00:00I'm in Izmir, one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in Turkey.
00:16Here, the sound of the sea mixes with the breeze.
00:20It's paradise for cyclists, history enthusiasts and food lovers like me.
00:31I've heard that beautiful Izmir, the ancient city of Smyrna, is the best place to experience Turkey by bike.
00:38It's a key point on the Turkish leg of the Eurovelo 8, a 7,350 km cycle route through 10 Mediterranean countries.
00:47The 495 km Izmir section starts in Pergamon, traverses 18 districts and ends in Ephesus,
00:54linking historical sites, natural and cultural heritage and the city of course.
01:25A mandatory stop on this route is the little coastal town of Cesme, with its historical buildings, lush vegetation and stunning beaches.
01:37Another incredible experience is passing by the Flamingo Natural Park, located in the Gulf of Izmir, where you can easily spot these beautiful pink birds.
01:46And of course, you have to end your tour at the iconic Clock Tower to take some memories back with you.
02:01This is Ephesus, about 80 km south of Izmir. It's been a city since Neolithic times, but it came to full prominence under the Roman Empire as the capital of Asia Minor and second in importance only to Rome.
02:14Added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2015, Ephesus is unique in the world, believe me.
02:45There are many things to see in Ephesus, starting from the stunning Library of Kelsus, the third largest one in the Greek or Roman world.
02:53It used to contain approximately 12,000 to 14,000 scrolls and papyrus scrolls of the period.
03:00On the facade, there are beautiful statues depicting the four virtues, wisdom, bravery, knowledge and thought.
03:08This site has also a very important association with early Christianity, St. Mary's Basilica is believed to be the final resting place of the Virgin Mary.
03:18And you can't miss the remains of the famous Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, considered as the beginning of European marble architecture.
03:28Time to go back to Izmir, well known also for its cuisine. I'm going to learn how to prepare one of the typical local delicacies and taste it of course.
03:42Izmir's Boyosa, registered geographical indication product, is a round flaky pastry made with thin layers of dough and three simple ingredients, flour, water and salt.
03:54It's not so easy to replicate at home though.
03:57It's like making a pizza, I can do it. I'm not sure. I'm not sure. How does it weigh on this side? Not really.
04:13The secret to making a real Boyosa lies in skillfulness, so perhaps it's better to leave it to the master.
04:19And once the dough is filled, they are ready to go into the oven.
04:24Boyosa has become very popular in Izmir. People come here every morning for breakfast.
04:34Other than the regular plain Boyosa, here you can also taste them filled with aubergine, cheese, herbs, chocolate and tahini.
04:43Of course you can find Boyosa in many Turkish cities, cycle anywhere else or be fascinated by other ancient sites.
04:50But none of these will ever have the same taste as it does in Izmir.
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