People think about only two things when they hear about my country, Turkey; kebabs and ice cream. There are, however, lots of interesting places which have unique geological, historical and cultural features. These places also have their own cuisines with a range of tastes appreciated by other countries. Located in the western part of Turkey, Izmir, where I was born and raised, is the third most populous metropolitan city in the country. This city is one of the must-see destinations that has historical sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List such as Pergamon and Ephesus. In this article, it is a great pleasure for me to introduce my hometown, which is known for its very hot weather in summer, a variety of food, and the impressive night sea view.

Landmark of the City, Clock Tower

In Izmir that is a province situated on the western Aegean Coast, the most remarkable historical building is the clock tower located in Konak Square. It was designed by the French architect Raymond Charles Péré and built in 1901 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the enthronement of Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II. It is 25 meters tall and has four floors in an octagonal shape. Its platform is made of white marble and other structures are made of cut stones. The outer facade of the clock tower consists of lozenge reliefs and has four clocks with a diameter of 75 centimeters. The tower was damaged by an earthquake in 1974 and the clock stopped. Within two years, the tower was repaired again and the clock still works. The architecture now functions as the landmark of the city.

With its ancient name of Smyrna, this city is immensely crowded with many tourists visiting it each season. Local people also enjoy tourist activities like taking pictures and busking, causing the city to be more crowded. Turkish people are very hospitable and friendly because they have been taught to be kind and helpful to others as it is the tradition and culture of this country in time. The city of Izmir is better when you visit the place in the evening. People singing different songs and dancing with the sea view behind the tower makes the place wonderful.

Must-See Places

Izmir has many historical and cultural heritages such as buildings, mosques, churches, and streets with stories stored back in time. Nevertheless, the one that everyone knows is Kemeralti Bazaar where you can find whatever you are looking for; clothing, traditional clothes for weddings, cafés and restaurants, fountains, inns, baths, the 16th century mosques, and many shops that are still preserved in their historical texture. The bazaar has the potential to meet all your needs. You can go shopping, see the historical and cultural assets of the city, or you can just enjoy your meal and have a Turkish coffee with friends.

Alsancak district located in the heart of the city is one of the must-see places. It is a place that can be easily reached by going straight from the entrance of the Kemeralti Bazaar. This district has always been the inspiration of poems and songs. Accordingly, it is Izmir's most popular entertainment center known for its romantic sunsets, cafés, fish restaurants, stylish shops, parades, jogging and cycling tracks along the Kordon, the coastal road with palm trees and the Aegean. Maybe that is why the district, also known as a backpacker’s paradise, is widely preferred as the meeting point of Izmir locals. It is a place where you can experience the highest level of peace and pleasure.

Finally, Asansör, which literally means elevator in Turkish, is a tower with two elevators operating between Mithatpaşa Street and Şehit Nihatbey Street, one of which is 58 meters higher than the other. The elevators were built by Jewish businessman Nesim Levi in 1907 to provide fast and easy transportation between the two districts, from one to the other there are 155 stairs. Today, it is used by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality as a place of entertainment, culture and recreation. It is an important stop for tourists in the city. It is free and you can see the best view from the top. No doubt, it is more stunning in the evening.

Unique Tasting Food

In Izmir, there are a variety of distinguished foods that you cannot taste in the other cities in Turkey such as bomba, midye, boyoz, kokoreç, etc. Since not many people know about the special flavors of Izmir, I will try to introduce some of them. With its soft dough and intense liquid chocolate that melts in the mouth, “bomba” meaning bomb, originated in Izmir. It is an indispensable taste for locals. Its popularity increased suddenly due to social media and it is also becoming better known to tourists.

The second well known taste of this province is midye dolma cooked with black or blue mussels and rice, and we add some lemon before eating. Having midye dolma with beer is a popular combination among young people, and it is so regional that I cannot find a similar taste anywhere. The last is boyoz, which is a pastry unique in this region. It is one of the most indispensable breakfast foods for Turkish people. Boyoz is generally preferred with hard-cooked eggs. It can be described as round small pastries that become layered as a result of the dough prepared with flour, water and salt.

If you want to travel but do not know where to go yet, you are welcome in Izmir! It is not a city known worldwide but I promise it will be one of the prettiest. There is even a saying that if something is known by just a few people, it is more valuable. Izmir surely will welcome its new guests, presenting them imperishable experiences and evergreen memories.

By Selda Karakas, Exchange Student, Dept. of Korean Language and Literature