İzmir and Çeşme Peninsula * Focus on İzmir Hotels - S&M ...

ocus on DESTINATIONwith the Agora, rests near the slopes ofKadifekale. İzmir has had three castleshistorically- Kadifekale (Pagos), theportuary Ok Kalesi (Neon Kastron, St.Peter), <strong>and</strong> Sancakkale, which remainedvital to İzmir’s security for centuries.Sancakkale is situated in the presentdayİnciraltı quarter between Balçova<strong>and</strong> Narlıdere districts, on the southernshore of the Gulf of İzmir. It is at a keypoint where the strait allows entry into theinnermost tip of the Gulf at its narrowest,<strong>and</strong> due to shallow waters through a largepart of this strait, ships have sailed closeto the castle.There are nine synagogues in İzmir,concentrated either in thetraditional Jewish quarterof Karataş or in HavraSokak (Synagogue street) inKemeraltı, <strong>and</strong> they all bearthe signature of the 19thcentury when they were builtor re-constructed in depth onthe basis of former buildings.The İzmir Birds Paradisein Çiğli, a bird sanctuarynear Karşıyaka, contains205 species of birds. Thereare 63 species of domesticbirds, 54 species of summermigratory birds, 43 speciesof winter migratory birds, 30species of transit birds. 56species of birds have beenbreeding in the Park. İzmirBird’s Paradise which covers80 square kilometres wasregistered as “The protectedarea for water birds <strong>and</strong> fortheir breeding” by Ministry ofForestry in 1982.Cesme <strong>Peninsula</strong>The Cesme <strong>Peninsula</strong>,lapped by the waters of theAegean Sea, lies west ofIzmir. The name “Cesme”meaning fountain, refers tothe many springs found in the area duringthe 18th <strong>and</strong> 19th centuries. Çeşme isa town on the west coast of Turkey <strong>and</strong>one of the districts of İzmir Province. Itis a prominent center of internationaltourism in Turkey <strong>and</strong> is famous for itsclubs, beaches <strong>and</strong> fish restaurants.The nearby depending townships ofIlıca <strong>and</strong> Alaçatı are also very notablein this respect. It lies across a narrowstrait from the Greek isl<strong>and</strong> of Chios.It is one of Turkey’s touristic areaswith l<strong>and</strong>scapes of cultivated fields ofaniseed, sesame <strong>and</strong> artichokes dottedwith fig <strong>and</strong> gum trees. There are manyBlue-flag bays nearby. In the unspoiledbays you can swim in absolute peace.Alaçatı, near Çeşme,is a windy area in allseasons <strong>and</strong> so it is a famous windsurfpalace.Visitors will find excellent holidayaccommodations, restaurants <strong>and</strong> sports<strong>and</strong> entertainment facilities. Çeşme hasan international harbor linked to İzmirwith a superb highway (80 km).Also it ispossible to visit daily Greek isl<strong>and</strong>s byferry from Çeşme port.Today the townis a popular holiday resort with excellentaccommodations <strong>and</strong> restaurants.The 16th-century caravanserai nearthe fortress, built by Suleyman theMagnificent, has been converted into ahotel, while the 19th-century Church ofHagios Haralambos has been restoredas the Emir Caka Art Gallery. Thermalbaths offer a health-oriented escape frommodern life. Excellent shopping for thefinest quality carpets <strong>and</strong> leather goods,as well as souvenir items is also possible.At night, a lively, atmosphere pervades thetown, especially in the restaurants, cafes,bars <strong>and</strong> discos along the promenade.Cesme hosts an annual InternationalSong Contest in the summer. Yachts canbe chartered to explore the peninsula’ssplendid coastline. Also, ferries make therun from Cesme to Venice on a weeklybasis. The very popular holiday centerof Ilica boasts an excellent white s<strong>and</strong>ybeach <strong>and</strong> the outst<strong>and</strong>ing facilitiesof the Altin Yunus Marina <strong>and</strong> HolidayComplex. The bay here is ideal for watersports, especially windsurfing <strong>and</strong> sailing.The thermal baths around Ilica are verypopular, the best located on Sifne Bay.Pasa Limani (Pasha Harbor) also has14May / June ’09