectares on the Izmir - Tugutlu - Ankara highway and the chemistry plastics industry has the highest share among all the industries in the zone. This zone is very attractive because it is only 20 km from Izmir and is close to the airport and sea port.

KORDON The fish restaurants in this colourful area serve up local specialities; trança and çipura, two types of sea bream. The best modern and most elegant shops line the Kordon Promenades in Alsancak. The famous district between Konak Meydan and Alsancak is packed with promenaders on weekends and fine evenings. As families and young lovers hand in hand stroll along the waterfront, horse - drawn carriages with colorful pompoms swinging from the harnesses trot past, and cars cruise by. Izmir's Kordon  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." 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.

MENDERES POPULATION : 64.234 DISTANCE FROM iZMiR : 38 km Advantages Offered by Menderes : Fruits and vegetables are cultivated in its wide and fertile agricultural areas and flowers are grown in greenhouses. It offers a great potential for apiculture and sericulture. The rich historical heritage attracts cultural tourism and the beautiful beaches are suitable for summer tourism.

MENEMEN POPULATION : 99.325 DISTANCE FROM iZMiR : 28 km Advantages Offered by Menemen : Suitable climatic and soil conditions make the cultivation of all agricultural products possible. Because of the availability of clay and the historical heritage tourism oriented pottery is an important investment possibility. It is located on the main road to key places and is close to tourism centres. It has a rich historical heritage MENEMEN FREE ZONE As the Leather Industry Plants had been polluting the environment for many years during their activities in the Yeþildere region of Izmir, they have been moved to an organized zone. This zone is located on an area of 1 million 760 thousand m2 and water is provided from the Gediz river. 120 enterprises are carrying out their activities in the zone and 7500 people are employed by these enterprises. In 1997 the sales of the zone were $ 500 million.

CHOOSE YOUR HOTEL Istanbul Hotels Izmir Hotels Kusadasi Hotels Marmaris Hotels Fethiye Hotels Bodrum Hotels Antalya Hotels Kemer Hotels Side Hotels Alanya Hotels Greek Island Hotels

TURKEY HOTELS

 TURKEY TOURS

 ADVENTURE TOURS

 TURKEY RENT A CAR

TURKEY WEDDING SERVICE

 FLIGHT SERVICES

 FERRY SERVICES

 GREEK ISLAND

 GREEK ISLAND HOTELS

 GREEK ISLAND TOURS