Kocaeli

Kocaeli is the city that takes place on the highway and railroad connecting Istanbul to Anatolia. The name of the city was Nicomedeia in the times of Roman Empire. Today it is a very industrial center for Turkey.

The Saatçi Ali Efendi Mansion in the city, which is a very interesting example of 18th century Ottoman Civil Architecture, had been restorated and now being used as Ethnography Museum.

“Pişmaniye” which is the local dessert of kocaeli is made by giving the sugar the shape of fibre.
Hereke, which is a district at the east side of Kocaeli is a very important carpet production center. The carpets of Hereke are very famous all around the world for their beauty and high quality. These carpets are the most expensive carpets of the Istanbul Carpet Markets.

Kerpe, Kefken and Kovanağzı, at the north of Kocaeli near Black Sea, are places that ecstatic places with their sores and small and comfortable hotels.

How to Get

Highway The most dense highway network of Turkey is the route between İstanbul - Adapazarı - Kocaeli. It is possible to reach to the Inter - City Bus Station by public busses and dolmush.

Bus Station Tel : ( + 90 - 262 ) 642 01 55

Marilines There are ferry lines between Karamürsel and Hereke, and between Gebze - Eskihisar and Yalova - Topçular.

Eskihisar Ferry Boat Tel : ( + 90 - 262 ) 655 60 31/ 655 58 53

Harbour Tel : ( + 90 - 262 ) 656 34 00

Railway Kocaeli takes place on the railway network that connects Istanbul to Anatolia.

Railway Station Tel : ( + 90 - 262 ) 321 10 39

Airport The nearest airport to Kocaeli is Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

Ancient Cities

Gültepe Necropolis Area It is in the Gültepe District of İzmit. Here, there is the antic period Necropolis and the remains of the holy building of Byzantine period. The archeological goods found during the carvings here, that belong to the Roman period, are exhibited in museums.

Mosques and Theological Schools

Orhan Mosque The Orhan Mosque is in the Orhan District, on a hill that is overlooking the city. The mosque had been founded by Süleyman Pasha in the times of Orhan Gazi in 13th century. The mosque had been restored by Ottoman Emperor Abdülmecit.

Fevziye Mosque The mosque takes place in the Hürriyet Street of Kemalpaşa District. It had been founded by Mehmet Bey in 16th century. The mosque had collapsed in the earthquake in 1884, and reconstructed.

Pertevpaşa Theological School The Pertevpaşa Theological School is one of the most important architectural buildings of İzmit. The School is at the both sides of Yeni Cuma Street. The School had been made by Architecture Sinan in the 16th century. The school consists of a mosque, Caravan Palace and Aşevi (Soup Kitchen)

Çoban Mustafa Paşa Theological School It had been founded by Mustafa Pasha, who was a vizier of Yavuz Sultan Selim and Süleyman the Magnificent, in Gebze. It had been built by Architecture Sinan and Architecture Acem Ali in the 16th century as a theological school for the “Menzir Dervishes”. The complex consists of a mosque, inn, pasha residences, charitable establishment, school, library, bath, and tombs. It is an example for the theological school complexes, which the additions had been constructed after the construction of the main building has finished.

Historical Mansions

İzmit Palace (Abdülaziz Hunting Mansion) The building is on the railway route, near the watch tower.
It had been founded by the Ottoman Sultan Abdülaziz as a hunting mansion. During the Independence War of the Turks, Atatürk had entertained the French journalist and writer Claude Ferare. Since from the date of 28.06.1967 it is being used as a museum. It has two floors. the building is in the Baraque Style. The sides of it had been surrounded with marble columns. It is like a small example of Solmabahçe Palace with its marble ceiling, and columns. It is the only palace that still exists outside Istanbul. It had been restorated by the Governorship of Kocaeli and today it had been damaged during the earthquake in 1999.

Kaiser Wilhelm Mansion The mansion is within the borders of Hereke Carpet Factory. It is known that it had been assembled here, after being prepared in Yıldız Palace in three days, as the residence of German Emperor Wilhelm Keiser during his visit in Turkey, in 1884.

Pembe Mansion It had been constructed at the beginning of the 20th century. It has three floors, and guillotine windows. It had been restored by the Governorship of Kocaeli. The wooden works of the mansion had been arranged according to its original. Today it can be used by the public. It has a cafeteria, and a coiffeur.

Demirciler Mansion The mansion is in the Demirciler Village of Gebze. It is a very interesting example of 19th century Ottoman architecture.

Sırrıpaşa Mansion The mansion is on the Yeni Çeşme Street of Hacı Hasan District. It had been founded by Sırrı Pasha in the 19th century. In the garden of the mansion, there are antic sculptures. It is a very important historical treasure with its garden beautification and the archeological pieces of art on its walls.

İzmit Train Station The management building and the warewarehouse of the Station Gar had been constructed by the Germans in the neo - classical style, between the years of 1908-1920. Italian stone craftsman had worked during the construction.

Castles and Towers

Eskihisar Castle It had been constructed during the Byzantine times near the sea side, at a steep hill at the northeast of Eskihisar Village. It had been constructed in order to protect the harbour.

Watch Tower The watch tower takes place between the Hunting Lodge and Atatürk Sculpture in Kemalpaşa District of İzmit. ıt had been founded by Musa Kazım Bey, as a gift for Abdulhamit the 2nd.

Bridges

Kuzuyayla when you reach to Kuzu Yayla, by taking the road full of pine, beech, and lime trees, and colorful flowers, you can observe how the fresh air, panoramic sightseeing, and wild nature are blended. It is a mountain that has a sea view. Kelpeze region here is an other beautiful place which the visitors can make use of both in summer and in winter

Promenade

Kuzuyayla when you reach to Kuzu Yayla, by taking the road full of pine, beech, and lime trees, and colorful flowers, you can observe how the fresh air, panoramic sightseeing, and wild nature are blended. It is a mountain that has a sea view. Kelpeze region here is an other beautiful place which the visitors can make use of both in summer and in winter

Beaches

Kerpe It is a cute Black Sea Village which is 10 km away from Kandıra, and 50 km away from izmit. The beauty of the landscape is unbelievable with its blue sea and the pine trees in the mountains. Kerpe is a place which is not effected by the great waves of Black Sea. The sea is very shallow here, and the shores are so beautiful.

Kefken Kefken is 20 km away from kandıra. It is very suitable for shore residence. Similar to Kerpe it has a wonderful beach and pine forests. ıt is a very popular place for the scuba - divers and for the underwater hunters.

Cebeci Cebeci, which is 27 km away from Kandıra; Sarısu, which is 8 km away from Kandıra Bayramoğlu and Eskihisar which is 6 km away from Gebze are the other beaches of the city.

Thermal Springs

Süleyman Pasha Thermal Bath It takes place in the Yukarı Pazar district of İzmit. It had been constructed in the 14th century. It is the oldest Ottoman building in the region.

Yazlık Thermal Spring, which is 15 km away from Gölcük, Maşukiye Spring in Maşukiye and , and Soğuksu Spring in Bahçecik are very popular places of the area.