Advertisement

Kadifekale/Panoramic View

Kadifekale Hill (Velvet Castle), the ancient Mount Pagus (185m/607ft), on which the acropolis of Lysimachos once stood rises over the east side of Izmir (access road signposted). The summit, crowned by the remains of a medieval citadel, offers an incomparable panoramic view encompassing the whole city, the Gulf of Izmir and the hills.

The massive, well-preserved walls of the medieval citadel, which originally had 40 towers, incorporate foundations and other masonry from the Lysimachean acropolis as well as work dating from Roman, Byzantine, Genoese and Ottoman periods.

On the slopes of the hill stood the Roman theater and the stadium (with seating for 20,000 spectators), of which practically no remains survive, although the outline of the stadium can still be traced. According to tradition the Tomb of St Polycarp Bishop of Smyrna who was martyred in A.D. 156 during the persecution of Christians by Mark Aurelius lies above the north side of the stadium.

Ataturk Caddesi

The most important street in Izmir for tourists is the long Atatürk Caddesi which stretches some 3.5km/2mi south from the district of Alsancak (landing-stage for passenger ships) at the northern tip of the city. This broad seafront promenade passes alongside the harbor as far as the old district of Konak and offers a panoramic view of the Gulf of Izmir to the right, while the left-hand side is lined with handsome modern buildings (mainly restaurants).

Archeological Museum

Above Konak Square in Izmir a little way southeast on the curving main road to the south lies the recently-constructed Archeological Museum. It contains many interesting finds from ancient Smyrna, Ephesus, Miletus, Sardis, Pergamon, Tralleis (Aydin) and other sites. Among particularly notable exhibits are figures of Poseidon and Demeter (A.D. second century) from the agora at Smyrna, various sarcophagi, a colossal Roman head, a mosaic pavement, fine collections of glass, coins and jewelry and a bronze figure of Demeter from Halikarnassos (Bodrum; fourth century B.C.)

Agora

A little way south of Fevzi Pasa Bulvari in the Basmahane district of Izmir on the Osmanpasa Bulvari are the partly excavated remains of the agora (market), which originally dated from the Greek period but was rebuilt after an earthquake in the second century A.D. during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. Along the west end of the square which is laid out in gardens, stand thirteen columns with fine capitals. On the north side is a three- aisled basilica 160m/175yds long with a vaulted roof borne on pillars. The marble figures which were found here are now in the new Archeological Museum. The Kadifekale citadel offers a view of the whole agora, enabling visitors to appreciate the full extent of the site.

Caravan Bridge

Southeast of the Culture Park in Izmir to the east of Basmahane Station, the Kemer Bridge crosses the small River Melez (the ancient Meles), a modern structure on Greek and Roman foundations. It was formerly known as the Caravan Bridge, from the heavy caravan traffic which passed over it on the way to the interior (Manisa, Balikesir, Sardis).

May - September

July - August -> 33(°C) - Summer
January - February -> 5(°C) - Spring

Advertisement