Our City

The old city of Izmir (Smyrna) was built on an islet with a surface area of about one hundred acres, located northeast of the gulf. During the last centuries, the floods from the Meles River and the Sipvlos (Yamanlar) Mountain brought in silt, which formed today’s Bornova plain and turned the islet into a hill.

On this mound, which is now called Tepekule, there is a sample vineyard belonging to the İzmir Wine and Beer Factory of the Tekel Directorate. In this neighbourhood, which has been a dense slum area since 1955, is the Izmir Mound, which was identified as the first settlement in Izmir. The Turkish Historical Society and the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums contributed greatly to the first excavations here.

The first settlements on the coasts of Western Anatolia, which were founded after the Troya Wars, were generally of Aeolian, Ionian and Doric origin, were established on small peninsulas. These are settlements such as Çandarlı, Foça, İzmir, Klazomenai, Miletos and Iasos. The reason for this is that the people who founded and inhabited the settlements were mostly Hellenes. Thus, the inhabitants of the peninsula had both two harbours and were secure against attacks from the land and sea. If one of the harbours was not suitable in unfavourable weather conditions, the sailors had the chance to use the other harbour. Bayraklı Mound was located in the northeast corner of the gulf, with the steep rocky Yamanlar Mountain to the north, in a comfortable position against attacks from land. To the south, it was open to imbursement. The old Izmir settlement was located on this peninsula for about 3000 years. In the second half of the 4th century BC, it was moved to the foothills of today’s Kadifekale due to the large population increase.

Historical and Cultural Treasures:

• Agora Ancient City: This ancient city, which sheds light on the history of Izmir, has a fascinating atmosphere with its Roman ruins. Among the historical ruins are the stoa, odeon and temple.
• Ancient City of Ephesus: Ephesus, where you can take a day trip to Izmir, is famous for its ruins from the ancient Roman period. It includes important buildings such as the Grand Theatre, the Library of Celsus and the Temple of Artemis.

Clock tower passing through the sea like the wind:

The Clock Tower, one of the symbols of Izmir, rises to the sky along Kordon. Don’t forget to visit this historical tower to see the city from a bird’s eye view.

Capital of Flavour Izmir Cuisine

Izmir cuisine delights the palate with its local flavours. Trying special flavours such as olive oil dishes, stuffed mussels, kumru and İzmir meatballs offers an unforgettable experience.

The City Where Green and Blue Meet:

• Kültürpark: Kültürpark, which is an ideal recreation and entertainment area for families, includes many activities such as amusement park, zoo and open air theatre.
• Sirince Village: Famous for its historical houses, narrow streets and vineyards, Şirince Village is a destination that will fascinate you with its natural beauties.

Izmir is a city where history and modern life meet, adorned with the beauties generously offered by nature. Discover this unique city and experience the warmth, history and flavours of Izmir!