If you're in need of some late season sunshine and relaxation, Izmir makes a great place to unwind, says Jane Duru. Whilst many holidaymakers flock to the coastal resorts of Bodrum and Marmaris further south, Izmir lacks the allure of beaches.
With the founding of the city dating back 8, years, Izmir is one of the oldest cities in Turkey, and was a something of an ancient melting pot, over the years becoming home to a mixed population of Turks, Levantines ancient Christians from Italy , Jewish and Greek populations.
A catastrophic fire in razed many of the old buildings to the ground, high-rises springing up in their place. Start with a visit to Konak square near the seafront, where people and dogs lie idle in the sun and the shadow of government buildings. Here the 19th-century Konak clock tower stands in commemoration of Sultan Abdulhamid; the clock having been gifted by Kaiser Wilhelm II.
At Kizlaragasi Han, a restored market, visitors can still see the original Ottoman stone architecture, which gives off an atmospheric whiff of the past, despite the all too modern market stalls selling the ubiquitous evil eye. The 51m ft ascent is accompanied by a soundtrack from Turkish crooner Dario Moreno, as the lift is on the street where he once lived. Up in the secluded hills of Mount Nightingale is a small stone house where the Virgin Mary is said to have lived.
I wash my hands in all of them. First founded in the 10th century BC, Ephesus had several incarnations, reaching its zenith in BC with over , inhabitants. At the Upper Gate entrance, the site starts inconspicuously enough, with ancient rubble dotted everywhere.
