Izmir: Travel Guide

General Information

Izmir is Turkey's third-largest metropolis and trade centre after Istanbul and Ankara. Located in the west part of Turkey, the city is on the coast of the Aegean Sea. It is a large city with a population of 4.2 million.

Izmir is a dynamic city economically and socially. Its location and climate are crucial characteristics of this dynamism. Throughout history, Izmir has homed various 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 homed throughout its long history.

The fact that approximately half of its population is under the age of thirty makes Izmir lively. The city hosts thousands of university students and scientists, artists, businessmen, and academics.

With its excellent climate, Izmir has a wonderful natural environment for agriculture such as olives, figs, grapes, and cotton. With its variety of seafood, wines, herbs and olive oil, Izmir is an attractive city for gourmets with its delicious cuisine.

Cuisine

Izmir has a vibrant food culture. If you move to Izmir or go on holiday, you should try a couple of its traditional food.

"Izmir tarhanası" is an example. One of the most important features that make tarhana different from others is its preparation. "Izmir tarhanası" is made with broth. You can taste this amazing food in the winter to warm you up by eating tarhana soup.

"Kumru" is another speciality in Izmir. It has a unique flavour because it is made with special sesame bread, cheese, sausage, salami, and tomatoes.

A pastry named Boyoz has been on Izmir and Anatolian tables since 1952. Boyoz is an unleavened pastry that is identified with the taste of Izmir and is ate with eggs, making it indispensable for the Aegean breakfast.

The last example that we can give and the one we highly recommend you to eat is "Lokma." It can be prepared both salty or sugary. You can eat "lokma" with cinnamon. It is made with the dough as well.

Sightseeing Places

Start exploring the city with a pleasant stroll to the Konak Square, the meeting point of residents of the city. The heart of Izmir is always busy and crowded. You can find the famous Izmir Clock Tower, which was built in 1901. It is located in the middle of the square, and it is the symbol of the city. The tower is 25 meters tall, and it has four fountains that surround it.

You should also visit the Archeology and Ethnographic Museum. These places take guests on a journey through history. The Ethnographic Museum was built in 1831 for people who had the plague. Then, the place hosted Christian orphaned children. On the other hand, the excavations in the ancient sites of the Aegean, such as Bayrakli (Smyrna), Ephesus, Bergama, Miletus, Klazomenai, Teos and Iasos, have left their mark on the history of Western Anatolia at the Izmir Archaeological Museum.

Kemeraltı, which was recognized by Western travellers as "Jewel of the Mediterranean," is another sightseeing place for the visitors of the city. With its historical, cultural, and architectural elements, Kemeraltı still helps to maintain the city's old atmosphere.

Smyrna is the ancient name of Izmir. During the reign of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC, the city moved from the ancient Smyrna to the northern slope of Kadifekale. In these ancient times, Agora was a place where there were political meetings, shopping areas and bazaars that were active.

Industry

Izmir is highly developed in terms of agricultural production. Textile, clothing, food, drink, beer, and tobacco industries are also among the most important business sectors. Also, iron and steel, petrochemical, automotive, cement, shoes, fertilizer, agricultural machinery, and ceramic industry are other major industrial products of the city.

Izmir has become the industrial and commercial centre of the region due to its raw material resources, qualified labour force and a wide range of transportation opportunities as well as being a port city. It will not be wrong to state that the products produced in the industrial sector have the quality of world standards.