İZMİR
Izmir is the pearl of the Aegean, a fascinating city whose history begins in the mists of legend. Turkey's third largest city and second most important port, Izmir is the center of tourism in the region. This modern city still retains traces of its ancient, Ottoman and Levantine past.


AGORA: Revealed in central Izmir during excavations carried out in 1932-1941 in the district of Namazgah. eovering an area of 120 x 80 m, the agora throws invaluable light on Roman period Izmir. it was not only a market place, but the location of public institutions and the Temple of Zeus. The agora is open to the public between 9.00 -12.00 and 13.00 -18.00. The statues found here are on exhibit in Izmir Archaeological Museum.
ALSANCAK: A select neighbourhood with a unique character in modern Izmir. Stretching from the waterfront esplanade inland most of the area has been transformed into a pedestrian precinct, so there is no trarffic to disturb shoppers and strollers.The streets lined by modern buildings and attractive shops lead onto the square where Alsancak station stands. Dating from 1858 the colonial architecture of the station distinguishes it in style from the rest of the city. Trains to Buca, Aydin and Denizli depart from here.
ANGLICAN CHURCH : This church was built in 1835 by Levantines of English extraction living in Buca. The church is famous for its wood carving, beautiful stained glass windows and huge organ.
ASANSOR: The city's famous public elevator, and a symbol of Izmir. This elevator links Mithatpasa street below with Halil Rifat Pasa street at the summit of the precipitous hill. It was built in 1907 and restored by the municipality in 1993. The upper terrace has a breathtaking view over the city and the bay. Here there is an Open-air cafe, a restaurant and a Genoese tavern.
BALCOVA: This spa is on the outskirts of Izmir on the road to Urla and Çesme. Turn left at Inciralti crossroads to reach Balçova thermal springs one kilometer down the road. Known as the Agamemnon Springs in antiquity, this may have been the first hydrotherapy center of the ancient world. Today there are modern facilities for visitors to the hot springs and luxury hotels. The temperature of the water is 63 degrees C.
BARLAR SOKAGI: Street of Bars. Some of the attractive old houses under conservation order in Alsancak now house bars and restaurants.
BASMANE: In this district are Izmir's oldfashioned shopping streets, the park where the famous Izmir Fair is held each summer, and Basmane station. The trains to Manisa, and suburban rail buses to Bornova and other destinations leave from this station.
BORNOVA: A suburb of Izmir, Bornova was the hub of the Levantine community in the late l9th and 20th centuries. Today it houses the campus of Ege University The Izmir-Manisa road passes through Bornova, which is linked to the city centre by a 7 km railway line.

BUCA: Once Izmir's summer resort, Buca is today part of the city. With a population of 200000 in 1990, Buca is today a commercial and university district. The British Levantine merchants who ran businesses in Izmir from the late l8th century onward s built imposing mansions here. Not until the 1950s did Buca undergo radical change as various institutions moved into the mansions, whose extensive gardens are under conservation.
CLIMATE: Typical mediterranean climate, with hot dry summers and warm wet winters. The average temperature is 18 degrees C. Snowfall is extremely rare, and approximately 148 days of the year are clear and sunny.
CLOCK TOWER: Another symbol of the city, this picturesque clock tower in Konak Meydan was build in 1901 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Abduhamit II's accession to the throne. The clock itsetf was a gift of Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany. The 25 m high tower is currently being restored.

CESME: This popular and attractive resort west of lzmir is famous for its modern hotels, sparkling clean sea and wonderful sandy beaches.
CIPURA: Izmir's Iegendary fish. Found widely in both the Mediterranean and Aegean, this delicious fish with a dark blue back and silvery sides is now extensively farmed. Go into any of Izmir's many sea food restaurants and order grilled Cipura, acc ompanied by a salad of diverse local herbs and pure olive oiI. What could be more sublime!
DOKUZ EYLUL: 9 September l922... The day when Izmir was liberated from three years of Greek occupation following the Great Attack launched by the Turkish army on 26 August. One of the major events ln the Turkish War of Independence, this date is th e name of one of the city's universities.

FOCA: A picturesque fishing town 50 km north of Izmir. A magnet for holliday makers during summer today, Foca was an important Ionian town in antiquity. The Phokaians were famed for their commercial prowess, courage and seamanship. They establishe d trading cololnies at distant ports, and were the founders of the French port of Marseilles (the ancient Massalia).
HISAR MOSQUE: The city's most magnificent mosque in the district of Hisar next to Kemeralti office complex. The mosque was built by Yakup Bey in 1592. It is roofed by a large dome resting on eight piers, and noted for the decoration on the altar ni che and pulpit.
