Agora of Smyrna
This excavation site, which used to be a gathering place of the city in ancient times, is a sight to behold on your İzmir trip, situated very close to the Clock Tower in Konak city centre. The Agora or marketplace was established in the 4th century BC in the north of Pagos at the request of Alexander the Great. Reliefs, statues of figures from Greek mythology, artefacts made of marble and bones were excavated from different parts of the Agora. As the excavation site is in the city centre, there is a plan to transform this place into a big archaeological and historical park in the future.
Ancient City of Ephesus
Located in Selçuk around 1 hour’s drive from İzmir itself, Ephesus is regarded as a significant ancient city of Turkey as the Temple of Artemis - one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - is found there. The excavation site is large and it is considered the biggest open-air museum in the world. Inside the ancient city, there are many important historic structures such as the House of Virgin Mary, the Cave of Seven Sleepers and the Basilica of St. John.
Kadifekale
Previously called Pagos, the castle of Kadifekale dates back to the 4th century BC. Its construction began in the times of Alexander the Great, who decided to move the city to the foothills of Mount Pagos after having a dream about it, and it took almost 100 years to complete. Surviving for centuries, the castle is open to visitors today. Kadifekale is a great vantage point from which to survey the city and the Aegean Sea and take great photos. Also, you can enjoy the stunning view as you rest in the cafes and restaurants nearby.
Abacıoğlu Inn
Hacı Mustafa had this inn built in the beginning of the 18th century and today there are several cafes, restaurants and souvenirs shops inside. In an important architecture competition which took place in 2011, it was selected one of the world’s best 30 architectural structures and received an award. Abacıoğlu Inn is among the must-see places in İzmir as it is a calm and peaceful place in all the crowd of Kemeraltı bazaar and it allows you to soak up the historical atmosphere.
Dönertaş Fountain
İsmail Rahmi Effendi had Dönertaş Fountain built in the name of his father in 1814. It attracts attention with its extraordinary architecture. A mixture of Baroque and Rococo styles, this public fountain was decorated with marble and stone reliefs. Each relief tells a different story and there is an inscription on each of them with the following quotation from the Quran: “We made from water every living thing.” (Surah Al-Anbya, Verse 30).