The Kremlin in Moscow and the Taj Mahal in Agra, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Colosseum in Rome, Big Ben in London and the Empire State Building in New York – each city of our amazing planet has its own distinctive landmark, only its own symbol.

In 1901, the French architect Raymond Charles Péré created the symbol of Izmir – a wonderful monument of Ottoman architecture – a 25-meter Clock Tower with columns in the Moorish style. Its construction was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the accession of the last ruler of the Ottoman Empire, the great Sultan Abdul Hamid II. Today it adorns the heart of Izmir – the famous Konak Square. The frame of the magnificent four-story historical and cultural monument, in the form of an octagon with an area of 81 square meters, is made of lead and iron. The entire tower is made of beige marble, and its base is decorated with four fabulous fountains, where white marble steps lead. The water gushing from the fountains is so clear and crystal that the locals can easily quench their thirst with it because the sun in Izmir is so scorching that the heat starts from the very early morning. The central place in the tower is occupied by an old clock with a diameter of 75 centimeters, presented earlier to the Sultan by the German Emperor Wilhelm II as a sign of personal friendship. Later, with the proclamation of the Republic, new elements were added to the tower – four reliefs of a crescent with a star, the coat of arms of the Republic of Turkey. Today above the clock in the elegant stone dome, you can see the bell. Unfortunately, since the dome was damaged by an earthquake in 1974, the bell has performed only a decorative function. The Clock Tower looks especially fabulous at night when hundreds of golden lights illuminate its delicate carved details and arrange a fantastic show on the square, a stunning shadow play. At this time, Konak Square becomes the busiest place in the city, where romantic couples and happy groups of friends meet.