Les meilleurs hôtels à Izmir

Homer slept here. No. Not Homer Simpson. Homer the epic poet, famed (some say blamed) for The Iliad and The Odyssey. In fact, he was born here, but back then the townsfolk called the place Smyrna, the local culture rivaled Troy's as the most advanced in the region, and the village proper was located in a slightly different place, at Bayrakli. Alexander the Great staked the city's current location--a great spot along the innermost shore of an Aegean inlet. Nicknamed "Izmir the Beautiful," it is Turkey's third largest city, with a port second only to that in Istanbul. Culturally dynamic and cosmopolitan, it boasts a broad range of both historical attractions and modern distractions. Antiquities such as statues of Poseidon and Demeter, ethnic crafts including carpets and camel bridles, and a fine collection of 20th century Turkish art all vie for attention in the city's museums. Out along the palm-shaded boulevards, aqueducts, mosques and other architectural marvels date the city and tell tales of its ancient history. Tempting tourists tired of the classics: Shops at the Kemeralti Market and along the waterfront Kordon Promenade welcome browsers; casinos run games; clubs and pubs enliven the nights; and in the Culture Park, quiet gardens, a zoo and an amusement park draw crowds and entertain the masses. Home of the Ege (Aegean) Philharmonic Orchestra, the city regularly stages opera, ballet, musical concerts and theater productions. Plus, Izmir's International Arts Festival and International Fair annually add to the bustle about town, filling local venues with sights and sounds as sweet to the senses as the city's celebrated pastry, lokma.