Boa vinda a Izmir !-Izmir'e Ho�geldiniz!
Izmir-The City Which I Live !
Ancient age
The city is one of the oldest cities of the Mediterranean basin. Until recently, the original urban site was thought to be established in the 3rd millennium B.C. on a small hill (possibly an island at that time) in the northernmost corner of the gulf's end (in present day Bayrakl�, Kar��yaka) making it one of the most advanced cultures in Anatolia of its time (on a par with Troy). But the recent discovery (2004) of two höyük (mound), very close to each other (Ye�ilova and Yass�tepe), situated more to south (dotted in red in the image below) in the plain of Bornova, and the findings of the first season of excavations carried out in the Ye�ilova Höyük in 2005 by a team of archaeologists from �zmir's Ege University under the direction of Associate Professor Zafer Derin, resets the starting date of the city's history three millennia back in time. Indeed, the mound contains three levels, first of which is a loose tissue of occupation from the late Roman-early Byzantine periods, while the Level 2 bears traces of early to mid-Chalcolithic, and the Level 3 of Neolithic settlements, with continuity. These two levels would have been inhabited, very roughly, between 6500 to 4000 BC. With the seashore drawing away in time, the place had been transformed into a cemetery (several graves containing artefacts dating, roughly, from 3000 BC were founTR:Merhaba EN: Hello
�zmir International Fair
for the main title, see �zmir International Fair.
The �zmir International Fair (IEF), the oldest member from Turkey of the International Union of Fairs is held in Kültürpark, covering an area of 421,000m2 in the heart of the city. Aside from this main event, organized in the beginning of September each year, there are up to forty notable fairs and expositions events held around the year in different areas of activity. These fairs have made a great contributions to �zmir’s social and cultural life with its vast ground, open-air theatres, Painting and Sculpture Museum, art centers, amusement park, zoo and parachute tower.
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Central Izmir
Modern Ýzmir
Today, Ýzmir is Turkey's third largest city and is nicknamed "Occidental Ýzmir" or "The pearl of the Aegean". It is widely regarded as one of the most liberal Turkish cities in terms of values, ideology, lifestyle, dynamism and gender roles. It is a stronghold of the political party CHP.
The city hosts an international arts festival during June/July, and Ýzmir International Fair in the beginning of September every year.
Modern Ýzmir also incorporates world-famous ancient cities like Ephesus, Pergamon, and Sardis.
There is one modern rapid transit line running Southwest to Northeast.
Turkish Language: T�rk�e
Hello--Merhaba
How are you?--N'aber?
Fine thanks and you--�yiyim senden?
What is your name?--Ad�n ne?
Thank you--Te�ekkürler
You are welcome--Bi�ey de�il ( � spell like sh)
Festivals
Festivals
The �zmir International Festival beginning in mid-June and continuing to mid-July, has been organized since 1987. During the annual festival, many world-class performers-soloists and virtuosi, orchestras, dance companies, rock and jazz groups including Ray Charles, Paco de Lucia, Joan Baez, Martha Graham Dance Company, Tanita Tikaram, Jethro Tull, Leningrad Philarmonic Orchestra, Chris De Burgh, Sting, Moscow State Philarmony Orchestra, Jan Garbarek, Red Army Chorus, Academy of St. Martin in the Field, Kodo, Chick Corea and Origin, New York City Ballet, Nigel Kennedy, Bryan Adams, James Brown, Elton John, Kiri Te Kanawa, Mikhail Barishnikov and Josè Carreras gave recitals and performances at various venues in the city and surrounding areas, including the ancient theatres at Ephesus and Metropolis (an antique Ionian city situated near the town of Torbal�).
The Izmir European Jazz Festival is among the numerous events organized every year by �KSEV (The �zmir Foundation for Culture, Arts and Education) since 1994. The festival aims to bring together masters and lovers of jazz in attempt of generating feelings of love, friendship and peace.
