The Pearl of the Levant

Travel photo reportage about people e places of Izmir, the ancient city of Smyrna, in Türkiye.

Known as the “Pearl of the Levant,” it is home to one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse (mentioned in the Bible)., Izmir is the third biggest Turkish city, after Istanbul and Ankara, yet it is quite unknown. Izmir’s name comes from its ancient name “Smyrna”. This city is one of the oldest settlements of the Mediterranean basin. According to archeological excavations Izmir was founded in 3000 BC. Some say Izmir was founded by Amazons, others say it was founded by the legendary Phrygian King Tantalus. 
There is also an ancient agora, built in Roman times, which shows how important the city was even then. But what is most striking is the number of inhabitants who still live in the historic district of Kemeralti. The Kemeralti Bazaar is an labyrinthine bazaar stretching from Konak Sq through to the ancient Agora, and dates back to the 17th century. This place with narrow streets and old Ottoman mosques the best of which is Sadirvanli Camii. These narrow streets with Ottoman buildings are well preserved and still inhabited by locals. In 1922, a great fire destroyed almost the entire historic center, leading to a massive reconstruction. The fire was a turning point for modern Izmir, as French and Turkish architects collaborated to create wide avenues and elegant buildings. The Kordon, the famous promenade along the Aegean Sea which stretches north from Cumhuriyet Meydanı to Alsancak and south from the Konak quay to Konak Meydani, is the rebirth of the city.