Izmir – Places, which are worth seeing

It's best to start your city walk by seeing Izmir and its surroundings from Mount Pagus (180 m n.p.m.), where Kadifekale stands (Velvet Fortress), a which is southwest of the center. Getting up the hill through the old quarter is a bit tricky, but this task will be facilitated by the plan provided. But let's try to enter the district under the hill, letting myself be guided by the path, which as if deliberately set out among the poor, neglected houses. Perhaps it will lead us straight to the gates of the fortress. We can also get there by city bus with the inscription Kadifekale, departing from stops near Konak Meydani. The hill was the main defensive point of the city, from which the double walls extended to the bay. The only remnant of the old fortifications is the Velvet Fortress. In ancient times, the Acropolis was located here, and later the hill with the citadel served only defensive functions. We can climb the walls (behind the gate, there are steps in the corner on the right) and admire not necessarily beautiful, but impressive views of the huge city and the bay. The present state of fortifications has largely been preserved from the Byzantine times, however, the vast majority are remnants of the Ottomans.

Actually, the only archaeological monument after the former Smyrna is the agora, located in the very center of the city, which can be seen clearly from Kadifekale. In ancient cities, the agora served as a market (fair) and places of general assembly. It was mostly a quadrilateral surrounded by columned porticoes (stoa). The visible ruins date from the time of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161 – 180), because the original structure (mid-2nd century. p.n.e.) was razed to the ground by its earthquake in 178 r. The square of the agora measures approx. 180×120 m, and the dozen or so surviving columns of the stoa represent the Doric order. On the northern side, there were numerous shops under arcades two stories high. Many statues and objects found by archaeologists in the agora can be seen in Arkeoloji Muzesi (Archeological museum), situated near Konak Meydani (South), next to the Turgutreis park, open daily (except Mondays) in hours. 8.30 – 16.30, introduction: 2 USD, students: 1 USD. The exhibits from the times of Roman Smyrna are mainly two reliefs depicting Neptune and Demeter, that is, the most important deities, on which the prosperity of the city was to depend. Neptune was the god of the sea, and Demeter the goddess of fertility and fertility. Another highlight of the museum is the head of a huge statue of Emperor Domitian (81 – 96) coming from the temple in Ephesus. The beautiful frieze with relief is also eye-catching (ok. 250 r. p.n.e.) brought from the tomb in Belevi. The exhibition also includes Roman sarcophagi, fragments of the Temple of Athena from Bayrakli and numerous everyday items, including silver and gold products.

Next to the Archaeological Museum in a large, the old building houses the Etnografya Muzesi (ethnographic Museum), open every day (except Mondays) in hours. 8.30 – 16.30, introduction: 0,7 USD, students: 0,35 USD. You can see very interesting collections of Turkish handicrafts and art as well as recreated interiors from the Ottoman times. The presented carpets are rare and beautiful specimens, and glass products attract attention with their delicacy and conscientious workmanship. From the museum you can go to Konak Meydani, from which the bazaar district begins. The Moorish-Islamic clock tower is almost a symbol of the city, for a simple reason, that there are no knee-deep sights in Izmir, and the tower is very easy to associate. It was set up by Sultan Abdulhamid II (1876 – 1909) w 25. anniversary of the beginning of his reign, i.e. in 1901 r. The sponsor was reportedly the German Emperor Wilhelm 11. There is also Konak Camii in the square (1794), a nice mosque with colorful tiles from Kiitahyi on the outside.

To the west of the square, we can enter the bazaar district and the main street here – Anafartalar Street. Walking along it, we come across several historic mosques; some of these (np. Hisar Mosque z 1598 r.) these are interesting buildings. Another monument that arouses admiration is the so-called. Elevator, located in the old Jewish quarter, southwest of Konak Meydani. The Asansor is an 86 year old elevator, high on 51 m, attached to the rock, which connects the low street with the upper level. There is also an observation deck with nice cafes. There are many synagogues and churches in Izmir, among which the most interesting is the Catholic Church of St.. Polycarp (Gaziosmanpaja Blvd., opposite the Izmir Hilton hotel, entrance from Kazim Paja Bulv.). It is a richly decorated 19th-century building. Holy masses are held every Sunday morning. Another interesting church is the Anglican Church of St.. st. Jana, created at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Inside, there are plaques commemorating the English soldiers, and even an English railwayman, who died in the accident, working for the Ottoman railways. The board at the entrance informs about the chaplains, who spread the Protestant faith here from the beginning of the 17th century.