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Izmir
Known as the largest port in the country of Turkey after Istanbul, the Izmir region is located in the shining Gulf of Izmir on the Aegean waters. Known since the ancient times for its beauty and grand past, it also bears the title “Pearl of the Aegean” and “Occidental Izmir.”
A liberal region in the country in terms of culture, lifestyle and values, Izmir is a melting pot for arts and personalities. In fact, the capital of the region is a city named after it, Izmir, known as a bustling Turkish city composed of nine districts. Each district has particular personalities for each of the neighborhoods of Balçova, Bornova, Buca, Çiğli, Gaziemir, Güzelbahçe, Karşıyaka, Konak and Narlıdere.
It is no surprise then that the city is known to host an international arts festival in the summer months, as well as the İzmir International Fair in September every year, which is one among the city's many exhibition events.
History is also on the guests mind as he travels to Izmir, or Smyrna, as it was known in ancient times. Landmarks from that period abound such as the grave of Tantalus whose monumental design brings one back in time. An ancient stone fountain, thought to be the oldest example of public works of Smyrna, hails from the 7th Century BC. The agora on the other hand has been preserved by the locals, and can be viewed as part of the Agora Open Air Museum of the city.
The castles and synagogues of Izmir are also a sight to behold. The Jewish synagogues in İzmir bear the mark of the 19th Century when they were built.
Nature lovers will appreciate the Birds Paradise protected areas, home to over 60 species of birds over 80 square kilometers of protected sancturary as recognized by the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry since the early 1980’s.
The cuisine of İzmir reflects a diversity of cultures melding the tastes of the Aegean, Mediterranean and Anatolian regions especially with the influx of Greek immigrants. Guests are invited for a meal with tarhana soup (soup from dried yoghurt and tomatoes), İzmir köfte, keşkek (boiled wheat with meat), zerde (sweetened rice with saffron), shish kebab (skewered meats) and mücver (a dish made from zucchini and eggs). After dinner, puff on a typical Mediterranean water pipe to end a long day.
