Hello guys!
I'm here with a great travel post. Turkey is a country like paradise. There are different natural beauties all around. I live in Izmir. I have mentioned this many times in my previous posts. I think Izmir is one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey. I am really happy to be from Izmir. It is the third most populous city in the country in terms of population. It has an important place economically, historically and socio-culturally. It is among the famous cities of Antiquity. You can see the richness of the Ionian culture all over İzmir. That's why I will share wonderful places from Izmir for you from time to time. I would like to state that we are also quite good in terms of gastronomy. Since we are Aegean, our olive oil dishes and appetizers are quite famous. I hope you would like to visit Izmir. You won't regret this. :)
The name of the place I will share today is Nazarköy. Nazarköy is a village connected to Kemalpaşa. So it's pretty close to my parents' house. That's why we go to Nazarköy often. The village is located at the foot of the forest and has a magnificent nature. Actually, its old name is Kurudere Village. Evil eye beads, which have survived from shamanistic times, are an ornamental tool that attracts the attention of tourists today. Therefore, the name of the village was changed to Nazarköy to attract the attention of tourists. Nazarköy finds a place in this tradition and has been making a living by making beads for about 60 years. In addition, cherry cultivation has a very important place in the village. This charming settlement has only 350 inhabitants. There is more than one glass workshop in the village. Evil Eye Beads, which have been made for half a century, is a very difficult art that requires mastery. During your visit here, you can watch step-by-step how glass is made by entering the glass workshops. But I would like to point out that it is very hot inside. The raw material of the Eye Bead is glass. Glass is shaped by melting it in furnaces. Of course, as in every sector, this sector is under the threat of Chinese goods. For this reason, the Nazarköy Bead Festival has been held for years in order to draw attention to glass production and beadwork. Evil eye bead necklaces, earrings and ornaments made by hand in glass workshops are exhibited in small shops in the center of the village. Here you can shop as you wish. I am sure that its bazaar, narrow streets and village houses will attract your attention.
The village is very suitable for nature activities and day trips. Mountain walks to Nazarköy Canyon are organized by mountaineering clubs on weekends. You can reach the mountain road when you follow the roads going upwards from the middle of the village. The Kurudere Canyon is reached by continuing to walk the mountain road.
There are also many restaurants in the village. Here you can have wonderful village breakfasts and eat wonderful pastries. In winter, there is a warm salep in almost every cafe. You can sip your salep with chestnuts cooked on the stove. One of my favorites is Turkish coffee cooked in the sand. That's why I drink Turkish coffee cooked in the sand every time I visit Nazarköy.
I hope you like this route. See you in the next post. Take care of yourselves.
In winter, there is a warm salep in almost every cafe. You can sip your salep with chestnuts cooked on the stove.