İzmir - The Pearl of Aegean

The history of Smyrna

Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey, is described as the pearl of the Aegean. It is a major port and commercial centre set dramatically around a huge bay and backed by mountains to the south.

Izmir, with its ancient name of Smyrna, was established on a hill called Tepekule which is on the north-east of the bay now called the Gulf of Izmir. The magnificent and indeed rich history of Izmir and its first inhabitants goes back long before 3000 BC but excavations so far only date back to that time. From the evidence of excavations, the first settlements dated from the Ancient Bronze Age and were founded at the top of the hill about 3-5 metres above sea level. The settlements established on the Aegean coast were developed under the rich influence of the Trojan civilization.