The Izmir Project, which aims to preserve Turkey's Sephardic heritage, is boosting efforts to restore Izmir's Jewish quarters and to generate interest in the city's Jewish history, not only among Jews but also tourists and Turkey's Muslim population.

"The final aim is the establishment of a Jewish museum in the city of Izmir, which will at the same time lay the foundation for a respectable dialogue with the Muslim population of Turkey," said Nesim Bencoya, the project's site manager.

"Most people here have probably never met a Jew…When you have no knowledge of the other, you are influenced by prejudices," said Mr Bencoya.

The project has involved educating 70 tour guides about Izmir's Jewish history. Izmir's municipality has also approved a plan to restore the city's two old synagogues and the surrounding streets, with the site eventually turning into a Jewish museum.