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IZMIR
- PERGAMON
 Izmir is the third biggest
city in Turkey with a population of around 2.5 million, the second
biggest port after Istanbul, and a good transport hub. Once the
ancient city of Smyrna, it is now a modern, developed, and busy
commercial centre, set around a huge bay and surrounded by
mountains and was. The broad boulevards, glass-fronted buildings
and modern shopping centres are dotted with traditional red-tiled
roofs, the 18th century market, and old mosques and churches,
although the city has an atmosphere more of Mediterranean Europe
than traditional Turkey.
The
climate is comfortable, with a relatively mild summer due to the
refreshing breeze from the Aegean. The long attractive palm-fringed
promenade, Birinci Kordon, which stretches the entire length of
the city up to the Alsancak Ferry Terminal, is a popular spot for
evening walks, and there are many cafes along the waterfront.
Izmir has a good selection of culture and entertainment, from the
Archaeological and Ethnographic Museums, to the Izmir State Opera
and Ballet and Izmir State Symphony Orchestra, to the many bars
and clubs. The cosmopolitan and lively city gets even busier
during the International Izmir Festival (mid-June to mid-July)
with music and dance, with performances also in nearby Cesme and
Ephesus.
Districts
Balcova,
Cigli, Gaziemir, Karsiyaka, Konak, Aliaga, Bayindir, Bergama,
Beydag, Bornova, Buca, Cesme, Dikili, Foca, Karaburun, Kemalpasa,
Kinik, Kiraz, Menderes, Menemen, Narlibahce, Odemis, Seferihisar,
Selcuk, Tire, Turbali and Urla.
Selcuk
 South of Izmir on the south
Aegean, Selcuk has been transformed since the 1990s into a major
tourist destination, mainly as a base to visit the famous ruins of
Ephesus a few kilometres away. The ancient classical city is one
of the best preserved in the eastern Mediterranean and is a great
example of Roman architecture.
Selcuk
has many historical remains of early Christianity, including a
house which many believe to have been visited by the Virgin Mary,
and Ayasoluk Hill where St. John write his Gospel. There are many
small hotels and guest-houses, restaurants and shops which makes
the town a good base to explore the area. The town gets busy
during the famous annual camel wrestling festival, held in Ephesus
around February.
History
of Selcuk
 According to ancient
inscriptions, Ephesus is thought to have been inhabited since
around 3000 BC, roughly the same time as Smyrna, and evidence of
Ion, Roman, Byzantine, Seljukian and Ottoman civilizations are
still seen today. The ancient city was a good centre for trading,
mainly because of its location close to coast, and religion. It
was known for the cult of Cybele, the Anatolian fertility goddess,
then later for Artemis, the virgin goddess for which a temple was
built in her honour. The temple was destroyed in 356BC, and when
Alexander the Great passed through in 334 BC he offered to pay for
the cost of a new construction, provided it was dedicated to him.
The Ephesus people declined, and rebuilt it with great success.
When
the Romans made Ephesus their provincial capital, it became a busy
town with great commercial, trading and political importance, and
a population that grew to around 250,000. A significant Christian
community grew, and the city was visited by St John the Evangelist
in the 1st century, then by St Paul, who was there between 51-53
AD and wrote some of his epistles. It was also the venue of two
Ecumenical Councils.
 But the success of Roman
Ephesus began to dwindle, mainly because of problems connected to
the harbour, which was the main source of trade. The Cayster River
was pushing silt up the harbour and despite attempts to dredge it
and rebuild the harbour, the sea was pushed back to Pamucak, 4km
away, and therefore Ephesus lost its source of wealth. By the 6th
century, the city was unlivable and was shifted near to St
John’s Basilica, and by 1090 it was taken over by the Turks.
Pergamon
Bergama
is one of Turkey's oldest civilized settlements and it has been
inhabited from pre-historic times through the Ionic, Roman and
Byzantine civilizations. It has yielded archeological treasures of
which importance is recognized world-wide.To the southwest of
Bergama, Asclepion, an important health center of the ancient
world, the acropolis founded on top of a steep hill (300 m) and
the Temple of Serapis (Kızıl Avlu) make this area a fascinating
stop for history-loving tourists. The Altar of Zeus was smuggled
to Germany in 1897.
 The modern day name comes
directly from its ancient name, Pergamum. Known for centuries for
its monuments, it was a great city and served as the centre of
Pergamum kingdom. Its location made it strategic in the Middle
Ages and it was the centre of the Karesiogullari Principality
before it finally became a part of the Ottoman State. The city's
golden era was during the reign of Attalos I and his son Eumenes
II, the time when an acropolis, theatre and other important
projects were completed. It was an important city in the Roman
period. The city experienced many developments during the reign of
Hadrian (117-138 AD), and it was adorned with Roman works of art.
In the Byzantine era after the spread of Christianity, Bergama was
first under the influence of the bishopric of Ephesus, and then
became a metropolis.
Bergama
Archeology Museum
The
museum contains over 10,000 archaeological and ethnographic works.
The archaeological artifacts belong to the Bronze, Archaic,
Classic, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine ages, and ethnographic
exhibits consist of Ottoman relics and articles from the Bergama
region. Exhibited in the outer garden of the museum are tombstones
and sarcophaguses, while the inner garden contains pieces of
architecture, relieves, colossal statues and stone inscriptions.
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