İzmir is the best place to cycle in Türkiye, as it’s part of the EuroVelo 8 – a route that crosses 10 Mediterranean countries.
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00:00I'm in Izmir, one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in Turkey.
00:16Here, the sound of the sea mixes with the breeze.
00:20It's paradise for cyclists, history enthusiasts and food lovers like me.
00:31I've heard that beautiful Izmir, the ancient city of Smyrna, is the best place to experience
00:36Turkey by bike.
00:38It's a key point on the Turkish leg of the Eurovelo 8, a 7,350 km cycle route through
00:4510 Mediterranean countries.
00:47The 495 km Smyr section starts in Pergamon, traverses 18 districts and ends in Ephesus,
00:54linking historical sites, natural and cultural heritage and the city, of course.
01:17A mandatory stop on this route is the little coastal town of Cesme, with its historical
01:32buildings, lush vegetation and stunning beaches.
01:37Another incredible experience is passing by the Flamingo Natural Park, located in the
01:42Gulf of Izmir, where you can easily spot these beautiful pink birds.
01:49And of course, you have to end your tour at the iconic Clock Tower to take some memories
01:54back with you.
01:57This is Ephesus, about 80 km south of Izmir.
02:04It's been a city since Neolithic times, but it came to full prominence under the Roman
02:09Empire as the capital of Asia Minor and second in importance only to Rome.
02:15Added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2015, Ephesus is unique in the world, believe
02:22me.
02:45There are many things to see in Ephesus, starting from the stunning Library of Kelsus,
02:51the third largest one in the Greek or Roman world.
02:54It used to contain approximately 12,000 to 14,000 scrolls and papyrus rolls of the period.
03:00On the facade, there are beautiful statues depicting the four virtues Wisdom, Bravery,
03:06Knowledge and Thought.
03:08This site has also a very important association with early Christianity, St. Mary's Basilica
03:14is believed to be the final resting place of the Virgin Mary.
03:18You can't miss the remains of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders
03:23of the Ancient World, considered as the beginning of European marble architecture.
03:29Time to go back to Izmir, well known also for its cuisine, I'm going to learn how to
03:37prepare one of the typical local delicacies, and taste it of course.
03:42Izmir's Boyosa, a registered geographical indication product, is a round flaky pastry
03:48made with thin layers of dough and three simple ingredients, flour, water and salt.
03:54It's not so easy to replicate at home though.
03:57It's like making a pizza, I can do it, I'm not sure, I'm not sure, how do you do it on this side, not really.
04:13The secret to making a real Boyosa lies in skillfulness, so perhaps it's better to leave
04:18it to the master.
04:20And once the dough is filled, they are ready to go into the oven.
04:34Other than the regular plain Boyosa, here you can also taste them filled with aubergine,
04:38cheese, herbs, chocolate and tahini.
04:43Of course you can find Boyosa in many Turkish cities, cycle anywhere else, or be fascinated
04:49by other ancient sites, but none of these will ever have the same taste as it does in
04:54Izmir.
04:55Koroşuruz!