Urla, İzmir

Urla is a municipality and district of İzmir Province, in western Turkey. Its area is 727 km², and its population is 74,736 (2022). Agricultural products, and especially the fresh produce for the vast nearby market of İzmir, occupy a prominent place in Urla's economy, with fish, poultry and flowers standing out. The annual international Artichoke Festival has been celebrated here since 2015.

The name "Urla" is derived from the Greek Βουρλά ("Vourla") meaning marshlands and the town was cited as such in western sources until the 20th century. Bryela (Byzantine name, meaning Woman of God i.e. Holy Maria) whereas it has been suggested that due to the transposition of vowels, Bryela has become Vourla, meaning marshlands. Urla is the location of the ancient city of Klazomenai whose remains are much visited, and whose name lives on in the unofficial appellation used in the region for part of the coastline of the district, "Kilizman" which is a still-used derivative of Klazomenai. (Former name of Güzelbahçe). With literacy among the highest in Turkey at 97%, Urla is also home to İzmir Institute of Technology. Urla prides itself for having raised two important men of letters, Giorgos Seferis and Necati Cumalı.