The city of Izmir is one of the places in Turkey most visited by tourists because it is a frequent port of call for cruise ships. As an active Mediterranean port that has been ruled by Greeks, Romans and medieval Genoa before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire, Izmir has always been open to European influences. This is therefore one of the places in Turkey where ancient Asian and Anatolian traditions and modern European influences have met most strikingly.
Konak Square is one of the central locations of Izmir, named for the mansion (konak) of the governor of Izmir province that stands there. The City Hall is there also, and the square contains the clock and fountains given by German Kaiser Wilhelm II to his Ottoman ally Abdülhamid II in 1904. This is said to be the spiritual heart of the city, as resistance to the proposed partition of the city after a war between Greece and Turkey began at this spot. The adjacent pier contains a customs house built by Gustave Eiffel of Paris tower fame.
Another nearby landmark from the early 20th century is the Asansör, which in Turkish means “elevator” and is derived from the French ascenseur. This is an elevator tower, intended to transport passengers and freight up a steep cliff that divides the Karataş quarter in the district of Konak. The tower was built in 1907 by a wealthy Jewish merchant, and Izmir has historically had a large Jewish population. This has been concentrated in the Karataş quarter and has resulted in 9 architecturally-distinct synagogues being built in this area and on the “street of synagogues” (HavraSokak) in the market district of Kameraltı. The synagogues were either built or reconstructed in the 19th century, at a time when the Ottoman Empire was more hospitable to Jews than some European countries.
Attractions with international appeal include a large open-air zoo and “Bird Paradise”, an 80-square kilometer bird sanctuary devoted to the breeding of endangered bird species, in the district of Ḉiğli. The Izmir Festival in June and July has multiple performances at venues around the area, and film and jazz festivals bring Europeans and Americans to Izmir each Spring.