Type Clock tower Completed 1901 Opened 1901 Architect Raymond Charles Péré | Height 25 m | |
Similar Konak Square, Asansör, Kadifekale, Kemeraltı, Hisar Mosque | ||
Izmir Clock Tower (Turkish: İzmir Saat Kulesi) is a historic clock tower located at the Konak Square in Konak district of İzmir, Turkey.
Map of Konak Mahallesi, %C4%B0zmir Clock Tower, 35250 Konak%2F%C4%B0zmir, Turkey
The clock tower was designed by the Levantine French architect Raymond Charles Père and built in 1901 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Abdülhamid II's accession to the throne (reigned 1876–1909). The clock itself was a gift from German Emperor Wilhelm II (reigned 1888–1918). It is decorated in an elaborate Ottoman architecture style. The tower, which has an iron and lead skeleton, is 25 m (82 ft) high and features four fountains (şadırvan), which are placed around the base in a circular pattern. The columns are inspired by Moorish themes.
The clock tower was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 500 lira banknotes of 1983-1989.
In the former Balkan provinces of the Ottoman Empire, particularly in present-day Serbian, Bosnian and Montenegrin towns such as Belgrade, Prijepolje, Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Gradačac and Stara Varoš, similar Ottoman era clock towers still exist and are called Sahat Kula (derived from the Turkish words Saat Kulesi, meaning Clock Tower.)