Disclose Izmir’s Jewish Heritage, a story that has been a part of the city’s identity for thousands of years, with the Jewish Heritage Tour in Izmir. The city, once Smyrna, welcomed Jewish settlers as early as the era of Alexander the Great, with communities thriving here by the second century. Sad to say, these Jews presented so much to the diversity of Turkish culture and were forced to leave the country after the coup of 1923. The arrivals of the Sephardic Jews into Izmir in the 16th century would find their shifting history as finally set in the frame of persecutions in Spain, from where traditions were carried with them and the spirit of tenacity, which came to shape, to some extent, the character of the city. Jewish life prospered during the Ottoman period, forming lively neighborhoods and trade, further engraving its imprint in Smyrna’s culture and commerce. Today, the smaller Jewish community is alive and well, ensuring that the culture of its forebears continues onward. Walk down Havra Street, which once carried the lively spirit of the Jewish quarter, into some beautifully preserved synagogues and back into tales of resilience, culture, and faith that still inspire.
Jewish Heritage Tour in Izmir
- We will pick you up from the Izmir Cruise Port or your hotel. Then, we will visit Havra Street, the heart of the Jewish Community in Izmir. You can explore the streets and visit some historical synagogues.
- Afterward, we will visit Beth Israel Synagogue, Karatas Hospital, and the Historical Elevator.
- We will visit the Kadifekale and the Izmir Clock Tower.
- At the end of the tour, we will drive you back to your hotel or Izmir Cruise Port.