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Latest Izmir hotel reviews
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Favorite thing: PLACES TO VISIT
Kemeraltý Bazaar
The huge bazaar in the city centre stretches from the coast road to the Konak area, and is a major shopping centre with a vast array of goods inside. It combines modern businesses, shops and cafes, with antiques, dried fruit, household and leather goods in old alleyways with vaults and domes.
Inside the bazaar is one of the most interesting structures of Izmir: Kizlaragasi Hani is an Ottoman caravanserai inside the Halim Aga Bazaar and was completed in 1745. This covered market sells hand-made products, carpets, leather and souvenirs. There are many entrances to the markets, from Basmane, Konak and Anafartalar. Konak is one of the oldest areas of the city, with most of the buildings that survived the great fire, although the traditional areas are gradually being modernised. This is the location of the city’s landmark, the Saat Kulesi (Ottoman clock tower) decorated with tiles.
Asansör (Elevator)
The elevator was constructed by Jewish businessman Nesim Levi in 1907, in order to make life easier for the local residents going to their mansions on top of the hill. These days tourists use it to admire the views of the old streets and houses of Mithatpasa. Located in the heart of Izmir’s old Jewish quarter, it is housed in a 50m-high brick tower and after refurbishment in 1992 it now contains a café on the top floor, and the original hydraulics are exhibited on the ground floor.
Kültürpark
The huge Kulturpark in the city centre is one of the densest green areas in Izmir, covering 30 hectares. Within it are a zoo, artificial lake, parachute tower, open-air theatre and a collection of bars and cafes. This has been the venue of the International Izmir Fair every August since 1936.
Botanic Garden
Within the grounds of Ege University are the Botanical Gardens, one of the best in the country. There are around 3000 species of plants from the tropical regions to the Alps, many of which are kept under artificial conditions.
Fondest memory: Ancient Cities
Bergama
Ephesus Ruins
Bayraklý (Former Ýzmir)
Located at the northeast of Izmir Bay, Bayrakli was the first known settlement of Izmir, which archaeological excavations indicate was probably around 3000 BC. There is a structure from the 7th century BC, situated on the upper part of Bayrakli, which was the grave of the mythological king, Tantalus.
Kadifekale (Velvet Castle)
The old fortress on the hill at the southeast of the city offers unrivalled views of the surrounding area, and at its best at sunset, when the lights start to come on and the call to prayer echoes from many mosques. It was founded in the 4th century BC by Lysimakhos, one of Alexander the Great’s generals, and was strategically placed in view of the harbour and the city. It is possible to walk up to the citadel from the Agora, through narrow streets and old houses, and it remains open although is not lit at night. On the walls of the ruins are Roman and Byzantine engravings and the remaining structures include the south walls and five towers at the west, which date back to the Medieval Age.
Agora
Within the crowded streets of Konak, the agora used to be the venue for political gatherings and elections. It was built on the orders of Alexander the Great, probably in the 2nd century BC, and is the only surviving pre-Ottoman monument, although what remains was the reconstruction by the Romans after a devastating earthquake. There are 14 Corinthian columns, vaulted chambers and hundreds of Ottoman graveyards in the eastern section. Many treasures unearthed during excavations are now exhibited in the Archaeology Museum.
Written Jan 8, 2003
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Favorite thing: This pretty old Orthodox village, 12 km away from Ephesus and 30 km from Kusadasi, was once Cirkince ('ugly'). Indeed its habitants gave this name on purpose as they did not want to be bothered by foreigners nor to share the beauty of their village.
Still after years, visitors understood that the village was not ugly at all and called it Sirince ('pretty'). As the village is located on the top of a mountain, anyone will enjoy the impressive wine yards' and peach trees' views on his way.
Today the village is a perfect synthesis of Turk-Greek culture as of the 1920's : after the Independence War, people exchange between Greek and Turks has occurred and all those typical Greek houses, though they kept their original outside characteristics, have received the local layout inside. The most beautiful specimens are open to visitors. And even in the courtyard of one of them, one will discover a nicely restorated Orthodox church.
All the narrow streets of the village belong to the women, selling handcrafts of all kinds, olive oil. Another attraction of Sirince is its wine : try its taste in small cafés or in the former municipal school restorated and today the best restaurant of town 'Artemis'.
Though Sirince is developing its tourism very quickly, it has been able to preserve its authenticity and the meaning of its name.
Fondest memory: ÞÝRÝNCE KÖYÜ
Selçuk’a 7 km. uzaklýktaki Þirince Köyü yöredeki turizm merkezlerinden günü birlik gelip-gitme olanaðý olan bir yerleþme alanýdýr. Yolu asfalt ve denizden 350 m. yüksekliktedir.
Köyün kuruluþu M.S. 5.y.y.’a kadar iner. Eski adý Kýrkýnca-Çirkince olan köye yerleþme birkaç nedene dayanmaktadýr. Birincisi, köyün daðlýk ve savunmaya elveriþli olmasý nedeniyle düþman tehlikelerinden korumasý; ikincisi, Efes ve Ayasuluk halkýnýn
sýtma (malarya) hastalýðýndan uzak olmasý; üçüncüsü suyunun bol, topraðýnýn bereketli ve havasýnýn güzel olmasýdýr.
Bazý kaynaklarda köyün kuruluþu, Aydýnoðullarý dönemine rastlar; bir baþka söylenceye göre ise Derebeylikler zamanýnda olduðu þeklindedir. Çirkince adýnýn ise bir grup Derebeyi halkýnýn beylerinden kendilerinin azad edilmesini ve yerleþmek için bir yer bulduklarýný söylemeleri, beyin ‘yerleþeceðiniz yer güzel mi?’ sorusuna da ‘çirkince’ diye yanýt vermeleri sonucu ortaya çýktýðý söylenmektedir.
