Guzelbahce
General Information
District: Izmir, State: Aegean Region, Turkey
Area: 57 km²
Languages Spoken: Turkish
Long Distance Code: (+90) 0232
Best Time to Visit: May to August
International Access: Izmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB)Description
Name and administration Güzelbahce's administrative history reflects both the rapid pace of transformation in the last eighty years in İzmir and its vicinity and administrative measures and arrangements inspired by momentary considerations. In the first years of the Republic of Turkey, Güzelbahce was a village depending Urla and was named "Kilizman", a name adopted naturally through history and which makes reference to the ancient city of Klazomenai, located today in Urla quay. In 1936, its population already having exceeded two thousand people, its municipal administration was formed, which still depended Urla at the time, and its name was changed into "Kizilbahce" (red garden). In 1958, its municipal area was separated from Urla district and was attached to İzmir center, and the name was changed into Güzelbahce (the beautiful garden) for the first time, reportedly to avoid political connotations associated with the color "Red" at the height of the Cold War. In 1980, the municipality was abolished and the town became an ordinary neighborhood of İzmir. This state of administration was pursued when an İzmir Metropolitan Municipality with depending districts, of which Güzelbahce is one today, was constituted in 1984. In the phase of administrative changes introduced within İzmir Metropolitan Municipality structure in 1988, Güzelbahce became part of Konak metropolitan district. In 1992, the two rooted neighborhoods (Güzelbahce and Narlidere) which extend along İzmir metropolitan area's western were fusioned and a new district under the name, "Narlibahce" (which gives the meaning, "garden of pomegranates"), a combination based on part of each one's name, was formed. In 1993, both Güzelbahce and Narlidere became distinct metropolitan districts under their present names. The name Kilizman is still used by the population for the coastal strait. There are seven officially constituted neighborhoods in Güzelbahce and the district center has one depending settlement (Yelki) with its own municipality and around two thousand inhabitants, as well as three depending villages located close, the total population of which slightly exceeds a thousand.Location
Güzelbahce is a coastal district of İzmir Province in Turkey. Güzelbahce district area follows a section in the southern shore of the inner Gulf of İzmir alongside a narrow coastal strait delimited by mid-height hills. It is İzmir's westernmost district. Güzelbahce center was at a distance of 24 km (15 mi) to the west from the traditional center of İzmir (Konak), which it borders on the east. Güzelbahce district area further neighbored the district areas of Urla to the west, Menderes (Cumaovasi) and Seferihisar to the south and Narlidere to the west, this last also being among İzmir's metropolitan districts.Climate
İzmir has a typical Mediterranean climate which is characterized by long, hot and dry summers; and mild to cool, rainy winters. The total precipitation for İzmir averages 706 mm (27.8 inches) per year; however, 77% of that falls during November through Ma