Haber Detay
9.04.2021
From Ephesus to Bergama, from Gediz Delta to Kemeraltı and Birgi
Izmir becomes the city of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- After Ephesus and Bergama, different institutions of the city took action to register four new sites in Izmir as World Heritage Sites and make Izmir one of the cities with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. Within the framework of the vision partnership in this field, with the invitation of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and the Izmir Foundation, officials of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, district municipalities and representatives of non-governmental organizations met at the "Izmir Tourism and UNESCO World Heritage Sites" workshop in Bergama.
- Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, who announced that they have started to work for the inclusion of the Genoese Trade Road, which involves the historical city center of Izmir - Kemeraltı, Birgi, Gediz Delta and the castles of Foça, Çandarlı and Çeşme, to the UNESCO World Heritage List, said, "Izmir is a legacy to the world. It is a geography that has shaped world civilizations. We ensure that Izmir's unique cultural and natural heritage is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage by working in partnership with all stakeholders in our city."
Shaping world civilizations with its eight thousand five hundred years of history, Izmir proceeds step by step to register its cultural heritage and unique nature with UNESCO World Heritage status. "Izmir Tourism and UNESCO World Heritage Sites" workshop was held by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Izmir Foundation in Bergama in order to jointly promote the UNESCO sites in the city.
"All stakeholders act in common vision"
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer gave information about "Izmir Heritage of the World" in his speech at the workshop. Soyer said, “Izmir is a legacy to the world. It is a geography that has shaped world civilizations. Working in partnership with all stakeholders in our city, we ensure that Izmir's unique cultural and natural heritage is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage. An important pillar of Izmir's new tourism strategy, which we have prepared together with the Izmir Foundation and Izmir Development Agency, is our goal to introduce Izmir together with UNESCO World Heritage sites. In this direction, we act in great devotion and common vision with all stakeholders in Izmir, especially the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. With our "Izmir Heritage of the World" work, we aim to increase the number of UNESCO sites in our city from two to six. On the other hand, we are trying to strengthen the Izmir brand by ensuring the relationship of these sites with each other.”
"It will enable the tourism of Izmir to grow"
Emphasizing the contribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites to the country's economy, Tunç Soyer said, “Protecting our natural and cultural heritage not only increases the prestige of our city but also makes a great contribution to the economy. According to the World Tourism Organization, the number of international tourists visiting World Heritage Sites is increasing rapidly every year. A new UNESCO World Heritage site can attract an average of 1.5 million tourists a year. Tourists visiting these areas provide input to the city economy in many different sectors, from restaurants to retail, from entertainment to accommodation. "This meeting, which we hold in Bergama with all the institutions of our city, is a historical step in bringing the cultural and natural heritage of Izmir to the world."
Four new areas on their way to UNESCO
In the second session of the workshop, teams working in the UNESCO areas of Izmir came together. After the teams shared their current structures and short-term goals, they evaluated the topics they could partner with and the collaborations to be created. Izmir, which is important geography on a world scale with its cultural and natural values, has many sites that meet the UNESCO World Heritage criteria. As a result of the work carried out with different stakeholders in the city, works have started to include the historical centre of Izmir, which includes Kemeraltı and its surroundings, Birgi, Gediz Delta and Foça, Çandarlı and Çeşme castles, which are part of the Genoese trade route. For Ephesus and Bergama, which are on the permanent list, updating of the site management plans continues. When the works are completed, a total of six sites in Izmir will have UNESCO World Heritage status.
Izmir also continues to work on UNESCO's two networks between cities. Included in the UNESCO Learning Cities Global Network with the work of the Vocational Factory, Izmir continues its preparations to apply to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of design.
Notes to the editor
What is the UNESCO World Heritage?
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which was established in 1946 as a private institution of the United Nations, grants "World Heritage" status to natural formations, monuments and sites of international importance and therefore worth admiration and preservation. The candidate assets, after a series of procedures that starts with the application of the member states that accepted the 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage to UNESCO and completes after the evaluation of applications by the experts of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN),acquire this status in line with the decision of the World Heritage Committee.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Turkey
There are 1.121 heritage sites declared as a World Heritage Site in the World Heritage List created in accordance with the 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and determined by the World Heritage Committee. Of these, 869 are cultural, 213 are natural and 39 are mixed (natural and cultural) heritage sites. In the UNESCO list of cultural heritage sites, Turkey has 18 heritage sites; from these sites 16 are cultural and 2 are mixed. Two of them, Ephesus and Bergama, are located in Izmir.
