Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Arts
  • Cinema
  • Music
  • Events
  • Portrait
  • Reviews
  • Performing Arts

Izmir’s Kemeraltı bazaar en route to UNESCO with restored buildings

by Anadolu Agency

IZMIR, Turkey Jul 12, 2022 - 1:22 pm GMT+3
A view from Konak Square, Izmir, western Turkey, June 9, 2022. (AA Photo)
A view from Konak Square, Izmir, western Turkey, June 9, 2022. (AA Photo)
by Anadolu Agency Jul 12, 2022 1:22 pm
RECOMMENDED
Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe) in Screen Gems' "The Pope's Exorcist." (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures)

Review: How much of 'The Pope's Exorcist' is real?

RUSSELL-CROWE

In the Kemeraltı bazaar in western Turkey’s Izmir province, one of the oldest known bazaars in the world, 34 historical buildings reflecting the historically multicultural identity of the city have been restored as part of studies aiming to add it to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

A close-up from a window of National Library, Izmir, western Turkey, June 9, 2022. (AA Photo)
A close-up from a window of National Library, Izmir, western Turkey, June 9, 2022. (AA Photo)

The Historical Port City of Izmir, which consists of the historical Kemeraltı bazaar, Basmane, Kadifekale quarters, Old Smyrna, Yeşilova and the Yassıtepe mounds, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2020. It is defined as a multilayered open-air museum that contains traces of the Hellenistic period, ancient Rome, Byzantines, Ottomans and modern Turkey.

The area houses important symbols of Izmir such as Konak Square, the clock tower and the Kemeraltı bazaar. Konak Square is a place where visitors can learn the history of Ottoman modernization by observing the bureaucratic structuring of the 19th Century in the area. The clock tower with four floors and an octagonal plan also adorns Konak Square. While it was built to mark the 25th anniversary of the enthronement of Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II, the clock of the tower was gifted by German Emperor Wilhelm II, who sent such timely presents to many cities in Anatolia.

Kemeraltı bazaar, known as one of the largest and oldest open-air shopping centers in the world, has a very colorful cultural structure with its mosques, churches and synagogues. The historic bazaar Kemeraltı (meaning “under the arch” in English) looks like a labyrinth with its narrow pathways and streets, stretching through to the ancient Agora. Dating back to the 17th century, Kemeraltı is home to shops, eateries, artisan workshops, mosques, coffeehouses, tea gardens and synagogues.

A view from National Library, Izmir, western Turkey, June 9, 2022. (AA Photo)
A view from Mavi Kortejo (Blue Cortijo), Izmir, western Turkey, June 9, 2022. (AA Photo)

Within the scope of the works carried out to include the Historical Port City of Izmir into the permanent UNESCO World Heritage List under the coordination of the Presidency of the Historical Port City of Izmir, a site management plan has gone into effect. As part of the plan, a file is being prepared to send to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and then to UNESCO to accelerate the inclusion of the area into the World Heritage List in August. And for the preparation of the file, various restoration, conversation and reviving works are underway in the city.

Within the scope of the studies, special attention was given to the Kemeraltı bazaar located in the center of the city. Thirty-four historical buildings reflecting the Muslim, Greek, Jewish and Levantine cultures of Izmir were restored by the governor's office with an investment of TL 140 million ($8.06 million) and added to the sightseeing routes.

Among the restored buildings are Naturzade Mansion, Mavi Kortejo (Blue Cortijo), the Alanyalı mansions, the historical government house, the Old Maternity Hospital building, the National Library, the Agora Turkish House and Akın Passage on Havra Street.

A view from the Government Office, Izmir, western Turkey, June 9, 2022. (AA Photo)
A view from the Government Office, Izmir, western Turkey, June 9, 2022. (AA Photo)

Izmir Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they aim to restore the old identity of the city, which is one of the most important trade centers in the Mediterranean basin.

Noting that the ancient cities of Pergamon and Ephesus from Izmir were previously included in the World Heritage List, Köşge said that the works for the city center’s inclusion on the permanent list are now in the final stage. He added that being included on the UNESCO list will significantly increase the touristic value of the city.

Pointing out that tourism professionals take the UNESCO World Heritage List into consideration when determining their tour routes, Köşger said, "Few other Turkish cities other than Izmir have two sites on the UNESCO list. Having three sites on the list will add value to Izmir."

Köşger added that work aiming to add the Historical City of Birgi, Foça and Çandarlı castles, and Izmir Çeşme Castle, which are on the tentative list, to the permanent list is also ongoing.

RECOMMENDED
Father Gabriele Amorth (Russell Crowe) in Screen Gems' "The Pope's Exorcist." (Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures)

Review: How much of 'The Pope's Exorcist' is real?

RUSSELL-CROWE
  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Jul 12, 2022 3:01 pm
    RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    unesco sites unesco world heritage İzmİr kemeralti
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    Park your car or caravan in the designated camping areas and then go for a swim in Ayvalık. (Shutterstock Photo)

    On the road: 5 best caravan camps in Turkey

    Travel
    Percival Lugue, who has the Guinness world record for the largest fast-food toy collection, poses with his toy collection in his home in Apalit, Pampanga province, Philippines, April 20, 2021. (REUTERS Photo)

    Filipino man collects record 200,000 toys from fast-food chains

    TOY-MANIA

    Türkiye inaugurates biggest natural gas storage facility in Europe

    NATURAL-GAS-SUPPLIES

    Istanbul's consulate chronicles: Sudhi Choudhary, Consul General of India

    SUDHI-CHOUDHARY
    No Image
    China's Henan hit by heaviest rains in 1,000 years, dozens killed
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021