| The city, known as "Beautiful Izmir", lies on the shores of the large bay furrowed by ships and yachts and encircled by mountains. The climate is a mild one and in summer the heat is temperet by the constant and refreshing sea breezes. Behind the palm-lined promenades and avenues, the city gently ascends in terraces to the slopes of the surrounding hills. Today it is the third largest city in Turkey and its port is second only in Istanbul. A lively place at any time. It is even more so during the international Arts Festival ( June-July ) and the International Fair ( August-September ).
 
The original city was established in the third millenium B.C. ( at present day Bayrakli ) and at that time it had, with Troy, the most advenced culture in Western Anatolia. By 1500 B.C. the city was subject to the influence of the Hittite Empire of Central Anatolia. In the first millenium B.C. Izmir, then known as Smyrna, was one of the important cities of the Ionian Federation and it was during the period, which was one of the city's most brilliant, that the legendary Homer is believed to have lived here.
Historical Clock Tower
The conquest of the city by the Lydians, around 600 B.C. brought this period to an end. It was then again conquered by the Persians in the middle of the 6th. century B.C. in the 4th. century B.C. a new city was built at the instigation of Alexander the Great on the stopes of Mt. Pagos.
Historical Lift
The city's Roman period, from 27 B.C. was a second brilliant time in its history. This was than followed by Byzantine rule in the 4th. century and Seljuk domination from the 11th. century untill the city become part of the Ottoman Empire in 1415, under Sultan Mehmet Celebi. |
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