Izmir hermoso " -el "Perla del Egeo" -es tercera ciudad más grande del Pavo y el segundo la mayoría de los puertos importantes. Una ciudad de palma forró paseos, las avenidas y el conjunto verde de parques en curvas generales por una bahía circular, Izmir tiene un clima excepcionalmente templado y muchos hoteles finos. La ciudad es un centro ocupado, comercial e industrial así como también la puerta a la Región Egea. Las costas Egeas del pavo está entre los paisajes más encantadores en el país. El litoral magnífico, lapped por el agua clara del Mar Egeo, abunda en playas vastas y prístinas rodeadas por arboledas de aceituna, bosque rocoso de despeñaderos y pino. Punteó con puertos pesqueros idílicos, las aldeas populares de la vacación, y el permanece de civilizaciones antiguas, esta región ofrece un venue excepcionalmente atractivo para reuniones, los estímulos y las conferencias.
La ciudad original se estableció en el tercer millenium A.C. , y en aquel momento compartido con Troy la cultura más avanzada en Anatolia Occidental. Por 1500 A.C. había caído abajo la influencia del Imperio Central de Hitita de Anatolia. En el primer millenium A.C., Izmir, entonces conocido como Smyrna, situado como uno de las ciudades importantes de la Federación Jónico; durante este período -uno de la ciudad muy brillante -se cree que Chollo vivió aquí. La conquista de Lydian de la ciudad, alrededor de 600 A.C., trajo este período a un fin, y Izmir permaneció pequeño más que una aldea a través del Lydian y el siglo sexto subsiguiente A.C. La orden pérsica. En el cuarto siglo A.C. una ciudad nueva se construyó en el instigation de Alexander el Magnífico en las cuestas de Pagos (Kadifekale) del Monte. El período romano de Izmir, del primer siglo A.C., dio a luz a su segunda era magnífica. La orden bizantina siguió en el cuarto siglo y duró hasta la conquista de Seljuk del siglo undécimo. En 1415, bajo Sultán Mehmet Celebi , Izmir llegó a ser la parte del Imperio Otomano.
El tercero más grande, y uno de las provincias más hermosas del Pavo son Izmir, extender en las costas de una bahía atractiva , llenó con barcos y yates. Apoyado por montañas y frente al mar, este sitio ofrece una apariencia fina, con su panorama natural y su panorama moderno y ordenado. Los árboles encantadores de la palma decoran los paseos y las avenidas, donde edificios nuevos e impresionantes se paran.

Caminante alrededor de esta ciudad encantador, uno puede ver mucho, recorrer del más viejo permanece, a los establecimientos más recientes dispersado alrededor.

El clocktower se para en el Cuadrado de Konak como un símbolo de la ciudad mientras cerca del Museo de Archelogical alberga muchos hallazgos de las civilizaciones occidentales tempranas de Anatolian. En el centro de la ciudad , hay el Parque de Kultur (el Parque de la Cultura) donde la Feria Internacional, anual y famosa es tenida.

Llenó con restaurantes bonitos, los cafés, las tiendas y las barras, Kordonboyu es un paseo largo, que proporciona una atmósfera de restful y el paisaje elegante típico de la ciudad. El Bazar de Kemeralti es un lugar listo con oportunidades ilimitadas que hacen de compras para aquí usted encontrará casi algo usted quiere, en los precios más apropiados.

Karsiyaka es otro distrito atractivo en el lado opuesto de la bahía, donde el Parque de Olaf Palme existe cerca del museo aéreo abierto, que alberga muchas estatuas interesantes.

Conocido como "Smyrna" en tiempo antiguos, la provincia de Izmir tiene una historia larga, espalda de dating al 3- millenium BC cuando era uno del centro más avanzado cultural en Anatolia Occidental. El Chollo legendario vivió aquí en el período de lonian , que era la edad más espléndida de la ciudad, dating al BC 1st-millenium. Hoy algunos ejemplos hermosos de este pasado largo pueden ser funda dentro de la ciudad. Aquí está el Kadifekale (la Fortaleza del Terciopelo) localizado en el Monte Pagos, dejando pasar el área. Un panorama maravilloso del Golfo de Izmir se proporciona de este castillo construyó en el BC 3rd-century, y luego restauró en varias vez. Otra vista importante es el agora romano, construido durante uno de los períodos más brillantes de la provincia. Las siete iglesias mencionadas por S. John en el Libro de la Revelación es también en Pavo y es esparcido alrededor de Izmir, que es Izmir (Smyrna), los actores de incremento (Ephesus), Eskihisar (Laodicea), Alasehir (filadelfia), Sart (Sardis), Akhisar (Thyatira), y Bergama (Pergamum).