HOUSE OF THE VIRGIN MARY: This holy Christian shrine on Mt.Bulbul between Selcuk and Ephesus was sanctifìed by Pope Paul VI in 1967, after the Vatican confirmed that the Virgin Mary had spent the last years of her life here. Numerous travel agencie s in Izmir organise day tours to the House of the Virgin Mary and Ephesus.

IMBAT : The sea breeze which brings relief to Izmir's inhabitants in the blazing heat of high summer.
IZMIR FAIR: Since I932 this international trade fair has been the highlight of the summer season in Izmir. From late August to early September the fair doubles as a popular festival of music and stage events in the Culture Park.
IZMIR KOFTE: 'Izmir's best known local dish, now popular almost everywhere in Turkey. But to enjoy it at its finest you must eat it at the house of an Izmir family or in an old fashioned backstreet restaurant in the city. Finely minced meat is kne aded with Onion juice, salt, pepper and fresh breadcrumbs. Shaped into balls or fingers this mixture is fried, and placed on a bed of fried green peppers, tomatoes and potatoes in a shallow pan. Serve hot.
KADIFEKALE: Velvet Castle, to be literal. This 4th century BC castle commands a bird's eye view of Izmir and is th perfect place to watch the sun set over the city.

KARSIYAKA: The name of this district of Izmir on the north shore off Izmir Bay means "opposite shore", as indeed it is. The inhabitants of this pleasant residential area with its Own esplanade claim an identity distinct from the rest of the city. In their view, Karsiyaka is a town in its own right with an individual cultulre and history.
KEMERALTI: The old fashioned shopping district of Izmir, consisting of narrow streets winding their way from Konak towards central Izmir around Anafartalar Caddesi. Here you can find jewellers, drapers, shoemaker, and shops specialising in all kind s of goods from leather to olives and cheese. The atmosphere of an earlier century still pervades the bulidings here, with their distinctive 19th century doorways and roof tiles.
KORDON: The famous esplanade between Konak Meydan and Alsancak is packed with promenaders on weekends and fine evenings. As families and young lovers hand in hand stroll along the waterfront, horse-drawn phaetons with colourful ponpons swinging from the harnesses es trot past, and cars cruise by. Izmir's esplanade is the subject of a popular old song:"My lover seemed to say/Let us meet on the Kordon one day/Perhaps at ten o'clock".
LOKMA: Lokma is Izmir's celebrated sweet pastry. Tiny balls of yeast dough are fried in hot oil and steeped in syrup as you wait. Queues olf customers gather at the stalls where the best lokma is made.
PASAPORT: (Not a printing error, but the Turkish for "passport). The name for the dock and pier between Konak and Cumhuriyet Meydan. Pasasaport Dock was built in 1876. The dock building is in the Turkish revival style inspired by Ottoman and Selcuk architecture which was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Until not so long ago the area was full of old fashioned coffee houses which served waterpipes as well as tea and coffee, but today pubs have supplanted most of them.
PERGAMUM: The remains of this magnificent ancient city are situated north of Imir. Founded in the early 3rd century BC, Pergamum was the most powerful and extensive kingdom of Western Anatolia throughout the Hellenistic periold. Parchment is though t to have been invented here. On the hill which rises steeply in the centre of Pergamum is the Acropolis and the world's steepest amphitheatre with seating for 16,000 people. The remains of temples Of Athena and Dionysus. The splendid altar of Zeus at the entrance of the Acropolis was taken to Berlin Museum by Carl Humann in 1871. A fligth of 20 steps leads up to this remarkable structure, which dwarfs the room at Berlin Museum, as it awaits expectantly the day when it will be released from confinement and return to its hilltop site in Pergamum.The ruins of the Asclepion on the plain below reveal almost all the original features as a result of the excavations. Named after the god of medicine Asclepios, this complex was one of the foremost heath cent ers of the ancient world.
SELCUK: A town in the foothills of the Aydin mountains 94 km south of Izmir. SeIcuk is the site of Ephesus Museum, a magnificent castle and the 6th century Basilica of St.John. The road to the resorts of Marmaris and Bodrum passes through Selcuk, w hile Kusadasi, port of call for many yachts and cruise liners, is just a twenty minute drive to the north.
SMYRNA: The ancient name for Izmir and the heroic Amazon who founded the city according to Herodotus and Strabon.
TEOS: The ruins of Teos are set amidst olive groves at one end of Sigacik harbour near Seferihisar, famous for its beaches and thermal springs. Thales relates that Teos was selected as capital of the league of twelve Ionian cities in the 7th centur y BC. The largest temple of Dionysus ever built in Teos.
