İzmir Historical and Cultural Landmarks Route

Pasaport Pier

Passport Pier is a lively and bustling destination that offers visitors a taste of local culture and history. The pier is known for its vibrant atmosphere, featuring a mix of shops, cafes, and historic landmarks. Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront, enjoy a meal at one of the local restaurants, or simply relax and take in the beautiful views. Passport Pier’s dynamic energy and scenic location make it a perfect destination for both locals and tourists.

Konak Pier

Konak Pier is a historical pier located in the Konak district of İzmir. It serves as a transportation hub frequently used by both locals and tourists due to its proximity to the city center. From the pier, it is possible to reach various parts of İzmir, especially with the ferry services along the Gulf. In addition, there are cafes and restaurants around the pier, offering visitors the opportunity to relax while enjoying beautiful views. Konak Pier is also one of the symbols of İzmir, making an important contribution to the city's history and maritime heritage.

İzmir Clock Tower

The Clock Tower, the symbol of İzmir, was built in Konak Square in 1901 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Abdülhamid II's accession to the throne. Designed by architect Raymond Charles Pere, the tower stands 25 meters high and has an octagonal plan. Its base is made of white marble, while the structure is constructed from cut stone. There are fountains on small columns at the four corners, and the clock was a gift from German Emperor Wilhelm II. Its outer surface is adorned with diamond-shaped reliefs. The tower, which was damaged in the earthquake in 1974, is still operational today after being repaired.

Kemeraltı Bazaar

Lively, just like its historic Kemeraltı Market dating back to the 17th century, with its colorful stalls selling everything from fresh produce to pickled vegetables and homemade bread.

Kızlarağası Inn

Kızlarağası Inn in the Konak district is a great place to shop in an inn built in 1774, where you can buy some of the best Turkish coffee you will ever experience. Coffee beans are ground with a special blend of carob, cedar, cocoa, zahter, coffee cream, and sahlep to create a unique flavor.

Smyrna Agora Archaeological Site

The Agora in ancient cities served as a hub for commercial, political, religious, and social activities. In ancient Smyrna, the Agora was built on the northern slope of Pagos Hill in the 4th century BCE and was later rebuilt with Roman support after a 178 CE earthquake. It functioned as the state Agora, surrounded by public buildings. Notable features include the large Roman basilica, measuring 165 x 28 meters, which was initially used for legal and commercial purposes. The basilica’s graffiti, depicting daily life and early Christian symbols, provides unique insights into Roman and early Christian life. The Western Stoa, another key structure, consisted of colonnaded galleries offering shelter from the weather, while the Faustina Gate, adorned with a portrait of Emperor Marcus Aurelius' wife, adds to the historical significance of the site.

Kadifekale Mt Pagos

Kadifekale, the ancient Pagos Mountain, carries another legend about the founding of the city, attributed to Alexander the Great. According to the legend, Alexander the Great fell asleep under a plane tree while hunting on Mount Pagos. Two Nemesis (nymphs) appeared in his dream and asked Alexander to build the new city at the foot of the hill where he slept. Upon waking, Alexander consulted Apollo in Claros. The oracle interpreted the dream in a single sentence: "The inhabitants of İzmir, who will settle at the foot of Pagos Hill by the sacred Meles Stream, will be four times happier than before."

Yalı Mosque

The Yalı Mosque, located in İzmir Konak Square, was built in the 18th century during the Ottoman period. An example of classical Ottoman architecture, the mosque features an octagonal plan, a single dome, and a single minaret. Its windows are adorned with tiles. Stone and brick were used in its construction, and a small dome covers the prayer area. The minaret has a round body and a single balcony, resting on a cut stone base.

İzmir National Library

The İzmir National Library is a hub of knowledge and culture, offering visitors access to an extensive collection of books, manuscripts, and historical documents. The library’s elegant design and peaceful atmosphere provide a tranquil space for reading, research, and reflection. Visitors can explore the library’s many collections, attend lectures or workshops, and learn about the region’s literary and cultural history. Whether you're a student, researcher, or simply a book lover, the National Library offers a rich and rewarding experience.

Abacıoğlu Caravanserai

The historical Abacıoğlu Caravanserai stands out as a lesser-known site that has been overshadowed by the crowds and chaos of Kemeraltı, yet it draws attention with its natural architecture and peaceful ambiance as soon as you step inside. The inn features a courtyard in the middle, surrounded by two-story shops, and is constructed of regular cut stone, roughly cut stone, and brick. Restored as part of façade arrangement projects, the inn was awarded the "Respect for History / Local Award" in 2007 due to the "Urban Improvement Project Implementation" and again in 2011. It was recognized among the best 30 architectural structures in the Philippe Rotthier European Architecture Competition, one of the most important architectural competitions in the world. Today, it serves as a tourist destination, featuring a restaurant, cafeteria, silversmith, carpet shop, leather shop, and tea garden, making it a charming stopover during a trip to Kemeraltı.

Basmane

Basmane, İzmir, is a central district that attracts attention with its historical and cultural richness. It has become an important trade and transportation center, especially since the 19th century. Basmane is known for its historical buildings, hotels, and cultural venues. In addition, Basmane Train Station plays a significant role in the city's railway transportation.

Dönertaş Fountain

Dönertaş Fountain is named after the rotating column at its corner, and its surroundings are also known by this name. It is a single-domed, square-plan structure built in the early 19th century. The fountain is one of the most beautiful examples of Turkish Baroque and Rococo styles. The bouquet vase and fruit bowl compositions, which are unique themes of the Tulip Era, are striking in the relief decorations on marble. Tulips, rosebuds, leaves, branches, and similar flower and plant motifs, used abundantly as decorative elements, express the Turkish nation's love for nature. There are two depictions of mosques represented in the form of a complex on both sides of the fountain. These mosque depictions illustrate a celebration ceremony, a holiday, or a holy day. The flags on the domes and minarets, the crescent moon between the minarets, and the flags hung on the balconies of the minarets are made quite large to express enthusiasm. Additionally, the lamps hung between the two minarets are also striking. The inscriptions written in legible and large letters on both sides of the fountain are beautiful examples of calligraphy. The structure is one of the most stunning fountains in İzmir in terms of fountain architecture.

Yeşilova Mound

Yeşilova Mound is located in the middle of Bornova Plain, within the 'Prehistoric Settlement Area of İzmir,' which has a diameter of approximately 1,200 meters and also includes Yassıtepe Mound and İpeklikuyu Mound. Within this area, Yeşilova Mound is the oldest known settlement from the prehistoric period within the city center. It is the first village settlement of the city. The first settlement in Yeşilova Mound, which covers an area of more than approximately 70,000 square meters, began at least 8,500 years ago at the start of the Neolithic Age, and many cultures thrived from the Neolithic Age to the Roman Period. The data obtained from the excavations reveal the existence of a hunter-gatherer and farmer society with an organized structure in the Yeşilova settlement, evidenced by terracotta seals. Excavations have been ongoing since 2005.