Unesco In 2014, it was designated as “Pergamum Multilayered Cultural Landscape Area” 999. Bergama, which is a heritage, stands out with its history dating back to the prehistoric (time until the invention of writing) and Pergamon Antique City.. Throughout history, it has been the living space of Ionian, Hellenic, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations.. In our Bergama travel guide, where we try to explain Bergama; We will talk about Transportation to Bergama, Pergamon History, Dining in Bergama and Places to Visit in Bergama.
Bergama is a district of Izmir. Manisa and Kınık are located in the east and Aliağa in the south.. To the west are Dikili and the Aegean Sea.. The population of the district, which is located in the Bakırçay basin, is 100 thousand.. The name of Pergamon was founded by the son of Heracles according to mythology, and it was named after Pergamos, the grandson of the Trojan hero Achilles.. Villagers, who had been reacting to mining and gold mining with cyanide for many years, reacted against the production made on 100 hectares of land.. The words of Hüseyin Doğan, a villager from Bergama, were also headlines.. “For us, olive gold, cotton gold, beekeeping gold, tobacco gold… Everything you see is gold.. However, we will lose this gold with the extraction of gold under the ground” (Source: NTV archive)
Many firsts in the world emerged in Bergama. Parchment (the first paper to be written), the first great library in Asia, the first great hospital and psychotherapy treatment came from Bergama. These firsts emerge as a reason that attracts him and leads him to explore..
Where is Bergama? How to go?
Bergama is a district of Izmir and is located 110 km north of Izmir city centre.. It is 29 km from Dikili, 63 km from Ayvalık, 103 km from Balıkesir and 86 km from Edremit Airport.. For those who will reach from Istanbul, it is 390 km and 4 hours away with the new highway and bridge..
Where to Stay in Bergama?
We can make different suggestions for the answer to the question of where to stay in Bergama. Bergama Taş Konak Hotel, Akropolis Guest House, Attalos Suites Hotel, Elaia Hotel and Sanart Konukevi, located in the area where the Akrapol and old Bergama houses are located, stand out as the hotels with the most comments..
If you wish, you can inquire price & make reservation from the hotel search engine Agoda. Or if it suits your route, you can add depth to your tour in Ayvalık and Dikili, and check our Cunda and Ayvalık Travel notes.
Let’s leave a few phone numbers here anyway.. Calling by phone always provides a price advantage
Bergama Taş Konak Hotel: 0507 776 1940
Arictonicus Boutique Hotel: 0232 632 4141
Akropolis Guest House: 0232 631 2621
Sanat Guest House : 0532 055 2588
Elaia Hotel : 0533 745 9889
Food in Bergama
When it comes to Bergama, there are flavors that stand out like every other region. The most prominent flavor is screaming.. If you are a eggplant lover, you can try it.. Again, as in many regions, meatballs were named as Bergama Meatballs, taking the name of the district..
If you are in search of breakfast, perhaps the only name that stands out is Yenigün. The owner, Eşref Bey, has been running his business for many years.. Bereket Breakfast Hall is another establishment that offers Bergama Breakfast with honey and milk as an alternative.. Located on Bankalar Street, Çiçeksever Meatball Hall, Bergama Table, Altın Kepçe Bergama Meatballs and Sarmaşık Lokantası are the prominent venues of the district..
Kervan and Özlem Pide restaurants, located across the 14 Eylül stadium, are among the two most commented places in the region.
If you are close to Bergama Museum If you are somewhere, you can stop by Arasta. You can take a break for tea/coffee at Çınarlı Kahve & Arasta Kitaplı Kahve..
Outside Bergama, there is an Italian Cuisine restaurant named Casa Regina that accepts customers only on certain days.. Sorry, it’s open from Friday to Sunday. It must be a different feeling to taste Italian delicacies in its beautiful garden in Aşağıkırıklar village.. We phoned but they were closed for a while due to the winter/pandemic.. try your luck. +90539 327 3322
Places to Visit in Bergama
Places to Visit in Bergama next. The Pergamon Acropolis and Pergamon Ancient City, which stand out in Bergama and taken under the protection of UNESCO, stand out as the most important value that introduced it to the world.. Before going into details about the city, let’s mention that the entrance to the ancient city is paid and it is free with a museum card.. Important note: It is stated on the Ministry of Culture page that it is closed on weekends..