TEPEKULE: Excavations at Tepekule in the district of Bayrakli have thrown light on Izmir's early history. Izmir was oriinally a settlement of the Aeolians, who were conteporaries of the first Trojans, and dates back to the third miilenium BC. The c ity was subsequently occupied by the Ionians, and the Lydian King Alyattes conquered the region in 600 BC, razing Izmir's temples and houses. Today the ruins of the Temple of Athena and houses can be seen at Tepekule.
URLA: Urla is a resort 42 km from Izmir n the road to Cesme. Izmirians spend their summers and weekends here, the site of the ancient Ionian city of Klazomenai. This city was the birthplace of the illustrious philosopher Anaxogoras, and is latterly also famous for a local pastry dish "katmer" and for its meat and fis restaurants.
WILD HERBS: Dishes made with fresh herbs have a special place in the Aegean cuisine. When spring comes local markets are filled with green vegetables, many of them local wild varieties gathered from meadows and mountains, such as radika, turpotu, h ardalotu, and cibes (the first shoots of cauliflower) and many more. The leaves are washed, blanched and served with a ressing of lemon juice and olive oil.

KIRIKKALE
As a city, the establishment and development or Kırıkkale is rather new. But its surrounding geographical areas are known to be very old settlement area going back centuries. Archeological items like caves, underground cities and ardtifical mounds founds in different parts of this province prove such knowledge.
After the Malazgirt Victory of 1071, the area around Bohrek Mountain, being a hinterland of Kırıkkale, became the first place of struggles for Anatolia to be a Turkish and İslamic land. Then, one of the first Türk-İslam settlement centrs is Balişeyh town which was established in 1120 AD.
During the succeeding centuries, it is seen that various Oğuz Türkmen tribes were inhabited in this area. These tribes had moved from Central Asia to Anatolia. There are Otoman Empire archives about “Oğuzhan tribe inhabited in region called”Kırıkkale” (as it was prounced at that time) nearby Ankara. These documents show us that this region had been called Kırıkkala 200-300 years ago. During the last period of Otoman Empire the Kırıkkale region attracted the atention with settlement areas like Yahşihan, Kırıkköy and Yuvaköy and Kızılırmak valley of Keskin subdivision of Kırşehir sanjak of Ankara Province.
Also Evliya Çelebi mentioned with praise the settlement areas in the surrounding of Kırıkkale on the way of the Silk Road like Keskin, Yahşihan and Sulakyurt.
With the construction of Weapon İndustry, in the early years of the Republic of Turkey, Kırıkkale became an important settlement centre of the region with its history, culture and indurstry.
GEOGRAPHİCAL CHARACTERİSTİCS
Kırıkkale is among the cities situated in central Anatolia. Its altitude from the sea level is 700 mts, and it covers an area of about 4600 kms square . Kırıkkale is located in the middle of the Kızılırmak River.
Kırıkkale is surrounded by Çorum, Yozgat and Kırşehir to the east, Kırşehir to the South, Ankara to the west, and Çankırı to the north.
The province of Kırıkkale is, for the most part, surrounded by a number of rivers. These rivers play an important part in the formation of natural borders with neighbouring provinces.
Its western border is separated from Ankara by means of the Kızılırmak river; its eastern border with Kırşehir by Kılıçözü stream; and its western border with Çorum by Delice stream.
THE MAIN PLANTS
The natural plantation of Kırıkkale is made up of stepe plants. A wide variety of plants tend to be dry and salty. Plants such as geven, harmal and thistle are typical examples. Those which grow spontaneously are rather rich. Yavşanotu, carnation, daisy, purge, mint, balckberry, netle, licorice, kuşburnu, madımak, ebegümeci, mustard and thyme can in particular be mentioned. The woodlands of Kırıkkale are only a few. The forests in Sulakyurt, Koçubaba and Denek consist of dumpy oak and partially of juniper.
CLIMATIC FEATURES
The climate of Kırıkkale can be described as a continental climate. Accordingly, winters are cold and rainy, and summers are hot and dry. However Kırıkkale also has a partially mild climate because of some topographical features. Here a variety of small islets of climate can be found. All kinds of vegetables and furits are grown earlier than the other provinces because some of these islets are below 700 mts.
Annual average rainfall in the province is about 355 mms. In winter, it often rains in the form of snow due to high pressure. In spring, the rainfall reaches at its highest. In summer, the rainfall is minimal. In fall, it tends to increase.
