Alsancak

Alsancak is a centrally situated large quarter (or a zone; semt in Turkish) in İzmir, Turkey, within the boundaries of the metropolitan district of Konak, the historic center of the city.

Overview

As a notional zone, Alsancak extends from along the tip of the southern shores of the Gulf of İzmir, starting near İzmir's historic square that carries the same name as the district (Konak Square) with the 19th century-built Pasaport Quai marking the point, and extending along a 3200-meter-long seaside street and promenade called "Kordon" (esplanade, or more specifically as Birinci Kordon, Turkish: Birinci Kordon) and to join the neighboring metropolitan district of Bornova, located eastwards and at the very end of the Gulf's waters.

Within this larger and notional zone of Alsancak, aside from the officially instituted and delimited quarter (mahalle) of Alsancak proper, the five neighboring quarters of Umurbey, Kültür, Mimar Sinan, İsmet Kaptan and Akdeniz are found along the shore, and the whole is generally referred to as being part of the same complex.

İzmir Alsancak Terminal

İzmir Alsancak Terminal (Turkish: Alsancak Garı) or İzmir Alsancak Railway Station in İzmir is the second-oldest railway station in Turkey, after the Kemer Railway Station (also in İzmir), being completed in 1858. The station houses the headquarters of TCDD District 3 and is the largest station in Turkey by size. Alsancak station is one of the busiest stations in Turkey. The station was electrified in 2001, with 25 kV AC overhead wire.intercity trains to Ankara,Bandırma,Afyon and Uşak as well as commuter trains to Menderes, Çiğli and Aliağa service the station.

History

İzmir was a primary trade city during the 19th century and still is today. The main industry of the area was agriculture. However it took caravans days to transport the goods from the fields to the port. So, the Ottoman Empire gave a concession to a British company to build a railway from Aydın to İzmir, on September 22, 1856. The Oriental Railway Company (ORC) was formed on that day.

Ottoman Era 1856-1920