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A good 25 to 30 minute walk from Konak Square is Karataş, a once heavily Jewish neighborhood of Izmir known to the Greeks as Melantia (Μελάντια).
Beth Israel Synagogue
In Karataş you can find the Beth Israel Synagogue (Bet İsrael Sinagogu). It was built in 1907 and is the largest synagogue in the city.
Dario Moreno Street
Nearby is Dario Moreno Street (Dario Moreno Sokağı), a street named after beloved Turkish-Jewish singer Dario Moreno. He once lived in a house on the street. A bust of Moreno sits at the entrance to the street.
Watch Dario Moreno perform “O Sole Mio” in 1954:
Asansör
At the very end of the street is Asansör, literally “elevator”. It was built in 1907 by Jewish banker Nesim Levi Bayraklıoğlu to allow for easier transport of goods and people to the top of the cliff.
At the top is a restaurant and the chance to get some spectacular views of Izmir. I didn’t eat at the restaurant but staff didn’t mind that I was walking around taking pictures.
