I've seen various landmarks during my travels to different cities and countries. Today's article can be considered unusual as it is dedicated to such an interesting attraction as a tourist elevator. The building is located in the Turkish city of Izmir.
How to Get There
The elevator is situated away from the main attractions of the city center, but it's easy to reach, for example, by tram. The Karataş stop is nearby.
Riding the elevator takes you to an observation deck where restaurant tables are also located.
The ascent on the elevator is free, but to board it, you need to wait in line. On the day of my visit, it took about ten minutes. However, there were far fewer tourists on the descent.
A Bit of History
I've come across several names for this attraction. On the Izmir Cultural Directorate's website, it is referred to as the historical elevator. However, sometimes on the internet, this object is mentioned as the Asansor Tower. The word "Asansör" translates from Turkish as "elevator." Those who have been to Istanbul have likely encountered it on signs in the metro.
The tower with two elevator cabins was built in 1907. The purpose of the structure was purely utilitarian—it helped citizens ascend a hill without using a staircase with 155 steps. The height of this ascent is 50 meters.
The construction of the elevator tower was funded privately. The erection of the building was funded by the Jewish businessman Nesim Levi Bayraklıoğlu. In the lower part of the structure, there is a mention of him in French and Hebrew. Over the years, the elevator tower housed a casino, a photo studio, and even a cinema.
In 1942, the tower got a new owner, and in 1983, his niece gifted the structure to the municipality. The object became the city's property but was non-operational, serving as a warehouse. Today, the landmark is once again open for visits.
On the upper floor of the elevator tower, there is an observation deck with an excellent view of the center of Izmir and the Gulf of Izmir, which is part of the Aegean Sea. For the convenience of tourists, binoculars are installed here, and guests can explore details of the city layout if they wish.
The next and final article in the series about my trip to Izmir will be dedicated to the Archaeological Museum of the city.
Have a nice trip!
