The Greek village of Sazak in Karaburun district of İzmir have become desolated after Greeks moved to Chios and Crete after population exchange agreement signed between Turkey and Greece on January 30, 1923.  The Greek village, where no one lives, came to the fore again with the approach of the anniversary of the population exchange. The village, approximately 20 kilometers from Karaburun, was declared an ‘urban site’ by the İzmir Cultural Heritage Preservation Board. There are about 80 ruined Greek houses in the village, which now has an operative road thanks to the establishment of wind power plants in the area. The abandoned now only hosts artistic events and photo shoots.

Expressing that they want to bring Sazak Village to tourism, Karaburun Mayor İlkay Girgin Erdoğan said, “January 30, 1923, the anniversary of the population exchange is approaching. Our region was also a region where Greeks and Turks lived together in brotherhood. With the population exchange, some of the Greeks in this region migrated to Chios and some to Crete. Sazak Village is actually very similar to Kayaköy in Fethiye, Muğla. Sazak Village has been declared an urban protected area in recent years. We are now planning a study in that area. It’s a place where the peninsula can breathe. I believe that we will provide a tourism input to our region by resurrecting such historical structures, and our work on this issue continues. From here, I want to call out to the Greeks to see the Sazak Village,”

Ceren Atmaca – Sinan Yeniçeri