32 Best Sights in The Central and Southern Aegean Coast, Turkey

The Agora of Smyrna was the Roman city's administrative and commercial center; if it looks decidedly unimpressive from the entrance, that's because the best-preserved bit is underground—the basilica basement, separated into four galleries covered by dozens of stone arches. Alas, much of the rest of the site has been closed off for excavations, though there are still some other ruins to satisfy classical history buffs, and an interesting collection of Ottoman gravestones and Roman capitals near the entrance of the grassy, open site, surrounded by ancient columns and brick foundations. There is decent signage in English.

Just near the İzmir Port, the 140-year-old Alsancak Tekel Factory has been restored and transformed into a new culture and arts center, with the three buildings holding the two State Museums moved from elsewhere in İzmir, plus libraries and cultural spaces. The Atatürk Special Library, the Alsancak Public Library, and the Turkic World Music Special Library, as well as cultural and art workshop spaces, an open-air cinema, and exhibition areas occupy the smaller building and  the spacious gardens

The largest, two-story, building is home to the  Archaeology and Ethnography Museum displaying a rich archaeological collection on the ground and first floors. The former Ethnographic Museum's items collected from the İzmir region are held on the second floor. The interesting art collection covering the last two centuries of Turkish modern art held in the İzmir Painting and Sculpture Museum is housed in the second building.