Basmane Route

Now we will introduce you several historical buildings within a large circle in Izmir. Side by side, face to face, one within the other… One of Izmir’s oldest quarters, Basmane exists, from the very beginning, as a place where different communities of different religions and cultures lives together in peace. The main reason why Basmane’s buildings rise is the commercial dynamism here. It is so to say a cultural centre with the Railway Station, Hotels District and Kulturpark.

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Kültürpark (Culture Park)

Right in the middle of İzmir, this park is home for more than 200 kinds of plants from all over Turkey and the World. It is a resource of oxygen in İzmir. The park houses running tracks, swimming pool, sports hall, tennis court, wedding hall and an amusement park which is the oldest of its kind in Izmir. The park hosted İzmir International Fair for many years. With İsmet İnönü Art Centre, Kültürpark Open-air Theatre and İzmir Art Hall, it still hosts cultural activities.

Basmane Railway Station

Basmane Railway Station which brought the district into existence, was built on the railway constructed as an investment thrust in order to boost commerce in 19th century. Connecting İzmir to Anatolia and commercial value of the station increased also due to the existence of Kulturpark nearby. Basmane Railway Station is the beginning of the line which connects İzmir to fruitful plains of Western Anatolia. Being the starting point of memories of everyone visiting İzmir, Basmane Station continues its journey.

Basmane Hotels' District

With attached, two or single floored historical buildings with basements, Basmane Hotels' District is established right next to Basmane Railway Station in order to carry commerce to the centre. Featuring a historical texture, Basmane Hotels' District is an important area of cultural heritage.

Çorakkapı Mosque

Çorakkapı Mosque is located across Basmane Railway Station at the corner of Gaziler Street and Anafartalar Street. Although there is no certain information about the construction date of the mosque which was built by a benefactor called Bostanzade Mehmet Efendi, it is thought to have been built in 17th Century. With its elegant minaret and dome, it is one of the most beautiful mosques of İzmir.

Basmane Police Station

Built by Rahmi Bey, Governor of İzmir, in 1914, Basmane Police Station has western and Orientalist overtones. Older than a hundred years, the building is still used as a police station.

Altınpark (Goldenpark)

Goldenpark or Musalla as it was once called... Start walking fom Basmane Police Station. First you will see a plane tree, a historic fountain at the back of it and a very old coffee house in the garden. Right next to it is Altınpark excavation site where first settlement out of city walls and Roman Gate are found. Kumrulu Mosque, the oldest small mosque of İzmir, is also located in this area. You come across Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman buildings all around in Altınpark. A special thing about Altınpark is that it faces Anafartalar Street. The street starts at 9 Eylül Square, sweeps at Altınpark and runs down to Konak Square through Hatuniye and Mezarlıkbaşı quarters.

Arkeopark (Archaeology park)

The Roman gate of 20 metres, remnants of a Roman house with bathrooms and a kitchen inside and many other artefacts were discovered during excavations carried out in Archaeopark area in Altınpark. Holding a very important position with architectural structures and buildings from Roman and Byzantine eras and recent history, Altınpark will be transferred into Archaeopark after arrangements are done following the excavations.

Dönertaş Public Fountain

This public fountain was built by Osmanzade Foundation in 1814. The marble column right on the corner of the public fountain is believed to be “earthquake sensor”. This kind of columns either marble or wooden can be seen on mihrabs of many historic mosques and next to doors of monumental structures. The rotatability of these stones called “balance stone” is regarded as a proof for soundness of the structure.

Emir Sultan Tomb

Emir Sultan Tomb was built as an İslamic-Ottoman social complex. Although it consists of whirling hall, soup-kitchen, guesthouse, shrine, hazire (burial area reserved for special people especially in mosques or sufi lodges), well and a hammam, only a few of these elements could survive until today. There are very important tombstones in Emir Sultan Shrine, such as those of Uşşakizade Sadık Bey, grandfather of Atatürk’s wife Latife Hanım, and his wife Makbule Hanım along with Ahmet Esat Paşa, the Governor of Aydın.

Agios Vouklos Church

Agios Voukolos Church that was built in 1886 in the quarter of Izmir then named after the Church which is how Kapılar Quarter is a Greek Orthodox Church. It is the only Greek Orthodox Church which survived the 1922 fire in downtown Izmir. Also locally known as ‘the church with eyes’, the building went through restoration works during which several frescoes depicting Jesus, St. John, and the angels Michael and Gabriel were revealed on its walls. The outbuilding of the church was reorganized as ‘Izmir Press Museum’ which also hosts cultural events.

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