Izmir and Sardes Jewish Heritage Tour with Kadifekale Castle Asansor Beth Israel Synagogue Dario Moreno Street House Havra Street

In the Izmir and Sardis Jewish Heritage Tour from Izmir, we will drive to Sardis, was capital of the Lydian Empire, dominant over Aegean Ionia from 680-547 BCE. The Lydians embraced and embellished the existing Hellenic culture, providing the world with dice, balls and coin minting. The expression “rich as Croesus” refers to the Lydian King Croesus, once the wealthiest man in the world. The entrance of Sardis leads to the Marble way, lined by a row Byzantine shops. End of the marble road Synagogue, which houses splendid mosaic floors from 3th century CE. The imposing columns of the Gymnasium, which affirms the historic grandeur of this encient city.

After Sardis we will drive to the Izmir city center. Our next stop is above the city at Mt. Pagus is the most enduring of Alexander’s legacies, the Kadifekale Castle, built in the 4th century BCE. From Kadifekale there is excellent view across the harbour to Karsiyaka. The Agora at the foot of the hill is clearly visible.

We will drive to Jews District in Izmir and Visit the one of the Jews Synagogues of Izmir, Then we drive to Asansor, The historical asansor(elevator) running to Asansor the street of Dario Moreno, are places well worth visiting in the city. Dario Moreno (3 April 1921 – 1 December 1968) was a Turkish polyglot singer of Jewish origin, as well as an accomplished composer, lyricist and guitarist, who was born in Aydın, Turkey, in 1921. Asansor built in 1907 by Nesim Levi Bayrakli. He is the Grand–grand father of Marc Levy, who is a world renowned french writer. Before its construction, a stairway with 155 steps was used to climb to the Halit Pahsa, a district 50 meter above with aid of the two elevators in the tower, the two district were joined.Then we will visit the Beth Israel Synagogue, today our jewish citizens hold their wedding ceremonies in this synagogue. The construction of the synagogue was started in 1905, and it was put into service in 1907.

Then we will drive to Kemeralti, Izmir’s one of the best known shopping centers is the historical kemeralti Bazaar, Havra Street is an important street the historical Kemeralti Bazaar. Havra Streets get its name from Many Synagogues (havra) built on it. Today this region hosts 9 synagogues (Signora Giveret Synagogue, Shaar Ashamayan Synagogue, Berkholim Synagogue, Algazi Synagogue, Aydınlı Shalom Synagogue, Bilkour Holim Synagogue, Rosh-Ha-Ar Synagogue, Hevra Synagogue, Shaar Ha Shamaim Synagogue ), of which 4 are currently in use.