BEAUTIFUL IZMIR

Turkey’s third biggest city İzmir , deserving the adjective “beautiful” with its more than 8000 historical background and all richness, shows up gloriously on the coast of Aegean Sea in the west of Anatolian Peninsula.

İzmir, where the first gun was shot under the leadership of Veteran Mustafa Kemal Atatürk during the Turkish War of Independence, has hosted plenty of important people throughout history.

The historian of ancient time, Herodotus described İzmir as “they have founded the city under the most beautiful sky and the best climate that we know on Earth.” In addition, the father of the masterpieces “The Iliad” and “Odyssey” Homer; philosopher and poet Xenophanes; Herakleiotos; philosopher Anaxagoras, and the famous surgeon Galenus lived in İzmir.

Besides the statue of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk welcoming you and carrying the soul and love of these scholars when entering the city, Buca Mevlana Statue has the title of being the third biggest statue in the world.

One of the Seven Wonders of the World Artemis Temple, three of seven churches written in Bible, the first structure constructed for Virgin Mary, are within the borders of İzmir. Saint John, who is the writer of one of four Bibles, died in the county of İzmir, Seljuk and buried here. Moreover, the first temple constructed for the Goddess Athena is in İzmir; and Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press but the parchment was invented in İzmir.

Beautiful and mysterious Cleopatra spent the winter of the year 188 with Antonius in İzmir, Efes.

Being highly educated and literate; İzmir people are known to be paying attention to science, social life understanding, art and aesthetic. The leading names of art world in Turkey are mostly from İzmir. Also the first and only village having a theatre is in İzmir. Izmir has been a port city in history, and the public has signed plenty of firsts to declare their name. For instance, Phocaea people constructed galleys with 50 oars carrying 500 passengers; they established a colony in the West Mediterranean Sea. Also it is told that some these Phocaea people composed “Velia” public in Italy; “Ampurias” in Spain; and “Marseille” public in France.

İt is also told that “One who breathes İzmir can never abandon”,,, really, it is the most correct idiom for İzmir where the sun most beautifully sets.

Although İzmir is on the coast of the Aegean Sea, “İmbat” wind typical to İzmir cools the city in summer; thus the highest oxygenic touristic coast and mountain towns are in İzmir. Due to this beautiful climate, fig, olive, walnut, citrus trees, grape, etc. are grown in İzmir. İzmir is additionally a tourism and trade centre. To see and enjoy the bays and beaches sheltering all tones of blue from navy blue to turquoise; healing with the thermal spring; sightseeing plenty of historical structures and ruins are possible at all times.

Today, world known Ephesus and Bergama ancient cities in İzmir are fascinating centre of attraction for history keens. Currently %15 of the Ephesus city has been dug, and the city is continuing to be dug and renewed. %15 equals to more than 2 km diameters. It is known that more than 1,5 million foreign tourists visit only the Ephesus city.

European tourists discovered İzmir presenting natural life quality with less cost, and which is more beautiful than Italy, France, Greece, and Monaco. However, our siblings living in the Arabian Peninsula have not been able to discover Izmir yet.

Nevertheless, it is crucial to mention here that İzmir is always heartily ready to host you valuable guests with the most delicious fish, olive oil dish, marvellous sunset, cool and oxygenic Aegean summer sea breeze nights, magnificent bays, historical places, thermal springs, and of course beautiful public.

Hope to meet in İzmir,