Ýzmir’in kurtuluþu ile birlikte boþalmýþ olan köye 1924 yýlýnda Selanik ve çevresinden gelen Türk aileleri yerleþtirilmiþtir. Çirkince’yi ziyarete gelen zamanýn Ýzmir Valisi Kazým Dirik Paþa’yý köyün öðretmeni Muallim Suat Bey’in yazýp bestelediði ‘köy marþý’ ile karþýlayýnca Vali Bey çok duygulanmýþ ve köyün adýnýn bundan böyle Þirince olarak deðiþtirilmesini söylemiþtir.
Köyün mimari yapýsý diðer köylerden farklý olup tüm evler kagir, çok pencereli ve pencere ebatlarý ayný oranda yapýlmýþ iki katlýdýr. Balkonlarý asma balkon olarak yapýlmýþ, bodrum kat kiler ve mutfak olarak kullanýlmýþtýr. Evlerin pencere kenarlarý ve saçaklarý resim ve kuþ motifleriyle süslenmiþtir. Köyde iki kilise, mimari özelliklere sahip ilkokul (günümüzde restore edilmiþtir) ve çeþmesi ile kýrka yakýn manastýr bulunmaktadýr.
Köyün gelir kaynaklarý arasýnda ilk sýrayý son günlerde turizm almaktadýr. Yýlýn her ayýnda yerli ve yabancý binlerce turist ziyaret edip resimler çekmekte, özel hazýrlanmýþ saç börekleri yiyip ev þarabý içmektedirler. Köyün elma, viþne, þeftali, çilek þaraplarý evlerde özel olarak yapýldýðý için çok beðenilmektedir. Halk turizmcilikten baþka þeftali, üzüm ve elma yetiþtirerek geçimini saðlamaktadýr.
(Muhtarlýk: 0 (232) 89 23 010)
SÜTÝNÝ MAÐARASI
Köyden dönüþte Selçuk’a 2 Km. kala vadinin yamacýnda bulunmaktadýr. Maðarada beyaz su damlayan sarkýt ve dikitler vardýr. Doðumdan sonra sütü yeterli olmayan kadýnlar damlayan sulardan içtikten sonra, maðaraya çýkamayanlar ise maðaradan getirttikleri taþlarý memelerine koyarak sütlerinin çoðaldýðýna inanmýþlardýr. Maðaranýn giriþinde bugün de mevcut olan fresk kalýntýlarý ve yakýnýnda bir þapel bulunmaktadýr. Köy yolu ve çevresinde bir çok su kemerleri, su deðirmenleri ve yapý kalýntýlarý bulunmaktadýr.
Written Sep 12, 2002
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Favorite thing: Saat Kulesi (Clock Tower)
The symbol of Izmir, the Clock Tower stands in Konak Square in the heart of the city. A gift from the Sultan Abdulhamid and built in 1901, its elaborate ornamentation exemplifies the late-Ottoman style.
Updated Sep 12, 2002
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Favorite thing: Oasis Shopping&Culture&Entertaintment Center.A unique shopping treat,leisure and entertaintment center open throughout the year.Oasis is the heart of modern Bodrum.Shops galore,cineplex,bowling alley,restaurants,music and a host of other attractions.
Updated Sep 7, 2002
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Favorite thing: Turkey's first and only museum of underwater archeology is in Bodrum Castle.In 1995 it was cited as one of the ten best museums in Europe.On display are artifacts brought up from the many wrecks and ancient sites that have been discovered and excavated around Bodrum as well as chance finds that have been brought into the museum.
Written Sep 7, 2002
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Favorite thing: Gümüþlük (Myndus)which is one of the oldest settlements on the Peninsula.Many ancient remains can be seen on the land and beneath the sea.Most notable of these is the ancient breakwater once connecting the little island to the mainland,and the foundations of the once standing harbour tower.All varieties of fish can be found in the restaurants of the village,which is especially known for its octopus salad and fish soup.
Written Sep 7, 2002
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Favorite thing: The Bodrum castle stands on a rocky peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides.More than many historical sites the Bodrum castle rewards the visitor with saticfaction and enjoyment.The casual tourist will find greenery and shade,magnificiant panoramic views from the walls,numerous photogenic situations out door cafeterias,and as many or as few exhibits as desired.
Fondest memory: Bodrum is not just a place of sun,sea and sand.It also has a nightlife worthy of being transformed into a novel.
Written Sep 7, 2002
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Favorite thing: Try semit, a local bread product that is maybe akin to the US pretzel. These are sold everywhere on the street for a few cents and will hold you over until the next meal. How does he do that!
Written Sep 2, 2002
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Favorite thing: Visit the open-air markets to tantalize you eyes and your nose. Here a variety of spices await passing customers. Meats are typically grilled, vegetables are stuffed or sauteed, and everything is Wonderful!
Written Sep 2, 2002
Favorite thing: Ephesus Ancient Site is very important.
you can visit Pamukkale, Aphrodisias too.
and there is a town which named Þirince is very nice becouse there are lots of home made wines to drink.
Kuþadasi,Bodrum,Marmaris ARE THE TOURÝSTÝC CÝTÝES NEAR ÝZMÝR
Fondest memory: Natural and Cultural places around. Turkish Cusine.turkish bath nad entertainment, night life
Written Aug 26, 2002
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Reviews and photos of Izmir attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Izmir sightseeing.
Ephesus Ancient Site is very important.you can visit Pamukkale, Aphrodisias too.and there is a town which named Þirince is very nice becouse there are lots of...
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