A major commercial center and seaport — and an economic powerhouse — Izmir ranks as Turkey’s third largest city, after Istanbul and Ankara. Its cosmopolitan atmosphere is as much Mediterranean as Turkish, the result of 4,000 years of history between the Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Ottomans. Although a major fire in 1922 destroyed much of Izmir (then known as Smyrna) and its ancient architectural legacies, today it’s a vibrant modern city with lots of energy where — unlike many other tourist towns — there's a strong, local culture and a real sense of place.