Hoy, Izmir tiene un puerto importante, así como también un recurso encantador de vacación con numerosas playas cubiertas de arena que estiran sobre sus pueblos y alrededores. Además de actores de incremento, Kusadasi o Cesme a semejanza de sitios famosos, Izmir posee Balcova, uno de los centros térmicos importantes en el Pavo, que se sabe como los "Baños de Agamemnon". Ellos les ofrecen las facilidades modernas a visitantes, en el medio de alrededores maravillosos.

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BERGAMA (PERGAMUM)

Pergamum, (105 kms north of Izmir)~~ is one of the major sites antiquity in Turkey, having been a great center of culture and civilization throughout history. The site has remarkable remains from the Roman and Byzantine periods. The Asclepion to the southwest of the lower city, was built to pay homage to the God of Health, Asclepios, and it was the most celebrated in the world. The temples of Trajan and Dionysus, majestic Altar of Zeus, the temple of Demeter, inspiring theatre, the gymnasium, the arsenals, the lower agora and the famous library form the Acropolis. In addition, you may see the finds from Pergamum and the surrounding area. In the Archaeological and Ethnographical Museum. The temple of Serapis, also called the "Red Courtyard" due to its red tiles, is today located within the town of Bergama. It was built as a sanctuary dedicated to Serapis and was then converted into a basilica by the Byzantines. Bergama is the homeland of many philosophers and scientists. Among them is Krates who invented and produced the "parchment paper" (Pergamene Kaste) here.

Dikili is a harbor town close to Bergama, visited by cruise liners bringing visitors to Pergamum. Dikili is an ideal place to relax after a Pergamum excursion. A walk along the Rordan promenade is a pleasure. Between Dikili and Izmir do not forget to visit the port of Candaril which is crowned with one of the best preserved Genoese fortresses .

THE CESME PENINSULA

Cesme is a little town at the tip of the peninsula that forms the Gulf of Izmir. The meaning of "Cesme" is "fountain" or "spring" due to the curative springs and thermal baths around especially in Ilica. Cesme and Ilica are resorts that should be visited for a while because of the vast white beaches and azure waters with seasonal accommodation facilities. Ilica is located at the center of several touristic sites. Thermal resorts of Sifne Pasa Limani, Buyuk Liman, Alacati, and the Bay of Boyalik. You may enjoy almost every kind of water sport in Cesme, including underwater diving. If you are lucky enough you may encounter the seals, off the shore. In this town, there are excellent accommodation facilities and an attractive night life. Cesme Castle now houses the International Cesme Sea and Music Festival. The Cesme Peninsula has many seaside resorts. At the northeast of Cesme lies lidin which was the important port of Erythrai, founded after the War of Troy, and it has a good view from the acropolis, overlooking the bay and the islands .

Urla (Clazomenae) is a peaceful place to visit and to taste the delicious fish at a local seaside restaurant. The view from the Guvendik Hill is always relaxing.

The road between Izmir and Cesme is dotted with lovely little fishing villages such as Mordogan which takes its name from the particular purple color of the sunrise at that spot and Karaburun an unspoiled village nestled between the mountains and picturesque bays Balikliova.

On the southern part of the Peninsula is Seferihisar an important yachting center surrounded by Geneose remains. From here you may visit the ancient city of Teos to see the impressive Temple of Dionysus, or to lose yourself to the warm sandy beaches of Altnkum.

Gumuldur will also tempt you with its beautiful beaches full of tranquil bays, which you may consider as your own, with excellent accommodation, discos and restaurants.

The colossal statute of Apollo in the Temple of Apollon at Ahmetbeyli (Claros), should not be missed as it is an amazing piece of art.

FOÇA

An attractive site with a mysterious nature is Foça, a legendary place interesting sights. Here is the fascinating Siren Rock Island, where the action of the soft wind blowing through the rocks make sounds resembling a woman's cries. These unearthly sounds, once allegedly spell bound sailors to stay on this land until their death.

Foça is the ancient Phocaea of the lonians, and is supposed to have taken its name from the "fok" which are the Mediterranean seals that inhabited this distinctly peculiar rocky ground.

Reflecting the bright history of the region, several monuments exist, including a tomb of a Persian King, and another called "Seytan Hamami" (Devil's Baths) at the foot of the Candede Hill. Here, the natural beauty is combined with these historical assets, making Foça a charming touristic site.

