Alsancak
Encyclopedia
Alsancak is a centrally situated large quarter (or a zone; semt in Turkish
) in İzmir
, Turkey
, within the boundaries of the metropolitan district of Konak, the historic center of the city.
As a notional zone, Alsancak extends from along the tip of the southern shores of the Gulf of İzmir
, starting near İzmir's historic square that carries the same name as the district (Konak Square
) with the 19th century-built Pasaport Quai marking the point, and extending along a 3200-meter-long seaside street and promenade called "Kordon" (esplanade
, or more specifically as Birinci Kordon) and to join the neighboring metropolitan district of Bornova
, located eastwards and at the very end of the Gulf's waters.
Within this larger and notional zone of Alsancak, aside from the officially instituted and delimited quarter (mahalle) of Alsancak proper, the five neighboring quarters of Umurbey, Kültür, Mimar Sinan, İsmet Kaptan and Akdeniz are found along the shore, and the whole is generally referred to as being part of the same complex.
In Ottoman
times, the area was named "Punta" (a greek word coming from the word "ponte" meaning in Italian
"the point"; the name cited as La Pointe in French
sources or in sources that borrow from them) and was the part of the city where the upper middle class (mainly Italians and some Greeks), was concentrated.
Two major hotels in partnership with international brandnames of the industry, Swissôtel
and Hilton
, are located towards the Konak end of the area, just behind the Square of the Republic distinguishable by the wide space with which it marks a point along the length of the esplanade and an equestrian statue of Atatürk, to whose honor a museum in the premises of a former mansion is also present towards the eastern end of Alsancak.
Atatürk Museum, whose building is a survivor of the transformation in recent decades of coastline residences from terraced double-storey houses to apartment blocks, also offers visitors a chance to have a glimpse of how the lives of the wealhty in 19th century İzmir was like.
Many restaurants, bars, cafes, discothèques and other entertainment venues are concentrated in Alsancak, increasingly within the intact rows of older and more traditional one- or two-storied buildings found in the inner smaller streets and are often restored specifically for the purpose of the intended commercial activity. Kültürpark, the distinct location of the İzmir International Fair
, is also englobed by the area of the quarter of Alsancak in both administrative and practical terms.
The newest and the most attended synagogue
of İzmir, "Shar Hashamayim" is also in Alsancak where increasing numbers of the city's remaining Jews opt to live, moving in from their traditional nighborhood of Karataş
.
The Port of İzmir, İzmir Alsancak Stadium and Alsancak Railway Station are also located in Alsancak.
The Alsancak Railway Station (Turkish: Alsancak Garı) is the oldest train station in Turkey, built by the "Oriental Railway Company" (ORC) incorporated in 1856, to build a railway line from Izmir to Aydın
. The main building of the station was completed in 1858 and the line to Aydin opened in 1866. In 2001 the station was expanded from 4 tracks and 2 platforms, to 10 tracks and 6 platforms. In 2006 the station was closed to passenger traffic due to the Izmir Metro expansion project. The station keeps on handling freight traffic and is connected to the harbor which has an entry just across the street.
One of the quay's of İzmir's urban ferry services is also located in Alsancak, called under the same name, as Alsancak Quay . Ferries here crisscross between Konak and Pasaport further to the west and the busy residential and shopping area of Karşıyaka
at the opposite coast.
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
) in İzmir
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, within the boundaries of the metropolitan district of Konak, the historic center of the city.
As a notional zone, Alsancak extends from along the tip of the southern shores of the Gulf of İzmir
Gulf of Izmir
The Gulf of İzmir , formerly known as the Gulf of Smyrna, is a gulf on the Aegean Sea, with its inlet between the peninsula of Karaburun and the mainland area of Foça...
, starting near İzmir's historic square that carries the same name as the district (Konak Square
Konak Square
Konak Square is a busy square at the southern end of Atatürk Caddesi in the Konak district of İzmir, Turkey. The square is the busiest part of the city, as Konak is the main place of İzmir.-Buildings in the Square:...
) with the 19th century-built Pasaport Quai marking the point, and extending along a 3200-meter-long seaside street and promenade called "Kordon" (esplanade
Esplanade
An esplanade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The original meaning of esplanade was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide clear fields of fire for the fortress' guns...
, or more specifically as Birinci Kordon) and to join the neighboring metropolitan district of Bornova
Bornova
Bornova is a metropolitan district of İzmir in İzmir Province in Turkey. It is the third largest district in İzmir's Greater Metropolitan Area of and is almost fully urbanized at the rate of 98,6 per cent, with corresponding high levels of development in terms of industry and services...
, located eastwards and at the very end of the Gulf's waters.
Within this larger and notional zone of Alsancak, aside from the officially instituted and delimited quarter (mahalle) of Alsancak proper, the five neighboring quarters of Umurbey, Kültür, Mimar Sinan, İsmet Kaptan and Akdeniz are found along the shore, and the whole is generally referred to as being part of the same complex.
In Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
times, the area was named "Punta" (a greek word coming from the word "ponte" meaning in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
"the point"; the name cited as La Pointe in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
sources or in sources that borrow from them) and was the part of the city where the upper middle class (mainly Italians and some Greeks), was concentrated.
Physical aspects
Two large streets parallel to the coastline, named the First Kordon and the Second Kordon , constitute the main arterial roads of the quarter. A level area situated in an alluvial plain, with well-designed streets, modern apartment blocks and stores, the city's trendiest and the most expensive and exclusive residences and commercial space are found here, as well as the busiest office buildings, including consulates.Two major hotels in partnership with international brandnames of the industry, Swissôtel
Swissôtel
Swissôtel Hotels and Resorts is a group of hotels pitched at the higher end of the hotel market. The chain currently includes 28 properties in 15 countries....
and Hilton
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
, are located towards the Konak end of the area, just behind the Square of the Republic distinguishable by the wide space with which it marks a point along the length of the esplanade and an equestrian statue of Atatürk, to whose honor a museum in the premises of a former mansion is also present towards the eastern end of Alsancak.
Atatürk Museum, whose building is a survivor of the transformation in recent decades of coastline residences from terraced double-storey houses to apartment blocks, also offers visitors a chance to have a glimpse of how the lives of the wealhty in 19th century İzmir was like.
Many restaurants, bars, cafes, discothèques and other entertainment venues are concentrated in Alsancak, increasingly within the intact rows of older and more traditional one- or two-storied buildings found in the inner smaller streets and are often restored specifically for the purpose of the intended commercial activity. Kültürpark, the distinct location of the İzmir International Fair
Izmir International Fair
İzmir International Fair is the oldest tradeshow in Turkey, considered the cradle of Turkey's fairs and expositions industry, and is also notable for hosting a series of simultaneous festival activities. The fair and the festival are held in the compound of İzmir's vast inner city park named...
, is also englobed by the area of the quarter of Alsancak in both administrative and practical terms.
The newest and the most attended synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
of İzmir, "Shar Hashamayim" is also in Alsancak where increasing numbers of the city's remaining Jews opt to live, moving in from their traditional nighborhood of Karataş
Karatas, Izmir
Karataş is a neighborhood of İzmir, Turkey, within the boundaries of the city's central metropolitan district of Konak. The neighborhood no longer has an official delimitation or status and exists as a notional zone that is admitted to stretch along the small cove of the same name in the Gulf of...
.
The Port of İzmir, İzmir Alsancak Stadium and Alsancak Railway Station are also located in Alsancak.
Alsancak Railway Station and Quay
The Alsancak Railway Station (Turkish: Alsancak Garı) is the oldest train station in Turkey, built by the "Oriental Railway Company" (ORC) incorporated in 1856, to build a railway line from Izmir to Aydın
Aydin
Aydın is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast...
. The main building of the station was completed in 1858 and the line to Aydin opened in 1866. In 2001 the station was expanded from 4 tracks and 2 platforms, to 10 tracks and 6 platforms. In 2006 the station was closed to passenger traffic due to the Izmir Metro expansion project. The station keeps on handling freight traffic and is connected to the harbor which has an entry just across the street.
One of the quay's of İzmir's urban ferry services is also located in Alsancak, called under the same name, as Alsancak Quay . Ferries here crisscross between Konak and Pasaport further to the west and the busy residential and shopping area of Karşıyaka
Karsiyaka
Karşıyaka is a district of İzmir Province in Turkey. It is part of the Greater Metropolitan Area of İzmir, in other words a metropolitan district, the second largest after Konak in terms of population, and it is almost entirely urbanized at the rate of 99,9 per cent, with corresponding high levels...
at the opposite coast.
See also
- Konak, İzmir
- İzmir International FairIzmir International Fairİzmir International Fair is the oldest tradeshow in Turkey, considered the cradle of Turkey's fairs and expositions industry, and is also notable for hosting a series of simultaneous festival activities. The fair and the festival are held in the compound of İzmir's vast inner city park named...
- KemeraltıKemeraltiKemeraltı is a historical market district of İzmir, Turkey. It was originally formed around the street surrounding the shallow inner bay of the city, which was filled in due course during the 17th century, availing the bazaar to be extended to a wider area...
- İzmir Alsancak Stadium
- Alsancak Railway Station