"Izmir, Turkey" a Izmir Travel Page by Pamela_Peace

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Izmir has been called the "ornament", the "crown", and the "flower" of Asia by men throughout history. She was formerly known as Smyrna, a name that comes from the myrrh, a small tree that grows in abundance here. Situated on a gulf, she is the third largest city in the country and serves as its most important port and commercial center. Izmir rises from the bay to the slopes of Mount Pagus where in the latter half of the 4th century BC Alexander the Great had built a citadel. Her history dates back as early as 3000 BC when a Trojan Yortan settlement was just north of the modern town. Aeolian Greeks established a colony here in the 11th century BC. Homer, the Greek poet who was born in the vacinity, is said to have written "The Iliad" from Smyrna between 750 and 725 BC. During the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC the city flourished. Four centuries later, the Golden Road was established. In 1415 this region fell under the Ottoman Empire and remained prosperous despite major earthquakes and fires. As late as 1919, Smyrna was occupied by Greektroops during the Greek-Turkish War. But in 1922, Kemal Pasa, or more popularly Ataturk, emerged to reconquer the city for the Turks. Today the city is predominately modern. Few ancient remains can be found, yet it's a fascinating place full of warmth and beauty both of its land and its people. Izmir is a feast for the senses with its open-air markets, Mediterranean cuisine and great climate.