| İzmir Clock Tower | |
| Native Name: | İzmir Saat Kulesi |
| Native Name Lang: | tr |
| Former Names: | Hamidiye Tower |
| Building Type: | Clock tower |
| Architectural Style: | Ottoman architecture |
| Location: | Konak Square |
| Location City: | İzmir |
| Location Country: | Turkey |
| Coordinates: | 38.4189°N 27.1287°W |
| Groundbreaking Date: | 1 September 1900 |
| Completion Date: | August 1901 |
| Inauguration Date: | 1 September 1901 |
| Renovation Date: | 1928, 1974, 2019 |
| Height: | 25m (82feet) |
| Material: | Stone, marble |
| Floor Count: | 4 |
| Grounds Area: | 81m2 |
| Architect: | Raymond Charles Péré |
İzmir Clock Tower (tr|İzmir Saat Kulesi) is a historic clock tower located at the Konak Square in the Konak district of İzmir, Turkey. It is considered as the main landmark of the city.[1] [2]
Kâmil Pasha, the then-Governor of Aidin Vilayet, held a meeting with the prominent people of İzmir on 1 August 1900. It was decided a clock tower to be built in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of Abdul Hamid II's accession to the throne.[3] The clock tower was designed by the Levantine French architect Raymond Charles Péré.[3] The groundbreaking ceremony of the construction was held on 1 September 1900.[3] The tower was completed in August 1901 and officially inaugurated on 1 September 1901, the 25th anniversary of the sultan's accession to the throne.[3]
The top of the tower was destroyed in a magnitude 6.4 earthquake on 31 March 1928 and again in a magnitude 5.2 earthquake on 1 February 1974.[3] [4] During the protests against the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, the clock of the tower was stolen.[5] [6] The tower underwent restoration in 2019.[7] [8]
The tower, which has an iron and lead skeleton, is 25m (82feet) high and features four fountains (şadırvan), which are placed around the base in a circular pattern.[2] [3] The ground area of the tower is 81m2[3] The tower has an octagonal plan and four floors.[2] [3] It was made of marble and stone.[2] The tower has four clocks with a diameter of 75 cm.[3] There is a bell on the fourth floor which is carried by twelve columns.[3] There were tughras and Ottoman coats of arms on four sides of the tower.[3] After the proclamation of the republic, they were engraved and replaced with stars and crescents.[9]
The clock tower was depicted on the reverse of the Turkish 500 lira banknotes of 1983–1989.[10] It is also featured on the emblem of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality.[11] [12] A 1:25 scale model of the tower is on display in Miniatürk.[13]