Izmir, Turkey

Izmir (Turkish: İzmir) is a rapidly growing city on the Central Aegean coast of Turkey.

Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey with a population of around 3.7 million, the second biggest port after Istanbul, and a very good transport hub. Once the ancient city of Smyrna, it is now a modern, developed, and busy commercial center, set around a huge bay and surrounded by mountains. The broad boulevards, glass-fronted buildings and modern shopping centers are dotted with traditional red-tiled roofs, the 18th century market, and old mosques, churches and synagogues, although the city has an atmosphere more of Mediterranean Europe than traditional Turkey.