Alsancak is a large quarter (or a zone; semt) in Izmir, Turkey,
within the boundaries of the metropolitan district of Konak,
the historic center of the city.
As a notional zone, Alsancak extends along the southern shores
of the tip of the Gulf of Izmir, starting from the historic
square that carries the same name as the district (Konak Square)
and the 19th century Pasaport Quai in close distance, stretching
along a three km long seaside street and promenade (Kordon)
and finally to adjoin Bornova, another metropolitan district
of Izmir in the Gulf's end. Within this zone, aside from the
officially instituted and delimited quarter (mahalle) of Alsancak
proper, there are the neighboring quarters of Umurbey, Kültür,
Mimar Sinan, Ismet Kaptan and Akdeniz, which are, as a whole,
generally referred to as being part of a larger zone of Alsancak.
The
Port of Izmir, Izmir Alsancak Stadium and the central railway
station (Alsancak Station) are located in Alsancak, as well
as its lushest residences and the busiest office buildings,
restaurants, bars, cafes and other entertainment venues. Two
large streets parallel to the coastline, both of which are
named Kordon (the 1st Kordon and the 2nd Kordon, constitute
the main arterial roads of the quarter. Kültürpark, the distinctive
location of the Izmir International Fair, is also englobed
by the area of the quarter of Alsancak in both administrative
and practical terms.
In Ottoman times, the area was named "Punta" (meaning "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 Greek, Levantine or European inhabitants were concentrated. |