The Levantines
Past – Present - Future
The Levant:
land of fascination and of conquest! Westerners setting up roots in these lands of opportunity would live here for centuries, becoming a commercial and cultural bridge between West and East.
In his book “Les Levantins”, Olivers Jens Schmitt describes the Levantines as an “ethno-confessional supranational group”. With no specific official identity of its own, this heritage embraces easily all cultures and religions but and the same time Levantine individuals still retain their respective national citizenships.
A symposium planned for November 2010 is to study the history of the Levantines and consider how the past and present Levantine concept can play a role in the modern world as a model for peaceful and multicultural cohabitation.
These themes and aspirations will be developed during the discussions, creating fresh opportunities and a pool of ideas for new relationships.
There has been no formal structure into this organization except that Messrs Alex and Gianfranco Baltazzi of Karavan Travel-Turkey have kindly agreed to organize the logistics of this reunion in Izmir and Istanbul. November has been the month of choice because of less expensive hotel rates. [rates indications will be communicated by week 20].
Participants staying with relatives or friends, and local delegates will be able to attend the meetings and activities on a fee paying basis. This web site aims to gather and preserve information and photos of The Levant and Levantine families. This reunion should also bring to life these mementos, and hopefully keep alive the notion of the Levantine spirit for future generations.
With this in mind we plan for the symposium to take place in Izmir, and it would be structured to contain round table meetings in the mornings and site-seeing tours of “old Smyrna” and its suburbs such as Bornova, Buca (Boudja), Karşıyaka (Kordelio), Vurla (Urla), Çesme and Alaçati, Ephesus, and the Izmir Museum.
For non-participants to the formal sessions there will be opportunities such as an Izmir Bay Cruise, shopping, and promenades on the new corniche and the Konak Pier. A Gala Reception and Dinner will conclude the Izmir visit.
Thel time table of programme:
There has been a slight change to our schedule as per attached amendment.
The various talks will now take place the full day of Wednesday 3rd November to include lunch at the conference venue and dinner near the Agamemnon Springs as scheduled.
This should give us more time for a welcome address by the ICC Chairman, and also by Lucien Arkas and Alex Baltazzi. This new arrangement should also give us more time for Questions and Answers.
Tour days will be on 4th and 5th November, and by special request there is also the possibility of a day tour to the antique sites of Troy with a detour to Çanakkale (Dardanelles) details and bookings available at izmir@karavantravel.com.
Optional Excursions
1) Full Day Pergamum - Ayvalık
2) Full Day Urla - Alaçatı - Çesme
3) Bayraklı - Bornova - Boudja – Izmir
5th Day leave / arrive Istanbul (6 November)
Full Day Istanbul Sultanahmet + Galata / Pera
6th Day Istanbul
Half Day Cruise Bosphorus
7th Day Departure (Monday, 8 November)
For further details of the updated programme, please click here:
In his book “Les Levantins”, Olivers Jens Schmitt describes the Levantines as an “ethno-confessional supranational group”. With no specific official identity of its own, this heritage embraces easily all cultures and religions but and the same time Levantine individuals still retain their respective national citizenships.
A symposium planned for November 2010 is to study the history of the Levantines and consider how the past and present Levantine concept can play a role in the modern world as a model for peaceful and multicultural cohabitation.
These themes and aspirations will be developed during the discussions, creating fresh opportunities and a pool of ideas for new relationships.
There has been no formal structure into this organization except that Messrs Alex and Gianfranco Baltazzi of Karavan Travel-Turkey have kindly agreed to organize the logistics of this reunion in Izmir and Istanbul. November has been the month of choice because of less expensive hotel rates. [rates indications will be communicated by week 20].
Participants staying with relatives or friends, and local delegates will be able to attend the meetings and activities on a fee paying basis. This web site aims to gather and preserve information and photos of The Levant and Levantine families. This reunion should also bring to life these mementos, and hopefully keep alive the notion of the Levantine spirit for future generations.
With this in mind we plan for the symposium to take place in Izmir, and it would be structured to contain round table meetings in the mornings and site-seeing tours of “old Smyrna” and its suburbs such as Bornova, Buca (Boudja), Karşıyaka (Kordelio), Vurla (Urla), Çesme and Alaçati, Ephesus, and the Izmir Museum.
For non-participants to the formal sessions there will be opportunities such as an Izmir Bay Cruise, shopping, and promenades on the new corniche and the Konak Pier. A Gala Reception and Dinner will conclude the Izmir visit.
Thel time table of programme:
There has been a slight change to our schedule as per attached amendment.
The various talks will now take place the full day of Wednesday 3rd November to include lunch at the conference venue and dinner near the Agamemnon Springs as scheduled.
This should give us more time for a welcome address by the ICC Chairman, and also by Lucien Arkas and Alex Baltazzi. This new arrangement should also give us more time for Questions and Answers.
Tour days will be on 4th and 5th November, and by special request there is also the possibility of a day tour to the antique sites of Troy with a detour to Çanakkale (Dardanelles) details and bookings available at izmir@karavantravel.com.
Optional Excursions
1) Full Day Pergamum - Ayvalık
2) Full Day Urla - Alaçatı - Çesme
3) Bayraklı - Bornova - Boudja – Izmir
5th Day leave / arrive Istanbul (6 November)
Full Day Istanbul Sultanahmet + Galata / Pera
6th Day Istanbul
Half Day Cruise Bosphorus
7th Day Departure (Monday, 8 November)
For further details of the updated programme, please click here: