Former Smyrna, capital of the Aegean region and also called the Pearl of Aegean, is considered by the Turks as the most beautiful and most modern city of the country. Izmir is also the third biggest city and second biggest commercial harbor and counts about 3 million inhabitants. In 2000 Izmir celebrated its 5000 years existence. The poet Homer's, the first Christian martyr Polycarpus, the singer Dario Moreno and the former French Prime Minister, E. Balladur, are famous Smyrniots. Izmir was also one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation and counts today a quite important Christian and Orthodox community.

The historical city, Smyrna, was actually founded in Bayrakli (North of current Izmir).
Excavations have found three city levels and a tempel to Athena of the VIIth century BC.
The "Kadifekale" (the "Velvet Castle") dates back from late-Byzantine and early Ottoman periods.