Pergamon Antique City
Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014, Bergama has been preserved due to its location even though it was destroyed as a result of occupation and wars throughout history. and became a settlement. The first traces of this settlement lead us to BC.. 5. It takes centuries.
The name Berg or Perg means castle and forms the name of the present ancient city. Kingdom of Pergamon Philetairos (BC. 343-263) and dominated the region from the Taurus Mountains to the Sea of Marmara in Anatolia..
After the death of Alexander the Great, Philetairos, who had close relations with the generals who shared the country’s lands, succeeded in creating a semi-autonomous city-state by enclosing the Pergamon Acropolis with thick and high walls.. The foundations of the 150-year-old Attalos Dynasty were laid after the Ipsos war with the Thracian ruler Lysimachos.. Since the last King Attalos III had no heir and bequeathed the kingdom to Rome, Pergamon became the Asian province of Rome..
Kings of Pergamum
Philetairos (281-263 BC)
I. Eumenes (263-241 BC)
I. Attalos (241-197 BC)
II. Eumenes (197-159 BC)
II. Attalos (159-138) BC
III. Attalos (138-133 BC)
Pergamon Acropolis
Pergamon Acropolis was established on a hill overlooking the plain irrigated by Bakırçay.. The Ancient City of Pergamon also contains structures belonging to the pre-Pergamon Kingdom.. In the hill region called the Upper City, there are generals and royal palaces, a theater built on a steep slope, the world’s largest library at the time, temples, a cistern and the foundations of the Altar of Zeus, now in Berlin.. Below is a map of the structures belonging to the acropolis..
Recently, the cable car built to the acropolis was criticized a lot because it spoiled the image.. However, it must be said that there is no tiring journey to reach the top, except by car.. While we are here, we must say that the fee for the cable car is quite expensive, we bought a museum card valid for 1 year with the same money on the date we went..
Pergamon Zeus Altar
If we say that the most important structure that introduced the name of Pergamon to the world is the Pergamon Zeus Altar, she made a wrong sentence. we wouldn’t. Only the foundations of the Altar of Zeus, also known as the Altar, remained in Bergama.. The exterior frescoes of the altar decorated with reliefs, which are unique works of art history, depict the war between the Olympian gods and the giants (Gigants)..
The altar was built during the reign of Emanes II as a result of the victory against Galatians and Seleucids.. B.C. The horseshoe-shaped religious building built in 190 is the most important structure of the acropolis. The 35×33 meter building has 20 meters wide stairs.. However, the altar is taken from its location and moved to the museum called Pergamonmuseum located in the middle of the Spree river, known as the museum island of Berlin.
It has attracted the attention of many people. Although there are no archaeological sites in the countries of European states, they have archaeological museums.. This collection curiosity was formed with the renaissance movement, especially 17. century has reached its peak.. Then, ruins and cities belonging to Roman civilizations, especially Anatolia, Persia and Egypt, were plundered from all over the world..
The story of Pergamon begins with the German engineer Carl Humann in the 1870s. Carl Humann (1839-1896) participated in various excavations after graduating, then came to Istanbul and had close relations with the administrators of that time.. One of the days he explored Anatolia, he stopped by Bergama and sent some of the pieces he found here to Berlin.. The engineer, who received financial support from his country after the collection movement mentioned above, also managed to get the necessary permission from the Ottoman Empire..
Here, it is also necessary to mention the railway projects that the Germans made with concession in our country.. According to the agreement; It is legal to own 1/3 of all kinds of mines and works located within 20 km of the built railways and routes.. The share of Bergama, which is included in the regional projects, was the transfer of the Zeus Altar and Athena temple abroad.. Unfortunately, the renaissance did not come to the Ottomans, and the Ottoman share, excluding 1/3 of the works, was sold.. It is possible to start this financial weakness after the Crimean War, which the Ottomans experienced..
The Altar of Zeus exhibited in Berlin is one of the most visited museums in the country.. If you want to go step by step click here and navigate with arrow keys and mouse. If you happen to be in Berlin one day, you can take a look at our Berlin travel notes.. Alternatively, Miniaturk Zeus Altar Miniature can be visited in Istanbul Miniatürk..
Pergamon Theater
The theater, located just in front of the Pergamon Acropolis, looks at a dizzying wide abyss as the most interesting structure of the acropolis.. It is designed with a mobile stage with a capacity of 10,000 people.. The building, which dates to the Hellenistic period, had a wooden portable stage and was located right next to the Dionysus temple. You can consider coming to Bergama just to see this theater..
