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Izmir is the third most populous city of Turkey and the country's largest port after Istanbul. It is located in the Gulf of Izmir, by the Aegean Sea. It is the capital of Izmir Province.
The city of Izmir is composed of 9 metropolitan districts. These are Balcova, Bornova, Buca, Cigli, Gaziemir, Guzelbahce, Karsiyaka, Konak and Narlidere. Each district, and often also the neighborhoods within, possesses distinct features and a particular temperament.
Izmir is inheritor of almost 3500 years of urban past, and possibly up to that much more in terms of advanced human settlement patterns. It is Turkey's first port for exports and its free zone is the leader among the twenty that Turkey counts. Izmir is nicknamed "Occidental Izmir" or "The Pearl of the Aegean".
Its workforce, and particularly its rising class of young professionals, concentrated either in the city or in its immediate vicinity (such as in Manisa), and under either larger companies or SME's, affirm their name in increasingly wider global scale and exciting intensity. Izmir is widely regarded as one of the most liberal Turkish cities in terms of values, ideology, lifestyle, dynamism and gender roles. It is a stronghold of the political party CHP.
The city hosts an international arts festival during June/July, and Izmir International Fair, one among the city's many fair and exhibition events, is held in the beginning of September every year.
It is served by national and international flights through Adnan Menderes Airport and there is a modern subway-rapid transit line running Southwest to Northeast.
Izmir hosted the Mediterranean Games in 1971 and the World University Games (Universiade) in 2005. It has a running bid submitted to BIE to host the Universal Expo 2015, which will be voted in 2008.
Modern Izmir also incorporates the nearby ancient cities like Ephesus, Pergamon, and Sardis, and centers of international tourism such as Kusadasi, Cesme and Foca.
 ANCIENT LANDMARKS OF IZMIR
Standing on Mount Yamanlar (Dagi), a distinct mountain that overlooks Izmir which appears like a part of the legendary Mount Sipylus (Spil Dagi today), the tomb of Tantalus is an example of the tholos type monumental tombs. The grave room of Tantalus' tumulus was in the plan of the fountain, displaying a style called isopata, meaning the construction has a rectangle plan, covered by vaults made with corbel technique. This monumental work is thought to be the tomb of the Basileus or Tyrant who ruled ancient Smyrna in 580-520 BCE.
The oldest civil work of Greek architecture in ancient Smyrna is the stone fountain, built in the first half of the 7th century BCE.
The Agora of Smyrna is well preserved, and is arranged into the Agora Open Air Museum of Izmir, although important parts buried under modern buildings are still to be brought to daylight. Serious consideration has also been given to excavating the ancient theatre, distinguishable until the 19th century as evidenced by its sketchings done by a Prussian consul of the period, which is buried in our day under an urban zone on the slopes of Kadifekale (Mount Pagos).
On top of this hill soars the ancient castle which is one of the landmarks of Izmir. The theatre of Smyrna was where St. Polycarp had been martyred.
Izmir had three castles historically. A third castle, after the hilltop Kadifekale (Pagos, Pagus) and the portuary Okkale (Neon Kastron, St. Peter) castles, was Sancakkale, which remained vital to Izmir's security for centuries. It is situated in the present-day Inciralti quarter between Balcova and Narlidere districts, on the southern shore of the Gulf of Izmir, at a key point where the strait allowing entry into the innermost tip of the Gulf is at its narrowest, and due to shallow waters through a large part of this strait, ships have to cruise close to the castle.]
There are nine synagogues in Izmir, concentrated either in the traditional Jewish quarter of Karatas or in Havra Sokak (Synagogue street) in Kemeralti, and they all bear the signature of the 19th century when they were built or re-constructed in depth on the basis of former buildings.
BIRDS PARADISE
Izmir Birds Paradise in Cigli, located 15 km west of Karsiyaka, has 205 species of birds. There are 63 species of domestic birds, 54 species of summer migratory birds, 43 species of winter migratory birds, 30 species of transit birds. 56 species of birds have been breeding in the Park. Izmir Bird's Paradise which covers 80 square kilometres was registered as "The protected area for water birds and for their breeding" by Ministry of Forestry in 1982.
CUISINE OF IZMIR
Izmir's cuisine has largely been affected by its multicultural history, hence the large variety of food originating from the Aegean, Mediterranean and Anatolian regions. Another factor is the large area of land surrounding the region which grows a rich selection of vegetables. Some of the common dishes found here are, tarhana soup (made from dried yoghurt and tomatoes), Izmir kofte, keskek (boiled wheat with meat), zerde (sweetened rice with saffron) and mucver (made from zucchini and eggs).
Historically, as a result of the influx of Greek refugees from Izmir (as well as from other parts of Asia Minor and Istanbul) to mainland Greece after 1922, the cuisine of Izmir has had an enormous impact on Greek cuisine, exporting many sophisticated spices and foods.
CLIMATE OF IZMIR
Izmir is characterized by long, hot summers and mild, rainy winters. The total precipitation for Izmir averages 706 mm (27.8 inches) per year; however, 77% of that falls during November through March.
The average maximum temperatures during the winter months vary between 12 and 14°C.
Although it's rare, snow has been recorded in Izmir in January and February. The summer months — June through September — bring average daytime temperatures of 28°C or higher.
FESTIVALS OF IZMIR
The Izmir International Festival beginning in mid-June and continuing to mid-July, has been organized since 1987. During the annual festival, many world-class performers such as soloists and virtuosi, orchestras, dance companies, rock and jazz groups including Ray Charles, Paco de Lucia, Joan Baez, Martha Graham Dance Company, Tanita Tikaram, Jethro Tull, Leningrad Philarmonic Orchestra, Chris De Burgh, Sting, Moscow State Philarmony Orchestra, Jan Garbarek, Red Army Chorus, Academy of St. Martin in the Field, Kodo, Chick Corea and Origin, New York City Ballet, Nigel Kennedy, Bryan Adams, James Brown, Elton John, Kiri Te Kanawa, Mikhail Barishnikov and Josep Carreras have given recitals and performances at various venues in the city and surrounding areas, including the ancient theatres at Ephesus and Metropolis (an antique Ionian city situated near the town of Torbali).
The Izmir International Fair (IEF), the oldest member from Turkey of the International Union of Fairs is held in Kulturpark, covering an area of 421,000m2 in the heart of the city. Aside from this main event, organized in the beginning of September each year, there are up to forty notable fairs and expositions held around the year in different areas of activity. These fairs have made great contributions to Izmir's social and cultural life with its vast ground, open-air theatres, Painting and Sculpture Museum, art centers, amusement park, zoo and parachute tower.
The Izmir European Jazz Festival is among the numerous events organized every year by IKSEV (The Izmir Foundation for Culture, Arts and Education) since 1994. The festival aims to bring together masters and lovers of jazz in the attempt to generate feelings of love, friendship and peace.
Retrieved from Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia.
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