Travel Point Overview

Tucked away in the heart of İzmir’s historic Konak district, Havra Street (Synagogue Street) is more than just a narrow lane — it is a living testament to centuries of coexistence, culture, and devotion.

✡️ Havra Street and the Synagogues – A Journey Through İzmir’s Jewish Heritage

Tucked away in the heart of İzmir’s historic Konak district, Havra Street (Synagogue Street) is more than just a narrow lane — it is a living testament to centuries of coexistence, culture, and devotion.

Named after the high concentration of synagogues (havras) in the area, this street and its surroundings once formed the vibrant core of İzmir’s Jewish quarter, located near the Namazgah neighborhood and Mezarlıkbaşı.

🕍 A Sacred Urban Fabric

Most of the synagogues here follow a centralized plan, with four supporting columns at the center of the prayer hall.
Worship and Torah readings traditionally took place in the middle of the sanctuary, reflecting a communal worship culture.

Today, some of these synagogues are still open for prayer or visits, while others remain closed but stand as silent witnesses to İzmir’s multicultural past.

🔯 Notable Synagogues of Havra Street

Sinyora (Giveret) Synagogue

📍 927 Street No: 77, Konak
📅 Built in the 16th century
Named after Gracia Nassi, a prominent Jewish philanthropist.
✅ Open to visitors

Shalom (Aydınlı) Synagogue

📍 927 Street No: 38, Konak
📅 Built in the 1500s
Said to be where Sabbatai Zevi studied.
The Great Fire of İzmir in 1841 reportedly stopped at its doorstep — a plaque tells the story.
✅ Notable for its history

Algazi Synagogue

📍 927 Street No: 38, Konak
📅 Built in 1724 by the Algazi family
Second-largest synagogue in İzmir after Bet Israel.
🕍 Two-story building
✅ Open on Saturdays and Jewish holidays

Bikur Holim Synagogue

📍 İkiçeşmelik Ave. No: 40, Konak
📅 Built in 1724 by Salomon de Cavies
Renowned for its beautiful interior.
✅ Open for worship on Saturdays and holidays

Etz Hayim Synagogue

📍 İkiçeşmelik Ave. No: 5, Konak
📅 Dates back to the Byzantine era
Regarded as the oldest synagogue in İzmir
🚫 Currently closed to the public

Hevra (Talmud Tora) Synagogue

📍 927 Street No: 4/7, Konak
📅 17th century
🚫 Closed to visitors

Bet Hillel Synagogue

📍 920 Street No: 23, Konak
Synagogue where famous rabbi Hayim Palacci once prayed
🚫 Closed to visitors

Portuguese Synagogue

📍 920 Street No: 44, Konak
📅 Believed to have been built in the 1550s
Sabbatai Zevi used it as a base in 1666
🚫 No longer in use

📍 How to Get There

🗺️ Location: Anafartalar Street, Havra Street, Konak / İzmir
🚶‍♂️ Short walking distance from Kemeraltı Bazaar
🚇 Easy access via Konak Metro and Tram stops
🚌 Reachable by many city buses passing through Anafartalar Avenue

📲 Explore with Advisormapp

Plan your visit and explore Jewish heritage with the Advisormapp mobile app:

• 🗺️ Step-by-step navigation through Havra Street
• 🎧 Multilingual audio guides including English
• 📖 Historical and architectural details of each synagogue
• ☕ Tips on nearby cafés, markets, and cultural landmarks

🌍 Learn more at: www.advisormapp.com

✡️ Havra Street: A Place Where History Still Whispers

Havra Street is not just a place — it's a passage through time.
Each stone, door, and façade speaks of a once-flourishing community, of sacred traditions, and the peaceful coexistence of cultures in İzmir.

When you walk here, you don’t just see history —
you feel it echo in the silence of the synagogues and the rhythm of the street life that still surrounds them.

Slow down. Look around. You might just hear a prayer still lingering in the air.

 ✡️📜✨

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