Pergomon Library
Another element that made Pergamon famous in history was its library.. The city, which had the richest resources of the period, had 200 thousand books.. Produced in Bergama on parchment known as “Pergamon Skin”.
If we talk about its story; According to an ancient legend, the King of Egypt wanted the Library of Alexandria to pass Pergamum and banned the export of papyrus used at that time to Anatolia.. After the award promised by the king of Pergamon, who remained paperless, an alternative search was started.. As a solution, the Library Manager Krates processed the kid skins and made them writeable.. B.C. 2nd. Invented in the 19th century, parchment has been used for centuries.. Being able to write on both sides, not tearing, not burning, suitability for calligraphy and illumination made it indispensable.. While the writings written on half-century-old paper are difficult to read, centuries-old parchments can protect themselves as if they were newly written..
Artifacts from the Pergamon Library Jul Caesar‘s lover Marcus Antonius‘s wife Cleopatra Gifted to . For those who are curious, you can read the summary of Cleopatra’s life here.
Pergamon ancient city plan is divided into two as upper (Acropolis) and lower city.. Also in the Acropolis. 4. There are Temple of Athena belonging to the 19th century, Troian Temple with the name of the Roman Emperor Troian, palaces belonging to the king and the upper class.. The aqueducts called Arsenal, the pressurized water line from the 900 meters high Madra mountain, consisting of 240 thousand earth pipes, are the works of the people of Bergama.. The water cistern on the upper side of the acropolis and the agora (bazaar) on the theater side are other structures..
Below is a 3D working video showing how the acropolis and the city look. I definitely recommend you to watch the old glory of the city..
Pergamon was not just the acropolis. In the sections called the middle and lower cities, there were Hera and Demeter sanctuaries, Roman baths, gymnasion (training places for athletes), lower agora, shops and houses..
Bergama Kizilavlu (Sarepeion)
M.S. 2nd. The Red Courtyard dated to the 16th century, was built during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. Egyptian Gods Serapis, Harpocrates and Isis were worshiped here. The most important feature is that it is completely made of bricks.. The 60×20 meter long building is also called the red courtyard because of its large courtyard.. Located on the way to Pergamon Acropolis. Entry is free with museum cards.
A few interesting points should be mentioned here.. The structure of Pergamon in the Roman Empire has no analogues. The cult of the Egyptian Gods in Anatolia appears in very few places and is thought to have spread through trade..
The Ystructure is placed on water tunnels as an engineering/architectural work . It is estimated that there are passages and stairs under the structure and the round structures on its sides.. It was thought that the round structures on both sides of the temple were pointing to demigods..
Asclepieion (The World’s First Psychotherapy Centre)
Next is the most famous treatment center of antiquity Asclepion . The surviving remains of Asklepion, a treatment center established in the name of the god of health Asklepios, A.D.. 2nd. century. In the complex built by Emperor Hadrian, in addition to modern techniques such as putting the patients to sleep, therapy, music concerts, diseases such as mud cure, hunger and satiety cures, and cupping were tried to be treated..
The hometown of Physician Galenos, known as the father of pharmacy, was the most important health center of the ancient world..
Asclepion’s colonnaded road was approximately 1 km long with a vaulted road, and its length extended to the Roman Theatre, now known as the ruined gate.. Patients were admitted after being checked in from here. Many items were sold on the colonnaded street on the entrance road to help patients find healing..
It is understood that the theater in the form of a semicircle with a capacity of 3500 people was built by a noble from Pergamon.. The stage building has 3 floors and was built in Bergama for the first time in Anatolia. The sitting steps are made of marble and there is an honor box for respectable people..
The methods of the period used in Asklepion are quite interesting. Water sound concert, sleep and therapy rooms give clues about modern therapy methods of the present time.. Let’s also specify: International Congress of Group Psychotherapies It has been held in Bergama Asklepion every year since 1984.
Another element that makes this place stand out is the first appearance of the snake entwined with the staff, which is the symbol of medicine, here. The story of the serpent figure on the marble column erected in the entrance square is as follows:
A patient comes to Asklepion for healing. However, it is not accepted because the patient cannot recover.. While waiting helplessly, the patient sees that 2 snakes drink milk from a container and vomit their poison into the milk.. Then he takes this milk, drinks it, falls into a deep sleep, and then gets well.. Thereupon, the double snake figure, which first became the symbol of the city and then of health and medicine.. This column has been moved to the Pergamon Museum and started to be exhibited since 2010..
