Urla, İzmir

"See Urla for disambiguation"

Infobox Settlement

settlement_type = Town
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = TUR
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
map_caption =Location of PAGENAME within Turkey.
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
official_name = Urla

---

image_caption = Karantina Island in Urla
image_blank_emblem =
blank_emblem_type =


subdivision_type1=Region
subdivision_name1 = Aegean
subdivision_type2=Province
subdivision_name2 = İzmir
population_total = 56.601
population_urban =
population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes = [http://www.izto.org.tr/NR/rdonlyres/898956C7-DD92-46C6-92D1-F06317523AE9/9361/31_URLA.pdf]
population_density_km2 = 78
area_total_km2 = 728
elevation_m = 0-150
latd =
latm =
latNS =
longd =
longm =
longEW =
postal_code_type=Postal code
postal_code = 35x xx
blank_info =
area_code = (0090)+ 232
leader_title=Mayor
leader_name =
website = [http://www.urla.bel.tr www.urla.bel.tr]
leader_name1 =
gwebsite = [http://www.urla.gov.tr www.urla.gov.tr]

Urla is a coastal town and the center of the district of the same name in İzmir Province, in Turkey. Urla district area's eastern part neighbors the western-most district of the Greater Metropolitan Area of İzmir, Güzelbahçe, and the urban tissue is much denser across that part, the average rate of urbanization thus reaching 75 % for the whole district area. With İzmir center (Konak) at a distance of only convert|35|km|mi|0|abbr=on, a large part of the population is composed of residents who commute to the big city every day. The district nevertheless manages to preserve an overall outlook of a pleasant suburb and resort, and as Urla extends to the west along Karaburun Peninsula, where it borders on the districts of Çeşme and Karaburun, secondary residences built along the coast or large farms of the interior, as well as native villages, all bearing typical Aegean characteristics, increase in number. To the south, Urla district neighbors that of Seferihisar and the settlement pattern is thinner in that section, with even some empty land, although housing projects prepared for İzmir's professional classes start to show a rising interest for that section as well. Agricultural products, and especially the fresh produce for the vast nearby market of İzmir, occupy a prominent place in Urla's economy, with fish, poultry and flowers standing out. Urla is where the ancient city of Klazomenai is located and its highly interesting remains are much visited, while the name lives on in the unofficial appellation used in the region for the coastline of the district, "Kilizman". With literacy among the highest in Turkey at 97 %, Urla is also home to İzmir Institute of Technology. Urla prides itself for having raised two important men of letters, Giorgos Seferis and Necati Cumalı.

Klazomenai - Kilizman

Urla was an important cultural centre in ancient times. It was originally the site of the Ionian city of Klazomenai, with probably the most ancient regularly used port in the world. Pieces of art and sculpture found during excavations are now exhibited in the Louvre or in İzmir Museum of Archaeology.

In the nearby antique city of Klazomenai, oldest attested olive oil production facilities were recently discovered. The traces also indicate first exports of olive oil by way of sea. A local enterprise started producing olive oil following the same methods as in antiquity, which turned out to be quite a success in business terms.

eferis and Cumalı

Urla boasts of two important men of letters among his sons: It is the birthplace of the Greek poet and Nobel-laureate Giorgos Seferis and the Turkish novelist Necati Cumalı (born in Florina and re-settled in the framework of the 1923 Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations) grew up in Urla.

ee also

* Klazomenai
* Necati Cumalı
* Giorgos Seferis
* İzmir Institute of Technology
* İzmir

External links

* [http://www.urlax.net Urla news portal]
* [http://www.urlaonline.com Urla web portal]
* [http://www.yorgoseferis.com Restored house of Giorgos Seferis operated today as a thematic residence]

Resources

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