Roman Aqueduct of İzmir

Significant sections of a Roman aqueduct survive in the Kadifekale neighbourhood of İzmir, their tall stone arches rising incongruously above modern residential streets. The aqueduct dates from the fourth century CE and supplied water to the ancient city of Smyrna from the hills to the east.

The surviving sections are freely visible and accessible — they stand in the middle of ordinary streets and gardens, incorporated into the urban fabric rather than fenced off as a formal monument. The contrast between the massive ancient stonework and the surrounding apartment buildings is striking. Worth a short detour if you are visiting Kadifekale.

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A story
The aqueduct was built during the reign of the Emperor Valens in the fourth century CE, supplying water to the city of Smyrna from springs in the mountains to the east. The surviving section in the Kadifekale neighbourhood — standing to a height of about 15 metres — is just a fragment of what was once a system stretching for many kilometres. Most of the aqueduct was dismantled during the Ottoman and early Republic periods, its stone blocks recycled for other construction.

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