The annual average temperature of Kırıkkale is 11-12 degrees. July and August are the hottest months, whereas January and February are the coldest.
MOUNTAINS
The Karagüney mountains cause the North of the province to be steeped and broken. The Tokus mountain (1306 mts) is located in the North of Kırıkkale. Denek mountain is located in the middle of Kırıkkale and its altitude is 1744 mts. The Küre mountain (1522 mts) is located in the west of Kırıkkale, whereas the Karaca mountain is the southwest of Kırıkkale. The Behrek mountain (1522 mts) is located in between Keskin and Çelebi. The Denek mountain range extends along Keskin and Çelebi and the Denek mountain range extends between Keskin and İzzettin villages in the South of Çoruhözü
Kaynak: ReformTürk http://www.reformturk.com/showthread.php?p=99854
POPULATION
Altough it was a village of 12 houses in 1925, today, Kırıkkale is the 22 nd biggest city in Turkey. The first census in Kırıkkale was conducted in 1940. Its population that year was 11.484. When Kırıkkale was a district of Ankara in 1950, its population was 15.750; in 1960 42.000; in 1970 91.658 and in 2000 205.078.
KIRIKKALE’S TURNING INTO A PROVINCE
While a district of Ankara, Kırıkkale was accorded the status of a province in accordance with the law no 3578 of 21 June 1989. Today, Kırıkkale is the 22nd largest city in Turkey with its 9 districts, 174 villages, and on the basis of a General Population Census conducted in 1990, a population of 349.396. The first Governor to be appointed to Kırıkkale was Fikret Güven (1989-1992), and the rest are as follows: Uğur İnan (1992-1993), Şahabettin Harput (1993-1996), Behiç Çelik (1996-2003) and Mustafa Bahrettin Demirer (2003-….)
HASANDEDE MOSQUE AND TOMBS
The complex of Hasandede mosque and tombs is located in Hasandede town, 10 km. from the city centrum of Kırıkkale. The mosque was built by Hasandede (Doğan bey) in 1605 AD. İt has been restored three times; in 1777 (by Mustafa Efendi), in 1807 (by Sheikh İbrahim), and in 1894 (by Seikh Vali). The walls, made of red and brown “Kufeki” stones, are rather thick. The minaret made of brick is called “cherafat”. The mihrab made of plaster,is ornamented with geomatric shaped relieves. On of the tombs, on the west of the mosque, belong to Hasandede and the other to his sons.
SHEIK SAMI MOSQUET TOMB
Situated in the centre of Sulakyurt Mosque constructed by Sheik Sami who is the founder of city. His tomb is near this mosque.
RAHMİ PEHLİVANLI
Born in Keskin, a town of Kırıkkale, had used a classical style in his first paintings. Later on he developed his own special way of painting and became famous in Turkey and in the world. In 1952, he began to make potraits by that of Nene Hatun, the brave Turkish woman who joined the Aziziye Defense of 93 (1877-78). This work of him exhibited in the Military Museum.
Because of his international success in his artistic Works and his own special technique of painting, the Pan-News Acengy chose him as “the man of the year 1978”. In 1981, he was awarded with an honorary membership by “Roma Acedemico Benemerito”. He made 29 portraits of local and foreign political leaders
LOCAL DRESSES
Ornoments hold an important place in traditional woman dresses. On head; coloured head scarf, hand painted cloths with a kind of embroidery, embroidered winding with gilded silver or gold thread, chin and neck woofts, red-green-blue “ziliflik” swinging down on both sides of the head. On the back; shirt made of raw silk, over it gaity waistcost is weared. Over te waist; silk thread or cashmere shawl belt is attached. Silk speckled apron or three skirt baggy thousers is usually weared. Rich people wear belts with reliefed buckles over their waists. On the feet; socks knitted from angora and special “onguraklı” shoes or shoes with soft bases are weared
FOLK DANCES
In Kırıkkale region, various folk dances originated from different parts of Turkey are played. They include “Mork Koyun, Menekşe, Hüdayda, Bugün Ayın Işığı, KerForum Kurallarını Okuyalım !!! KerForum Kurallarını Okuyalım !!! Üstüne and Slow Bar “
Special favourite folk dances of Keskin and Kırıkkale are “Ağır Halay, İkileme, Üçleme” called in general “Halay”.
NATURALATTRACTIONS
Streams : Kızılırmak River, Delice Creek, Okun Stream, Çoruhözü, Acıözü and Kılıçözü.
Lakes : Dipsiz and Kepir lakes, Kapulukaya Dam Lake, Ahılı Pond.
