- Agora:
Agora, a Greek word, means “collected place, City Square, Bazaar, Sunday Place”. In antiquity, it is known that the commercial, political and religious functions of the Agora, as well as the concentration of art, and that many social events were passed or carried out, were the focal point of the city. In antiquity, at least one agora was located in each city. In some major cities, there were usually two agoras. One of these is the state Agora, where state affairs are seen, around which various public buildings are gathered, and the other is the commercial Agora, where commercial activities are concentrated.
Izmir Agora is located on the northern slope of Pagos (Kadifekale), where the ancient city of Smyrna was moved in the 4th century BC. Surrounded by important public buildings of the period, it is the city’s state Agora.
Most of the surviving remains of the Agora, which was founded in the Hellenistic period, belong to the Roman period Agora, which was rebuilt after the earthquake of 178 BC with the support of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
- Clock Tower:
The elegant looking Clock Tower has the Ottoman architectural features, known as the symbol of Izmir adorns the Konak Square just like a pearl.
The Clock Tower was constructed by Grand Vizier Said Pasha on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Sultan Abdulhamid II’s ascending the throne in 1901. It has 25 m height with four fountains around its circular base.
The tower’s clock was a gift from the German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II to Sultan Abdulhamid II of the Ottoman Empire as the symbol of their personal friendship. The most important feature of the tower is that its clock has not stopped since its construction date.
- Izmir Historical Elevator:
This building, which also gave the district its name, was had built by a Jewish businessman named Nesim Levi. The Elevator, which was built between Mithat Paşa Street and the 40-meter high Şehit Nihat Bey Street, was built on an old quarry and put into service in 1907. The elevator saves everyone from climbing the 155 steps between Mithat Paşa Street and Halil Rıfat Paşa Street. The elevator tower consists of three floors. The elevator, which has remained intact to this day, is now electrically driven.
It is one of the best places to view Izmir, and you will want to take photographs. The world-renowned artist Dario Moreno used to live on the street where the Elevator is located and the street was given his name. Every year on the 15th of December a remembrance day is held on the street. On this street, lined with magnolia trees, you can see cleverly engraved old Izmir houses with their own bays.
- Red Basilica:
Archaeological excavations have begun focusing on the basement of the Red Basilica, one of the seven churches in Bergama, which is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and is one of the tallest surviving structures in Anatolia.
The basilica is called the “red courtyard” by people because of its large courtyard and the whole structure being made up of red brick. The basilica, at 19 meters’ height, is considered a magnificent religious structure and is one of the tallest among the Roman-era structures in Anatolia.
The basilica was built at the time of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century A.D. and is believed to have been dedicated to the Egyptian gods Serapis and Isis. It was later extended with additional buildings and became a religious center for Christians.
Being historically important for Christians after being converted to a church during the Byzantine era, the basilica is a high priority for tourists visiting Bergama. The conservation, reconstruction and restoration of the basilica have been undertaken by the German Archaeology Institute.
- Acropol:
The first settlement in Pergamon, meaning castle, is Akropolis. It welcomes visitors to the city with all its glory. Today, you can get up to Akropolis with a cable car, with an amazing view of Pergamon along the way. Akropolis is at a height of 300 meters. The palaces of the Pergamon kings, the theater, holy grounds, temples, the agora, gymnasion, heroon and other Roman Era remnants can be found on this magnificent peak.
The world’s steepest theater (around 70 degrees) is also in Akropolis. It holds 15 thousand people, has 80 rows, the elevation distance between the highest row and the orchestra is 36 meters.
Over the theater’s terrace is the Athena Holy Ground, which is Pergamon’s oldest temple, though only the foundation remains. The temple was devoted to Zeus and the city’s goddess Athena.
The palaces in Akropolis, which are simpler compared to the temples, the storehouses, the detailed waterways and the upper agora (marketplace) are all very impressive.
- Asclepion:
Asklepion in Pergamon, one of the most important health centers of antiquity, has also gone down in history as a medical school and the world’s first psychiatric hospital where famous physicians of the period were trained. Its radioactive properties have been discovered today and its medicinal waters have been used by humans for health purposes for centuries.
The asclepion takes its name from the Asclepios, the son of Apollo and known as the God of Health.
Asklepion has achieved the reputation of being one of the most important health centers of its period with its medical, surgical and paramedical treatments intertwined through indoctrination and belief, and this reputation has reached to the present day.
