İzmir Clock Tower

Location

The İzmir Clock Tower is the most famous landmark within İzmir and is often used to symbolize the city. Located within Konak Square, it’s a short walk from the Konak tram, ferry, and metro station, only steps away from the Aegean Sea.

Visitors may find themselves visiting the clock tower by chance since it is centrally located next to points of interest such as the Kemeraltı Bazaar, Konak Pier, Agora Open Air Museum, and the İzmir Archeology & Ethnography Museum.

Sights

After snapping a few photos of the clock tower, visitors who rest on one of the benches in Konak Square will take in a typical Izmir scene. On any given day, pigeons flock near the tower, encouraged by visitors or passersby who purchase a cup of birdseed from sellers in the square. Nearer to the seaside, buskers play traditional music whose tunes are accented by the sound of the tram bell. Diagonal to the clock tower sits Konak Mosque (Cami). Both the clock tower and mosque make a stark contrast with the modern surrounding buildings, many of which are the city’s governmental buildings.   

A short walk past the mosque, you can find a pedestrian sky bridge that leads directly to Konak Pier, a small shopping mall with several seaside restaurants and cafes. Directly behind the clock tower is one of the entrances to Kemeraltı Bazaar. Locals often congregate in the grass outside of Konak Square. The wide pedestrian path between the Konak Ferry Terminal and Konak Pier is lively on weekends and there is a dedicated bike lane with bikes available for rent between the tramway and ferry.

History

The clock tower was built in 1901 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II's accession to the throne and was a gift from German Emperor Wilhelm II. It is 82 feet (25 meters) high and made of marble and stone.  Although the tower was damaged by an earthquake in 1974, it was repaired and the clock continues to work and was most recently renovated in 2019. Visitors who pass by at night will find it lit up with colorful lights. 

-by Kimberly Price

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