Today, the town is a lovely holiday village with green covered land meeting the clear blue sea. The numerous modern facilities established around the clean beaches offer visitors a wonderful vacation. A special event for divers, is the Underwater Sports Festival held in the region.

SELCUK-EFES (EPHESUS)

Ephesus proudly houses one of the seven ancient wonders of the world; the Temple of Artemis. The city is dedicated to her and has many fascinating buildings. The precise date of the city's foundation is not known but legend said that the first Efes was founded by Women Warriors of the Amazon in the 14th century BC and later inhabited by lonians in the 11th century BC after the first settlement of the Anatolian's natives, the Lelegians. In a short time the city became very important. After 133 BC it became a Roman province and during the reign of Augustus it became the trade center of Asia.

With all these civilizations passing through Ephesus, the remains take one or two days to visit fully. The city still retains its importance, but this time as the most important archaeological and historical city in Turkey. One of the very amazing ruins in Efes is the huge amphitheatre with a 24,000 seat capacity and superb acoustic effects. Seljuk is close to Efes and is crowned with a Byzantine citadel and the basilica of St. John. Next to the basilica is the Seljuk Isa Bey Mosque. The Seven Sleepers' Cave is another historical place near Efes. The archaeological museum is significant with its striking collection of items gathered from the excavations in Ephesus. Every May there is an International Festival in Efes. On Bulbuldagi (Mt. Nightingale) one can find the small house built for the Virgin Mary (9 kms from Seljuk) when St. John brought her to Ephesus after Christ's death. She spent her last days in that house. Today it is a place of Pilgrimage for Christians and also visited by Muslims, and is officially sanctioned by the Vatican. Every year on August the 15th, a commemoration ceremony is held there.

HOMETOWN OF HOMER
Known in Turkish as “Beautiful Izmir” the city lies at the head of a long and narrow gulf furrowed by ships and yachts. The climate is mild and in the summer the constant and refreshing sea breezes temper the sun’s heat. Behind the palm-lined promenades and avenues which follow the shoreline, the city, in horizontal terraces, gently the slopes of the surrounding mountains. Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey and its port is second only to Istanbul. A cosmopolitan and lively city all year round, Izmir bursts with an added vibrancy during the International Arts Festival (June\July) and the International Fair (August\Sept).

The original city was established in the third millennium B.C. (at present day Bayrakli), at which time it shared with Troy the most advanced culture in Western Anatolia. By 1500 B.C. it had fallen under the influence of the Central Anatolian Hittite Empire. In the first millennium B.C .Izmir, then known as Smyrna, ranked as one of the most important cities of the Ionian Federation. During this period, one of the city’s most brilliant, it is believed that Homer resided here. Lydian conquest of the city, around 600 B.C., brought this period to an end. Izmir remained little more than a village throughout the Lydian and subsequent sixth-century B.C. Persian rule. In the fourth century B. C. a new city was built on the slopes of Mt. Pagos (Kadifekale) during the reign of Alexander the Great. Izmir’s Roman period,m beginning in the first century B.C. was its second great era. Byzantine rule followed in the fourth century and lasted until the Seljuk conquest in the 11th century. In 1415, under Sultan Mehmet Celebi, Izmir became part of the Ottoman Empire.

PLACES OF INTEREST
MUSEUMS
The Archeological Museum, near Konak Square, houses a superb collection of antiquities including the statues of Poseidon and Demeter, which, in ancient times, stood in the Agora. (Closed on Mondays)

Next to the Archeology Museum, the Ethnography Museum contains folkloric artifacts, which include a fine collection of Begama and Gordes carpets, traditional costumes and camel bridles. (Closed on Mondays)

The Ataturk Museum is situated on Ataturk Caddesi in an old Izmir house used by the founder of the Turkish Republic. It exhibits photographs of the leader as well as some of his personal effects. (Closed on Mondays)

The Fine Arts Museum, located in Konak, displays the works of famous Turkish painters. (Closed on Mondays)

The Selcuk Yasar Art Museum is a private museum on Cumhuriyet Bulvari with a collection of 20th-century Turkish art. (Closed on Sundays)

The Natural History Museum in Bornova acts as a natural reserve of the Aegean Region landscape’s historical preservation. (Closed on Sundays)

The Odemis Archeological Museum is about 60 km east of Izmir and displays regional artifacts. (Closed on weekends)

The Tire Archeological Museum is about 50 km east of Izmir. (Closed on weekends)

HISTORICAL SITES AND MONUMENTS
The excavations at Bayrakli have unearthed a temple dedicated to Athena and the wall of the Ionian city, which flourished there between the seventh and fifth centuries B.C. has also been uncovered.

