Tire: Bazaar Traditions and Ottoman Heritage

Tire lies at the foot of Mount Güme Dağı and on the edge of the fertile Küçük-Menderes Valley in western Anatolia. The mountain and valley shape the setting of a town whose appeal lies just as much in its traditions and historic buildings. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus mainly on the lively bazaar, the history of craftsmanship, or Ottoman architecture. A holiday apartment in Tire suits travelers looking to experience these different sides of the town.

Bazaar Life, Craftsmanship, and Regional Cuisine

Tire’s bazaar is especially large on Tuesdays, when more than 1,700 stalls are set up. The goods on offer range from local herbs, vegetables, dairy products, and oil to handicrafts. These include bobbin lace, linen and felt products, wooden shoes, saddles, tinware, and ropes. Anyone interested in traditional goods will find a varied picture of what is sold at the market. The bazaar’s wide range makes it a destination in its own right when planning a trip—from buying regional foods to seeing traditional craft techniques.

The Tire-Salı-Pazarı is also associated with an Ahilik tradition that has continued since the Ottoman period. Beledi weaving has been documented in Tire since the 16th century and is being carried on under the leadership of the municipal administration through training led by Gülnur Yaykal and Nurefşan Yaykal. The market and weaving represent different aspects of local craftsmanship: the variety of goods on offer in one case, and the passing on of a distinctive weaving tradition in the other. Tire Şiş Köfte adds a culinary dimension. Local establishments and restaurants cook the dish in copper pans with butter and serve it to guests; it has also been granted the right to a geographical indication.

Historic Buildings and the Town’s History

Tire is distinguished by its dense urban fabric dating from the beylik and Ottoman periods. Among the town’s cultural points of interest is the Tire Museum, founded in 1935 in the Yahşi-Bey Zawiya, built by Halil Yahşi Bey. Another date in the museum’s history is October 15, 2014: on that day, the Tire City Museum began operating in the restored former town hall. These two details offer different ways to explore the town’s history—through a historic zawiya and a former town hall.

Individual buildings also reflect different periods and styles. The Necip Paşa Library in Tire was built in 1827 by Gürcü Mehmet Necip Paşa. The Yeni Mosque in the Kurtuluş district was built in 1589 by the Janissary Kethüda Behram Paşa. It is part of a complex comprising a mosque, madrasa, shops, bimarhane, and şadırvan. The Yeşil-İmaret Mosque dates from the 15th century and is also known locally as the Yahşi-Bey Mosque. Its dome has 21 segments—a specific architectural detail that sets it apart from Tire’s other historic buildings.

The Yavukluoğlu (Yoğurtçuoğlu) Complex was built in 1492 by Yavukluoğlu Mustafa Bey and still stands today. Several dates come together in the history of the Eski Yeni Hamam: the building belongs to the Ottoman classical period, was restored in 1876, and is estimated to be about 600 years old. Two large domed rooms and the entrance portico remain of the Sultan Hamam, also known as the Eski Bey and Kumkuma Hamam. The library, mosques, complexes, and hamams thus offer a range of ways to explore Tire’s architectural history.

More places to explore: Yakaköy, Çandarlı, Sarnıçköy Köyü, İstiklal, İzmit, Aliağa, Yolüstü Köyü and Yenişakran.

For the broader travel overview: Izmir.