Bergama Houses
Of course, Bergama is not only famous for the ancient world.. Kale Mahallesi, the living quarters with old Greek houses offer squares worth photographing with their colorful streets..
Bergama in Brief…
I tried to convey the important notes in the Bergama guide in order. Now I want to share useful information with short notes..
==> One of the places you should stop by when you visit Bergama is the Pergamon Museum. Turkey opened in 1936 It is the first Archaeological Excavation Museum of. The museum, which contains ancient finds, sculptures and ethnographic elements, awaits its visitors on Banka Street.. Free with Müzekart. Pergamon Museum Location
==> It is possible to see traces of the Roman period in Bergama.. It was used as the entrance gate of the Viran Gate Askelepion, belonging to the Roman theater in Atmaca District.. We do not recommend you to waste your time as it is very difficult to reach the Amphitheater in the same region.. Maltepe Tumulus, Yığma Tepe and Pergamon aqueduct, which are also necropolis-like structures, are other ruins and are not easy to access..
==> Arasta, which we also mentioned in the eating and drinking notes, is a word that means bazaar. The area with cafes and tea gardens and small shops is a good place to take a break and wander.. Bergama Arasta Location
==> The name of the carpet comes to the fore to answer the question what can be bought from Bergama . Weaving has been done in Bergama and its villages for many years.. You can see Bergama carpets in the shops across the Red Court.. In addition, Olive and Olive Oil are products produced in the region.
==> Have you ever seen parchment ? The parchment, which you will remember from the library notes above, also has a shop in Bergama.. You can view and purchase works on parchment, each more beautiful than the other.. Bergama Parchment Location
==> Küplü Hamam , which is used as a hamam today, is still operating in Bergama. Only the cube from which it takes its name is not in place.. His story is interesting, namely that II. In the incident dated to the Murat period, a farmer found 3 cubes while plowing his field and filled them with gold.. The sultan gives one of the cubes to the farmer, the farmer who buys the embossed cube builds this ham and keeps it in the bath.. While two of the cubes are located in Istanbul Hagia Sophia Mosque, the embossed cube is II.. It was gifted to King Philippe by Mahmut in 1837.. Today it is on display in the Louvre Museum.. If someone has something that the French gave as a gift to the Ottoman Empire, please write it in the comments.
==> There is also a Roman quarter in Bergama.. Atmaca District, with its small narrow steep streets, is as good as the sets of Emir Kustarica’s novel films.. Do not go with your vehicle. Can’t find a place to park. keep calm you didn’t miss anything.
==> Kozak Plateau, the nature paradise where Turkey’s best quality pine nuts grow in Bergama 20 km to. Kozak Yaşam Vadisi location in the region is a place where you can stop by for breakfast and a rest in the region.. In the Ayvaylar Village in the same region, there is the Ancient City of Perperene with no excavations yet.. Of course, the biggest working team is treasure hunters.
==> In Bergama, besides only the ancient artifacts, there are more recent history witnesses. are in the works. The Seljuk Minaret, located in the Seljuk neighborhood, is made of cut stone and brick and is worth seeing.. Bergama Great Mosque built by Sultan Beyazid dating to 1339, Hacı Hekim Hamam built in the 15th century, 14. The Kursunlu Mosque, built in the century. (the walls are said to have been built with the stones of Bergama Castle)
==> To the late Ottoman architecture, built in 1855 The Bergama Clock Tower, which points to. It has been used as the District Police Department since 1955..
==> The city located 20 km north of the region and dedicated to Asclepion, the god of health Allianoi Ancient City Discovered in 1998 but submerged by Yortanlı Dam in 2011. Unfortunately, we lost a value without gaining it..
==> The Pergama Public Library, located close to the Red Court, serves in an old mansion. The building, which was used as a high school in the past, will definitely attract your attention..
==> These are the notes we will convey from Bergama for now. hope you like it. If you have an idea of cruising against the sea, like us, you can drive from Dikili/Bademli to Çandarlı and have a pleasant time against unique coves.. If you want to stay in this region, there are resort and bungolow-style businesses.. It is also possible to take a boat tour to Garip and Kalem Island from here..
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