Homeros Vadisi

Homeros Vadisi, the Valley of Homer, is a natural area between the centre of Bornova and the village of Kayadibi, stretching along the bed of the Bornova stream and laid out as a recreation area by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. It takes its name from Homer, the poet of the Iliad and the Odyssey. According to ancient sources the poet's birth name was Melesigenes, "child of the river Meles", and the Meles is İzmir's stream; when the Bornova District Governorship tells this story, it presents the four small caves in the valley as the Caves of Homer. These four caves on a conical hill were accepted for centuries as the place where Homer withdrew to write poetry, and they drew travellers from all over the world. Otto Friedrich von Richter in 1815, Joseph d'Estourmel in 1838 and the Marquis de Laborde with his engravings in 1848 documented the caves; Lord Byron, Gustave Flaubert, Pierre Loti and King Otto of Greece are also counted among the visitors. In March 1852 the French magazine Magasin Pittoresque presented Bornova as the place where Homer wrote the Iliad. As the Türkiye Tourism Encyclopedia also notes, there is no definite archaeological evidence confirming this; the story is a legend, but it is what gives the valley its identity. The present layout dates from 2008. The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality opened the valley with a ceremony on 8 May 2008; two recreation areas named Kayadibi and Homeros Vadisi were created along 7 kilometres of the stream. On the Kayadibi side there are five ponds with a total surface of 6,725 square metres and a 700-metre picnic area; on the Homeros Vadisi side there are two large ponds of 4,277 square metres and a 750-metre picnic area, and a wooden bridge connects the two areas. More than 5,000 plane, acacia and oleander trees were planted at the opening; planting continued in the following years, and the Türkiye Tourism Encyclopedia writes that a total of 156,920 plants were planted and the number of ponds rose to 18. The same encyclopedia states that the area covers roughly 650 hectares. There is a freshwater fountain at the entrance, and along the valley three large picnic zones, walking and running tracks, a bicycle path and a small amphitheatre. Nature here is at least as rich as the legend. According to the research carried out, 182 plant species from 54 families and 103 bird species live in the valley. Red pine, oak, olive and laurel cover the slopes; small waterfalls and natural pools form in the stream bed. Looking back from the road climbing to Kayadibi, the plain of İzmir and the gulf appear together. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; the midday hours are hot in summer, and in winter the stream bed is prone to flooding. The encyclopedia notes that flash floods of the Bornova stream occasionally carry sand and gravel onto the picnic areas; after rainy days, move your walk to the paths on the slopes. There are two ways into the valley. According to the Bornova Municipality's visitor guide, the Eğridere route reaches the village of Eğridere via the Atatürk neighbourhood and Evka 4, while the Kayadibi route climbs past the 57th Artillery Brigade to the village of Kayadibi. On the Eğridere road a 500-year-old monumental tree and a village coffee house await you, on the Kayadibi road a view of İzmir and the gulf and a village breakfast. For public transport, ESHOT bus line 365, Kayadibi - Evka 3 Metro, runs through the valley and calls at the Homeros Vadisi, Çamiçi and Eğridere stops; check the current times on the ESHOT website. Boarding this bus at the Evka 3 metro station is the most practical way for those coming from the city centre. For those arriving by car, the access road has been asphalted and more than 60 direction signs have been placed across the city. The valley is about 9 kilometres from the centre of Bornova. Entry is free. Come early in the morning and start your walk at the ponds in the stream bed; cross the wooden bridge and climb to the upper ponds on the Kayadibi side. For the hill with the caves, follow the local signs and do not leave the path. For a picnic, the tables in the Homeros Vadisi section are shaded and close to the water. If you are going to watch birds, bring your binoculars; you look for waterfowl on the ponds and songbirds on the slopes. Walking shoes and enough water are essential; do not assume you will find a sales point inside the valley. Plan your return before sunset, as the last bus may leave early.