Foça
On our second day in Izmir we went a little further afield to explore beyond the city. First stop was the Izmir Wildlife Park, which started life as Turkiye’s first zoo back in 1937. It has since relocated to a larger area outside of the city centre, and is a not-for-profit that is also heavily subsidised by the government so that it is accessible to everyone.
Next to the zoo is Izmir Bird Paradise, a large bird sanctuary that covers 8,000ha of the Çamaltı Saltpan. It is one of the most important wetlands in Turkiye and home to endangered crested pelicans, pink-winged flamingos, gray & black storks, and 205 other bird species. As well as being an important stop on the migration route of these birds, the saltworks also produces a significant amount of Turkiye’s salt needs (600,000 tonnes annually!).
We then drove up to the gorgeous little town of Foça. To be exact, Eskifoça (Old Foça) rather than Yenifoça (New Foça). Stretching along two coves, Foça is famous for its beautiful stone houses, clear waters and blue flag beaches, historical windmills, and medieval castle.
Foça is under strict environmental protection, due to the value of the local flora and the fauna. New constructions are not permitted in many parts of the district, meaning that Foça has preserved its unique characteristics of old houses. Not only that, Foça is one of three marine protected areas in Turkiye, aimed at assisting the heavily endangered Mediterranean monk seal.
We ambled around the stone houses and seafront while enjoying some famous ice cream from Nazmi Usta. The original shop was completely destroyed by an earthquake a couple of years ago, but people still queue down the street at its new location to sample their delicious flavours, like tahini or mulberry.
Foça is a Cittaslow. It’s part of a movement that values good food and promotes a healthy respect of the seasons and local produce. It prioritises the richness of craft traditions, the joy of slow and quiet living in unspoilt landscapes, and the importance of spirit of place.