World Heritage Sites of Izmir
Ephesus
Ephesus Ancient City located in Selçuk district of Izmir is on the UNESCO World Heritage List with a total of four components involving Ephesus Ruins, House of Virgin Mary, Ayasuluk Hill and St. Jean Basilica and Çukuriçi Höyük. Every year millions of people visit Ephesus Ancient City, which owns the title of one of the biggest open-air museums in Turkey. In Ephesus, there are the Great Theater, the largest open-air theater of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the Celsus Library, which is also defined as an important architectural value. Ephesus is also part of the Küçük Menderes Delta wetland.
Bergama Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape Site
Bergama is another cultural heritage site in Izmir that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Bergama Acropolis, with its library building, was an important education center in the ancient world and the administrative center of the Kingdom of Pergamon. The acropolis is also home to the steepest ancient theater and Asklepion Health Center and Sanctuary, which is the first psychiatric hospital.
Historical Port City
The region, which is named as the historical centre of Izmir today and which provides Izmir with the feature of being an ancient port city, extends from Konak Pier, which was built as an entrance gate to this port city in the 19th century, to Kadifekale. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List with the title of Historical Port City, this area features prominent symbols of Izmir such as Konak Square and Clock Tower; it also hosts one of the oldest and biggest open-air shopping centers in the world, with Kemeraltı Bazaar, which expands over time as the inland port fills up.
Birgi
Birgi, affiliated with Ödemiş, is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Birgi is located in lush geography that preserves its traditional architectural texture with its high stone houses and wooden windows. In Birgi, with its history dating back 5 thousand years, there are tombs, mosques and baths as well as mansions coming from the past to the present.
Foça, Çandarlı and Çeşme Castles
Foça, Çeşme and Çandarlı castles found in the Genoese Trade Road from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea in the title of Castles and Walls settlements included together with different points from Turkey are in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
Gediz Delta
Located next to Izmir, Gediz Delta is the best indicator of living in a modern city without breaking away from nature. Izmir as a great metropolis, which is home to hundreds of birds and species, is home to Gediz Delta as Turkey's one of the largest coastal wetlands. The delta, which meets approximately one-third of the salt production in Turkey is also the production area of farmers and fishermen from Izmir. Gediz Delta is one of the rare wetlands of international importance that offer a living environment to thousands of living things thanks to the different habitats it hosts. Last year, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality made an official candidacy application for the Gediz Delta, which is an Important Nature Area and Important Bird Area on a world scale, to be included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List.
Izmir becomes the city of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- After Ephesus and Bergama, different institutions of the city took action to register four new sites in Izmir as World Heritage Sites and make Izmir one of the cities with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. Within the framework of the vision partnership in this field, with the invitation of the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and the Izmir Foundation, officials of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, district municipalities and representatives of non-governmental organizations met at the "Izmir Tourism and UNESCO World Heritage Sites" workshop in Bergama.
- Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer, who announced that they have started to work for the inclusion of the Genoese Trade Road, which involves the historical city center of Izmir - Kemeraltı, Birgi, Gediz Delta and the castles of Foça, Çandarlı and Çeşme, to the UNESCO World Heritage List, said, "Izmir is a legacy to the world. It is a geography that has shaped world civilizations. We ensure that Izmir's unique cultural and natural heritage is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage by working in partnership with all stakeholders in our city."
Shaping world civilizations with its eight thousand five hundred years of history, Izmir proceeds step by step to register its cultural heritage and unique nature with UNESCO World Heritage status. "Izmir Tourism and UNESCO World Heritage Sites" workshop was held by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Izmir Foundation in Bergama in order to jointly promote the UNESCO sites in the city.
"All stakeholders act in common vision"
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer gave information about "Izmir Heritage of the World" in his speech at the workshop. Soyer said, “Izmir is a legacy to the world. It is a geography that has shaped world civilizations. Working in partnership with all stakeholders in our city, we ensure that Izmir's unique cultural and natural heritage is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage. An important pillar of Izmir's new tourism strategy, which we have prepared together with the Izmir Foundation and Izmir Development Agency, is our goal to introduce Izmir together with UNESCO World Heritage sites. In this direction, we act in great devotion and common vision with all stakeholders in Izmir, especially the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. With our "Izmir Heritage of the World" work, we aim to increase the number of UNESCO sites in our city from two to six. On the other hand, we are trying to strengthen the Izmir brand by ensuring the relationship of these sites with each other.”
