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 October - 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.
Provisional time table of programme:
1st Day (Friday, 29th October) Arrive Izmir - Transfer Hotel
2nd Day
09:30 Opening
10:00 - 10:20 Presentation 1
10:20 - 10:40 Presentation 2
10:40 - 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:20 Presentation 3
11:20 - 11:40 Presentation 4
11:40 - 12:00 Presentation 5
Afternoon Izmir - Cordelio Sightseeing
3rd Day
10:00 - 10:20 Presentation 6
10:20 - 10:40 Presentation 7
10:40 - 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:20 Presentation 8
11:20 - 11:40 Presentation 9
11:40 - 12:00 Presentation 10
Afternoon Ephesus - Şirince
4th Day Free (1st November)
Optional Excursions
1) Full Day Pergamum - Ayvalık
2) Full Day Urla - Alaçatı - Çesme
3) Bayraklı - Bornova - Boudja – Izmir
5th Day leave / arrive Istanbul (2 November)
Full Day Istanbul Sultanahmet + Galata / Pera
6th Day Istanbul
Half Day Cruise Bosphorus
7th Day Departure (Thursday, 4 November)
For further details of the 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 October - 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.
Provisional time table of programme:
1st Day (Friday, 29th October) Arrive Izmir - Transfer Hotel
2nd Day
09:30 Opening
10:00 - 10:20 Presentation 1
10:20 - 10:40 Presentation 2
10:40 - 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:20 Presentation 3
11:20 - 11:40 Presentation 4
11:40 - 12:00 Presentation 5
Afternoon Izmir - Cordelio Sightseeing
3rd Day
10:00 - 10:20 Presentation 6
10:20 - 10:40 Presentation 7
10:40 - 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 - 11:20 Presentation 8
11:20 - 11:40 Presentation 9
11:40 - 12:00 Presentation 10
Afternoon Ephesus - Şirince
4th Day Free (1st November)
Optional Excursions
1) Full Day Pergamum - Ayvalık
2) Full Day Urla - Alaçatı - Çesme
3) Bayraklı - Bornova - Boudja – Izmir
5th Day leave / arrive Istanbul (2 November)
Full Day Istanbul Sultanahmet + Galata / Pera
6th Day Istanbul
Half Day Cruise Bosphorus
7th Day Departure (Thursday, 4 November)
For further details of the programme, please click here: