Turkey’s third-largest city and second-largest port after Istanbul lies in a deep gulf of the Aegean Sea, and is one of the oldest settlements in the Mediterranean basin and the probable birthplace of Homer. It witnessed the glory of Troy, the Anatolian Hittite Empire, Persian, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule, and has emerged from the vicissitudes of history as one of the most dynamic and liberal Turkish cities, known as the Pearl of the Aegean. It is rich in monuments from ancient Smyrna, as the town was called until the arrival of the Ottomans in the early 14th Century. The Tomb of Tantalus, the Agora and a 7th-Century stone fountain can be seen here, along with Kizlargasi Han, the Hisar Mosque, the Kemeralti Market and the emblematic Clock Tower, all fine examples of Ottoman architecture. Izmir is a convenient starting point for visits to the ancient towns of Pergamon and Ephesis. It is also the site of a famous international fair and of an annual international festival attracting world-class performers.