"It will enable the tourism of Izmir to grow"
Emphasizing the contribution of UNESCO World Heritage sites to the country's economy, Tunç Soyer said, “Protecting our natural and cultural heritage not only increases the prestige of our city but also makes a great contribution to the economy. According to the World Tourism Organization, the number of international tourists visiting World Heritage Sites is increasing rapidly every year. A new UNESCO World Heritage site can attract an average of 1.5 million tourists a year. Tourists visiting these areas provide input to the city economy in many different sectors, from restaurants to retail, from entertainment to accommodation. "This meeting, which we hold in Bergama with all the institutions of our city, is a historical step in bringing the cultural and natural heritage of Izmir to the world."
Four new areas on their way to UNESCO
In the second session of the workshop, teams working in the UNESCO areas of Izmir came together. After the teams shared their current structures and short-term goals, they evaluated the topics they could partner with and the collaborations to be created. Izmir, which is important geography on a world scale with its cultural and natural values, has many sites that meet the UNESCO World Heritage criteria. As a result of the work carried out with different stakeholders in the city, works have started to include the historical centre of Izmir, which includes Kemeraltı and its surroundings, Birgi, Gediz Delta and Foça, Çandarlı and Çeşme castles, which are part of the Genoese trade route. For Ephesus and Bergama, which are on the permanent list, updating of the site management plans continues. When the works are completed, a total of six sites in Izmir will have UNESCO World Heritage status.
Izmir also continues to work on UNESCO's two networks between cities. Included in the UNESCO Learning Cities Global Network with the work of the Vocational Factory, Izmir continues its preparations to apply to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of design.
Notes to the editor
What is the UNESCO World Heritage?
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which was established in 1946 as a private institution of the United Nations, grants "World Heritage" status to natural formations, monuments and sites of international importance and therefore worth admiration and preservation. The candidate assets, after a series of procedures that starts with the application of the member states that accepted the 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage to UNESCO and completes after the evaluation of applications by the experts of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN),acquire this status in line with the decision of the World Heritage Committee.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Turkey
There are 1.121 heritage sites declared as a World Heritage Site in the World Heritage List created in accordance with the 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and determined by the World Heritage Committee. Of these, 869 are cultural, 213 are natural and 39 are mixed (natural and cultural) heritage sites. In the UNESCO list of cultural heritage sites, Turkey has 18 heritage sites; from these sites 16 are cultural and 2 are mixed. Two of them, Ephesus and Bergama, are located in Izmir.
World Heritage Sites of Izmir
Ephesus
Ephesus Ancient City located in Selçuk district of Izmir is on the UNESCO World Heritage List with a total of four components involving Ephesus Ruins, House of Virgin Mary, Ayasuluk Hill and St. Jean Basilica and Çukuriçi Höyük. Every year millions of people visit Ephesus Ancient City, which owns the title of one of the biggest open-air museums in Turkey. In Ephesus, there are the Great Theater, the largest open-air theater of the ancient world, the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the Celsus Library, which is also defined as an important architectural value. Ephesus is also part of the Küçük Menderes Delta wetland.
Bergama Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape Site
Bergama is another cultural heritage site in Izmir that is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Bergama Acropolis, with its library building, was an important education center in the ancient world and the administrative center of the Kingdom of Pergamon. The acropolis is also home to the steepest ancient theater and Asklepion Health Center and Sanctuary, which is the first psychiatric hospital.
Historical Port City
The region, which is named as the historical centre of Izmir today and which provides Izmir with the feature of being an ancient port city, extends from Konak Pier, which was built as an entrance gate to this port city in the 19th century, to Kadifekale. Included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List with the title of Historical Port City, this area features prominent symbols of Izmir such as Konak Square and Clock Tower; it also hosts one of the oldest and biggest open-air shopping centers in the world, with Kemeraltı Bazaar, which expands over time as the inland port fills up.
Birgi
Birgi, affiliated with Ödemiş, is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. Birgi is located in lush geography that preserves its traditional architectural texture with its high stone houses and wooden windows. In Birgi, with its history dating back 5 thousand years, there are tombs, mosques and baths as well as mansions coming from the past to the present.
Foça, Çandarlı and Çeşme Castles
Foça, Çeşme and Çandarlı castles found in the Genoese Trade Road from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea in the title of Castles and Walls settlements included together with different points from Turkey are in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
Gediz Delta
Located next to Izmir, Gediz Delta is the best indicator of living in a modern city without breaking away from nature. Izmir as a great metropolis, which is home to hundreds of birds and species, is home to Gediz Delta as Turkey's one of the largest coastal wetlands. The delta, which meets approximately one-third of the salt production in Turkey is also the production area of farmers and fishermen from Izmir. Gediz Delta is one of the rare wetlands of international importance that offer a living environment to thousands of living things thanks to the different habitats it hosts. Last year, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality made an official candidacy application for the Gediz Delta, which is an Important Nature Area and Important Bird Area on a world scale, to be included in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage List.
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