Izmir Attractions

At No. 248 Atatürk Caddesi in Izmir is the Atatürk Museum with mementos of Atatürk's stay in Izmir. Farther down, standing by itself, is NATO's command headquarters.

The bazaar in Izmir is situated to the northeast of Konak Square extends throughout a maze of narrow streets and lanes with innumerable workshops, little shops and stalls, several 18th century caravanserais (some of them restored) and a number of small mosques dating from Ottoman times. Of particular interest is the well- restored Hisar Mosque (1597).

Southeast of the Culture Park in Izmir to the east of Basmahane Station, the Kemer Bridge crosses the small River Melez (the ancient Meles), a modern structure on Greek and Roman foundations. It was formerly known as the Caravan Bridge, from the heavy caravan traffic which passed over it on the way to the interior (Manisa, Balikesir, Sardis).

The southern part of Atatürk Caddesi leads from Republic Square in Izmir past the Commercial Harbor (Ticaret Limani), with the offices of various shipping lines and many banks. At the junction with Gazi Bulvari is the Stock Exchange.

In the northeast of Izmir not far from Basmahane Station, in a district which was burned down in 1922, lies the Culture Park with gardens, a lake, the international fair exhibition halls, a zoo and an amusement park. To the northeast of the Culture Park beyond the railway lines is the large Alsançak Stadium.

2km/1.25mi east of Izmir, outside the suburb of Tepecik, is Diana's Bath (Diana Hamamlari), a little lake with eight springs which supply Izmir with water.

On the opposite side of the Archeological Museum in Izmir is the Ethnological Museum, recently installed in an old building. On display are many exhibits of Turkish furniture and traditional handicrafts.

About half-way along Atatürk Caddesi in Izmir is Republic Square (Cumhuriyet Meydani), with the Independence Monument (Istiklâl Aniti), an equestrian statue of Atatürk.

900m/1,000yds to the south along Esrefpasa Caddesi in Izmir, lies a stretch of Roman road (Roma Yolu), which formed part of the old Golden Road (Altin Yol), an important section of the road network built during Roman times. To the west of the Roman road is Cici Park, on the slopes of Degirmen Tepe (Mill Hill; 75m/245ft). On the hill once stood temples of Vesta and Asklepios, but no traces remain. It also marks the spot where a 17km/10mi Roman aqueduct ended.

On the hillside to the left of the Salihli road On the hillside to the left of the Salihli road 6km/4mi east of Manisa stands a badly weathered figure of a seated goddess. Referred to by Pausanias as "the oldest sculptured image of the Mother of the gods", the inscriptions date from the period of the Hittite Empire.

Barely 9km/5.5mi from Konak Square to the southwest of Izmir and beyond extensive residential suburbs lies a major road junction. To the left (700m/765yds) is the spa center of Balçova with the radioactive Baths of Agamemnon (35-40°C/95-105°F). A cable-car takes the visitor to a panoramic restaurant. Turn right at the road junction for the resort of Inciralti (2km/1.25mi).

13km/8mi beyond the crossroads, the main road which extends west towards Urla and Çesme reaches another junction.

Located in a side valley to the east is the site of ancient Klaros, which was celebrated for its cave oracle of Apollo. The site was identified in 1907.

The road which leads northwest from Izmir skirts first the beautiful Gulf of Izmir and then passes the remains of ancient Larissa (40km/25mi). The acropolis was built by Aeolian Greeks in the sixth century B.C. On a hill to the east is the site of Neon Teichos, a stronghold directed against Larissa which was endowed by the people of Cyme in the eighth century B.C. The lower town, with polygonal walls, lay under the acropolis.

Izmir's port of Notion used to stand at the south end of the Ales valley, 12km/7.5mi from Kolophon on a little bay which is now silted up. The remains of the ancient town are on a hill surrounded by walls and towers, from which two promontories project into the sea. On the east side of the site stood a theater in which more than 20 tiers of seating can still be seen. Nearby are the remains of a temple 12m/40ft long. To the north lies the town's necropolis.

In the plain to the south of Sigacik lie the remains of Teos, a member of the Panionic League of cities which was noted as a center of the cult of Dionysos and the birthplace of the lyric poet Anakreon (ca. 540 B.C.). No traces remain of the once-renowned temple built by Hermogenes of Alabanda.

Situated about 11km/7mi along the main road from Izmir is the town of Urla famous for its magnesium-rich baths. 4km/2.5mi north on an islet linked to the mainland by a causeway near the little town of Urla Iskelesi, birthplace of the philosopher Anaxagoras (ca. 500 B.C.), are the remains of ancient town of Klazomenai. A number of Archaic painted clay sarcophagi were found in the grounds of the hospital here.

On the far side of the promontory (road via Baglararasi) is the little town of Yenifoça with its beach, small harbor and modern tourist developments. Founded at the beginning of the 14th century it fell to the Turks at the same time as its twin town of Foça, or Focia Nuova as it was once known. In the lonely surrounding area are several attractive bathing beaches.