The excavations at
Bayrakli have unearthed a temple dedicated to Athena and the wall of the
Ionian city which flourished there between the seventh and fifth centuries
B.C. Pottery dating back to the third millennium B.C. has also been
uncovered.
On Kadifekale (Mt. Pagos) stands the impressive ruins of a castle and its
walls which were built by Lysimachus in the reign of
Alexander the Great,
and which still dominate Izmir today. The castle oilers an excellent
vantage point to enjoy a magnificent view of the Gulf of Izmir.
The Agora, or marketplace, in the Namazgah Quarter was originally
constructed during the rule of
Alexander the Great. What remains today,
however, dates from the rebuilding under Marcus Aurehus after a
devastating earthquake in 178 A.D.
The Sirinyer and
Yesildere Aqueducts,two examples of Roman engineering spanning the Meles
River, supplied Izmir's water throughout the
Byzantine and
Ottoman eras.
The Saint Polycarp Church is the oldest church in Izmir and symbolizes the
Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Saint Polycarp was martyred at age 86 in
A.D. 155 at Kadifkale by the Romans. According to tradition, when they
tried to bum him at the stake the flames wouldn't touch him so they
finally stabbed him to death. The church was reconstructed in 1620.
The Kizlaragasi Han
(Inn), a fine example of 18th-century
Ottoman architecture of the period,
is being restored to its former glory.
The symbol of Izmir, the Saat Kulesi, or Clock Tower, stands in the heart
of the city at Konak Square It was a gift from Sultan Abdulhamid and was
built in 1901 in an elaborately decorated late-Ottoman style The old
Asansor quarter, filled with old restored houses is also know as the
Jewish quarter Dario Moreno Sokagi a the main pedestrian street to the
Asansor itself, which is an elevator that was built in the 19th century At
fifty-one meters in height it provides access between the lower and upper
streets Situated on the upper side, the Asansor restaurant offers a
beautiful view of Izmir.
If you find yourself on Havra Sokak in Kemeralti, be sure to notice the
old buildings and synagogues. Alsancak (Punta), with traditionally
restored houses, has. been converted into a pedestrian promenade with bars,
cafes and restaurants.
Asansor Terrace, Izmir
In the center of
Cumhuriyet Meydani or Republic Square, is the Ataturk Monument, an
impressive statue of Ataturk sitting on horse and facing the sea. Erected
in 1933, the monument commem- orates the liberation of the city by Turkish
forces.
The Flying Dolphins in Karsiyaka is a monument that symbolizes fnendship
and brotherhood.