High Plateaus : Hodar, Bedesten, Kamilsi and Sarıkaya on Küre Mountain; Gümüşpınarı, Pehlivanlı, Suludere, Yeşilkaya and Azgın on Denek Mountain; Koçu and Koçu Mountain.
Kızılırmak Valley : Provides all recreational facilities to the people living in Kırıkkale and in nerarby areas. After completion of the Gren Valley Project a zone of 24 km in lenght will become a cultural and touristic centre.

THE WEAPON MUSEUM
The weapon museum wes established by Silahsan in 1991 and includes all types of weapons of years between 15th and 20th centruies, used in wars by Otoman Empire and soma Eupean Countries. These weapons were collected Tophane and various places of Anatolia and millitary factories. They are exhibited in special hall designed in the museum after establishing their technical and historical peculiarities.
THE CESNIGIR BRIDGE
The Çeşnigir Bridge was built by great Turkish Architect Sinan during the military expedition of Yavuz Sultan Selim ton conquer Egypt. It had been used as water crossing on Kızılırmak river before the construction of Kapulukaya Dam, but the piers of bridge are now in the reservoir.
HISTORICALAND ARCHEOLOGICAL MONUMENTS
The Sheikh Mustafa Karababa Tomb : Situated 12 km. northwest of Delice town.
The ruins of Dikilitaş: Tumulus situated in Bozkoy and registered as an archeologial site.
Çarşı Mosque : Construction of 18th century in Keskin.
Çeşnigir Bridge : Situated in Köprüköy, Keskin; was constructed by Great Architect Sinan during the military expeditions of Yavuz Sultan Selim to conquer Egypt.
Antique Road : Situated Köprüköy.
Sheikh Bedrettin Mosque and Tomb : Situated in Sulakyurt and constructed by his son sheikh Sadrettin for honour of this Sheikh of Naksibend tariqa, in 15th century.
Kozlu Ancient City : Situated in Sulakyurt.
Sheikh Şami Mosque and Tomb : Situated in centre of Sulakyurt Mosque was consturcted by Sheikh Sami who is the founder of this city. His tomb is near this mosque.
Belli Mosque and Tomb : Situated in Balişeyh and probably was built in 14th century.
THE CUISINE OF KIRIKKALE
The cuisine of Kırıkkale is a reflection of the classical Middle Anatolian dişhes. Those who come to the city tend to choose the kind of dishes that is characteristic of their place of origin. Nonetheless certain dishes peculiar to this region have also developed.
As vegetable growing and animal husbandry constitue a very important source of income, the types of food cooked in this region have developed accordingly.
In all rural areas. “yufka” (thin layer of dough) is baked as bread. Various foods have sprung from “yufka” among which “bazlama, gözleme, alazlama, kömbe and katmer” are particularly widespread.
All sorts of vegetable dishes are available in the region, like bean, aubergine, potato, courgette and cabbage which can be either fried, boiled, watered or roasted.
Altough meat can ber used as addition to every meal, it is the main ingredient of diferent varieties of dishes. Boil-among the animal products milk, yoghurt and cheese can be used as addition to every kind of dishes. Morever, they are used in dishes like “çılbır”, and in dessert like rice puding.
Some of the dishes which distinguish this region from the others are the following:
Arap aşı, batallaş, çürütme (çılbır), su böreği and mantı as pastry.
Grapes obtained in particular from the vineyards of Hasandede are used to make desserts like “pekmez” (boiled grape juice), “çalma, ekşi, ayranlı pekmez (boiled grape juice with buttermilk), yumurta tatlısı (egg sweet)”. Besides, helva (sweetmeat prepared with seasame oil), “haside” and “höşmerim” are also among the sweets made in the region.
COMMON PROVERBS AND IDIOMS USED IN THE REGION
- Since Allah exists, there is no hardship.
- The feet suffer the foolishness of the head.
- Two skins cannot be obtained from one sheep.
- One who holds honey on the fingers, licks his/her finger.
- You are a poor fool, what is there for you in a silver pipe (zurna).
- One who does not show mercy on himself, will not show it to his beloved.
- Gin is not the same as Satan
- That which is needed should be kept away from the unneeded.
- The stone will not desert its hometown unless the saddlebag begins to slide down.
- A woman is not a bag whom you can throw out as you wish.
- The young girl who relies on her lover, ends us with no husband.
- An ill-mannered person is like an untinned (copper) plate.
- Your charity would beter be worth the frogs you’ve frightened.
- Tha son of a wolf will be a wolf.
- Allah is the guarantor of sustenance.
- Summer does not arrive with only one flower blossoming.
- The flood goes but the sand remains.