On Kadifekale (Mt. Pagos) stands the impressive ruin of a castle and its walls which were built by Lyimachus in the reign of Alexander the Great, and which still dominate Izmir today. The castle offers an excellent vantage point to enjoy a magnificent view of the Gulf of Izmir.

The Agora, or marketplace, in the Namazgah Quarter was originally constructed during the rule of Alexander the Great. What remains today, however, dates from the rebuilding under Marcus Aurelius after a devastating earthquake in 178 A.D.

The Sirinyer and Yesildere Aqueducts, two examples of Roman engineering spanning the Meles River, supplied Izmir’s water throughout the Byzantine and Ottoman eras.

The Saint Polycarp Church is the oldest church in Izmir and symblozes the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Saint Polycarp was martyred at age 86 in A.D. 155 at Kadifkale by the Romans. According to tradition, when they tried to burn him at the stake the flames wouldn’t touch him so they finally stabbed him to death. The church was reconstructed in 1620.

The Kizlaragasi Han (Inn), a fine example of 18th-century Ottoman architecture of the period, is being restored to its former glory.

The symbol of Izmir, the Saat Kulesi, or Clock Tower, stands in the heart of the city at Konak Square. It was a gift from Sultan Abdulmecit, and was built in 1901 in an elaborately decorated late-Ottoman style.

The old Asansor quarter, filled with old restored houses, is also known as the Jewish quarter. Dario Moreno Sokagi is the main pedestrian street to the Asansor itself, which is an elevator that was built in the 19th century. At fifty-one meters in height, it provides access between the lower and upper streets. Situated on the upper side, the Asansor restaurant offers a beautiful view of Izmir.

If you find yourself on Havra Sokak in Kemeralti, be sure to notice the old buildings and synagogues. Alsancak (Punta), with traditionally restored houses, has been converted into a pedestrian promenade with bars, cafes and restaurants.

In the center of Cumhuriyet Meydani, or Republic Square, is the Ataturk Monument, an impressive statue of Ataturk sitting on a horse and facing the sea. Erected in 1933, the monument commemorates the liberation of the city by Turkish forces.

The Flying Dolphins, in Karsiyaka, is a monument that symbolizes friendship and brotherhood.

MOSQUES
Hisar Mosque is the largest and oldest in Izmir. Built in the 16th century, and restored in the 19th century, it has a delightful interior with an interesting mimber (pulpit) and mihrab (niche showing the direction to Mecca).

Other mosques in Izmir are Salepcioglu (20th-century), Sadirvan (17th-century with 19th-century restorations) and Kemeralti (17th-century).

All these are situated close to the Kemeralti Quarter.

PARKS
Kulturpark, the main park of the city, offers a variety of activities. It is the site for the International Izmir Fair and contains an amusement park, zoo, restaurant and quiet gardens.

Olof Palme Park, situated in Karsiyaka, is a relaxing place to stop. It also has sports facilities. Karsiyaka is ancient Cordelia.

Next door, the Adnan Saygun Park, a center for artistic activities, contains an amphitheatre for concerts and theatrical productions, as well as the Open-Air Museum Park, which has statues scattered throughout the grounds.

Insan Haklari (Human Rights) Park has lovely modern statues, including the huge Flying Dolphins Monument.

Muammer Aksoy Park is a lovely seaside park with a nice view of Izmir Bay. Turgut Ozal Recreation Park, located in Bayrakli, offers a number of recreational and sports activities.

ART, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT
For many years Izmir has enjoyed a reputation as a cosmopolitan city of culture. The Izmir Cultural Center hosts opera and ballet performances as well as musical concerts. The city is home to the Aegean Philharmonic Orchestra and boasts a thriving theatrical community. During the annual Izmir International Festival, international and local artists perform at various venues in the city and surrounding area, including the theatre at Ephesus. Take a horse-drawn carriage along the promenade during the day and afterwards spend the evening in the lively atmosphere of the bars and cafes around Kordonboyu, Passport Pier and Karsiyaka.

SHOPPING
In the streets of the Kemeralti Market area, it is possible to find fascinating antiques, both fine and fun jewelry, a great variety of clothing, and the dried figs and raisins for which Izmir is famous. The fish restaurants in this colorful area serve up the local specialties of tranca and cipura, two types of sea bream.

The best modern and most elegant shops are on the Kordon Promenades in Alsancak and Karsiyaka and on Cumhuriyet Avenue and in Passport.