- Ephesos:
World Heritage List “Ephesus” World Heritage Site; Çukuriçi Höyük, Ayasuluk Hill (Selçuk Castle, St. John Basilica, Isa Bey Bath, Isa Bey Mosque, Artemision), the ancient city of Ephesus and the House of the Virgin Mary consists of four components.
Ephesus, one of the most important centers of the ancient period, started from the prehistoric Hellenistic, Roman, Eastern Roman, principalities and Ottoman periods during nearly 9,000 years of uninterrupted settlement and history of all stages of a very important port city and cultural and commercial center has been.
The most outstanding examples of architecture and urban planning of different periods are in Ephesus, which contains icons that shed light on the superior urbanization, architecture and religious history of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The Church of Mary, the place where the Ecumenical Consul dated 431, when Mary was considered and proclaimed Mother of Jesus, was one of the apostles of Jesus and wrote The Gospel of John in Ephesus. As the basilica built on John’s tomb bears witness to the early Christian period, the House of the Virgin Mary, which is considered a place of pilgrimage by Christians today, and the Islamic structures built during the principalities period, Ephesus also offers a unique accumulation that still stands today in terms of religious history.
- Artemis Temple:
The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. The most important feature of the temple is that it was the first and largest structure made of marble in the ancient times. Even though not much is left but foundation it is possible to draw the reconstruction of the original structure using the pieces revealed during archaeological excavations. Before the Hellenistic period the Temple of Artemis was situated in the sacred area where locals used to worship Cybele.
The temple, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, announced its fame to world between B.C. 334-250 years. It was destroyed and rebuilt seven times because of raid, earthquake, fire and such reasons. While it was once surrounded with big ionic pillars, today only altar place remains. The temple was the first and biggest structure of world, which was made of marble. Some of the ruins are exhibited at British Museum in London, and some of them are exhibited in Ephesus Museum of Wien.
- House fo Virgin Mary:
It is the place where Mary may have spent her last days. Indeed, she may have come in the area together with Saint John, who spent several years in the area to spread Christianity. Mary preferred this remote place rather than living in crowded place.
The house of Virgin Mary is a typical Roman architectural example, entirely made of stones. In the 4th century AD, a church, combining her house and grave, has been built. The original two-stored house, which consisted of an anteroom (where today candles are proposed), bedroom and praying room (Christian church area) and a room with fireplace (chapel for Muslims). A front kitchen fell into ruins and has been restored in 1940’s. Today, only the central part and a room on the right of the altar are open to visitors. From there one can understand that this building looks more like a church than a house. Another interesting place is the “Water of Mary”, a source to be found at the exit of the church area and where a rather salt water, with curative properties, can be drunk by all.
- Village of Sirince:
This pretty old Orthodox village 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.
- St. Johns Basilica:
Basilica of St. John, was built in the 6th century, under emperor Justinian I & his wife Theodora over the supposed site of the St. John Apostle’s tomb. At his crucifixion, Jesus asked his beloved disciple, John, to look after his mother. John and the Virgin Mary travelled to Ephesus between 38 and 47 AD and lived there.
Basilica of St. John was the second largest church of Anatolia when it was actively used. The impressive ruins of the basilica are still visible. The basilica had a cross plan with six domes. Under the central dome was the sacred grave of St. John. Pilgrims have believed that a fine dust from his grave has magical and curative powers.
Visitors can also notice a writing saying that Pope Paul 6th prayed in this place on July 26th 1967. Having Pope’s arrival to the ruins, made the site a popular one.
- Isa Bey Mosque:
Isa bey mosque is one of the best and important example which reflects the end of the Seljuk Empire period in late 14 C A.D. In addition, this mosque bears the imprint of Umayyad mosque in Damascus in which is one of the Islamic centers for scientists and scholars. The marble and tiles here make almost a harmonial visiual feast those who want to visit. The ruler , Aydinoglu Isa bey, conducted to the architect in order to reflect the splendeur and strength of the empire so the architect made a great effort to create such a beauty. Isa bey mosque is an announcement against to the power of Ephesus and the creativity of Artemis as if saying I am also here centuries after.
One of the famous Turkish travelers called Evliya Çelebi gives us a detailed information about this mosque published in 17 th century in his book. When the Ottoman empire began losing its power the mosque was left in ruins at the end of the 19th century and it was used as a caravanserail where the caravans used to stop for spending the night with their camels. During this period, the mosque was altered several times and the changes inside were made.
It was renovated in 1934 first and it was restored several times till 1988 to do the final restoration. Later it was open to pray and to visit.
