Izmir is Turkey's third largest city, with an inhabited area of more than 12,000 km2 and a population of over 3 million.
Izmir City Tour (IZM - 01) Half Day
Izmir is Turkey's third largest city, with an inhabited area of more than 12,000 km2 and a population of over 3 million.
It has always been famous for its port, which is one of the most important in the country for trade and exports of dried figs, sultanas and hazelnuts, and at first glance looks like an extremely modern city.
But traces of Izmir's ancient past will appear before your eyes in all their magnificence amidst the skyscrapers and concrete apartmentblocks.
Indeed, right in the heart of the city you can admire the remains of the ancient agora, built during the Roman period by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 178 B.C.. It was used for political gatherings and elections by the representatives of the Roman government, but was also the main commercial area of the city.
Your local guide will show you the only two-storey agora known to scholars: the first floor was reserved for wholesale trade, with workshops, cooling cisterns and warehouses for goods, whilst the second floor was designed for political meetings and retail trade.
Many of the exhibits on display at Izmir's New Archaeological Museum, another remarkable stop on your itinerary, were discovered in the agora. The Museum's three large galleries (dedicated to statues, objects and ceramics respectively) are equipped with a modern lighting system that will guide you through the numerous precious exhibits on an evocative journey through history.