The lasting cultural effects created by the European merchant families who came to the country to do business during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire are generally defined as Levantine Culture.
One of the first things the Levantine families, who moved to Istanbul and Izmir, which were port cities, did as soon as they arrived was to build the house they would live in general. The architectural styles of the buildings they built as residences are still remembered with admiration today.
Due to Izmir’s proximity to Punta Port (Alsancak Port), which is seen as the gate to Asia Minor, and the Söke Plain, where they thought agricultural activities would be very efficient, a significant part of the Levantine Families who wanted to engage in trade settled here. Among the Levantine families who determined Boudja (the name of Buca at that time) and Bournabat (Bornova) as their dwellings in İzmir, very few families remained living in these lands today.
Although Buca (Boudja), with its kilometers of vineyards and strong green area, was seen as a summer resort where some Levantine families living only around the Alsancak Harbor lived to relax in the hot summer months, it became their main living space in a very short time. Some of the Levantine Families who lived in Buca; The Rees Family, the Forbes Family, the Aliotti Family, the Baltazzi Family, the De Jongh Family and the list goes on.
In Buca, especially on Dumlupınar Neighborhood and İstasyon Street , there are intense Levantine culture elements. The architectural styles of the mansions built by architect Vafiyadis in line with the wishes of some Levantine families from Buca can be seen even in Bornova. Especially the pediments of the roof complex, which was seen to have been built for the first time in Buca, have been examined and researched many times by academics today.
Levantine Culture in Izmir
Archaeologist and journalist Gaston Deschamps, who came to Izmir towards the end of the 19th century, makes the following statement in a source about the Izmir Levantines:
“The center of the Christian Neighborhood is Frenk Street. It is possible to see the most beautiful and best buildings in Frenk Neighborhood. Frenk Street developed a lot after the goods started to unload at the French customs wharf built by the Levant Company under the auspices of the king.
In the clothing shops here, just like in Paris;
- Behind the high window glasses, the street goods of all Europe are displayed,
- In addition, Manchester’s customary cottons covering the east, overcoats, jackets, suits, which are sent in large bales by the Austrian Tailors’ Union, are sold.
- They cure their patients with castor oil from Milan and quinine sold cheaply by the Italians and Germans.
- They flavor their coffee with Austrian sugar,
- They go hunting with Belgian rifles
- They write their stories and letters on Angouleme, Annonay or Fiume paper
- They write with French fountain pen, German ink, and Viennese pencil
- They furnish their houses with Antwerp and Paris mahogany
- They use Swiss made watches
- They light their homes with Baku oil
- They make their bread with Odessa or Sevastopol wheat.
- They make their meals from Russian caviar, Marseille oil, English cod, French potatoes, Austrian smoked meat, Persian tea, Italian cheese, Egyptian onions.