Levantine
Heritage The story of a community |
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The
Legacies |
The visitor to
districts formerly inhabited by Levantines will find few descendants
if any living in those streets. However many buildings survive and are
more than just a testament that these people once existed. The architectural
flamboyance of many attests to the wealth and culture of the former
community, and also to the fact that Turkey to them was not a transient
home, but a place to invest in their future. The listings are only partial
as much contradictory information makes the houses history uncertain,
and only when a high degree of reliability is ensured are the details
included. The gradual loss through time of properties will mean this
list in time will become dated but also a historical source. To view my notes on this heritage in Izmir in pdf format click here. To view a detailed listing of Levantine properties of Izmir, prepared by Onur İnal with extra information added where available, click here: The presence of Levantines also assisted in the spreading influence of Art Nouveau in architecture in Istanbul, further explored in this web page: |