Historical Places

After passing Phaselis on the Kemer to Kumluca road you will see a sign for Çirali and Olympos. Çirali is the name of the small village near the ancient ruins of the port city of Olympos, which was founded in the 2nd century BC and was abandoned in the 6th century A.D. The myth of Bellerophontes slaying the Chimera is said to have taken place here. An hours walk up a steep path will bring you to the natural phenomenon of the Chimera. Dubbed the “burning mountain” by locals the flames you see escaping the ground are the result of natural gas emissions from beneath the earth’s crust. 

 

The ancient port of Phaselis is thought to have been founded in the 7th century BC by settlers from Rhodes. Probably one of the most important parts of east Lycia. It had three harbours: one to the north, one to the south and one used for sea warfare. A magnificent thoroughfare down the centre of the city flanked by the remains of shops, bathhouses and a theatre takes you to the site of Hadrian’s Gate. 

 

Perched high up at over a 1000m on a plateau in the Beydag National Park the city of Termessos, which resisted all attempts at capture by Alexander the Great commands breath-taking views over the plains of Antalya. 

 

The ancient city of Perge can be found along the Antalya to Alanya main road after turning north at Aksu. Founded in around 1200 BC its saving grace was its distance from the sea which allowed it to grow without interruption from sea pirates. The cities of Perge and Side signed an agreement with Alexander the Great in 332 BC who thus spared them the usual ravages of battle. 

Perge, which enjoyed prosperity throughout the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras, boasts an impressive Amphitheatre and large stadium each with a seating capacity of 15 000 and 2 000 respectively, both well preserved and thus of great significance to archaeologists today. 

One point of interest are the 30 or so open chambers situated beneath the stadium seating area which are thought to have been used as shops. 

 

Situated a little way off the Antalya-Alanya main road just after Serik the city of Aspendos dates back to the 5th century BC. This extremely well preserved Roman amphitheatre, which was built around the 2nd century AD, was later used by the Seljuks as a caravanserai. With a seating capacity of over 17 000 it is still used today to host spectacular concerts, ballets and other significant events. The 10 mile long pressurised aqueduct you can see running along side Adpendos is a feat of Roman engineering. 

 

After leaving Kas one sails past Uluburun and sets a course for Kekova, a spot that is like heaven on earth. One first encounters the Sicak peninsula with two islands at the end of it: Toprakada and Karaada. Kekova island stretches out from here and it is because of this island that the whole area is called Kekova. Passing among the islands and arriving at Kekova, the safest anchorage is Üçagiz, which is a good, all-round harbour. 

 

Situated between Finike and Kaş, Myra used to be a one of the most important of six Lycian cities. Originally a coastal city the gradual build up of silt from the Demre stream has left it stranded several miles away from the sea. Myra was abandoned after the Arab invasions in the 9th century A.D. The rock tombs and amphitheatre are worth a visit as is St. Nicholas’ church nearby where the legend of Father Christmas (Santa Claus) is said to have originated.

 

It is believed that Arykanda was founded in 2000 BC. However, items unearthed in the area, such as bowls and coins have been dated to the 5th century BC. No remains from earlier periods have been found. The ancient city was a member of the Lycian Union, holding a single vote. The city was damaged in an earthquake in 141 and later restored with the help of Opramoas of Rhadopis. From the 4th century onwards, the people of Arykanda began coming under the influence of Christianity. However, the place was again destroyed in the 5th century, its people moving near to where the current village of Çatallar is. In the 7th and 8th centuries, with the waves of Arab invaders attacking these areas, the residents sought protection and moved to higher grounds on the mountains. Arykanda was discovered in 1838 by a British explorer. The excavations that began in 1971 are still continuing.

 

If you follow the road from Finike direction Elmalı, you come to Turunçova and the village of Yuvalılar. On the outskirts of this village there is the ancient city of Limyra. Excavations of the site, which began in 1969, have moved slowly and the houses in the region have not been fully excavated. The ancient city of Limyra was founded in the 5th century BC. During the reign of Pericies it was the capital of the Lycian Union and was one of the six cities in the league that held three votes. In the Byzantine period, it was a religious centre and a bishopric.

 

Elmalı is like a high plateau town located at an elevation of 1,050 metres and is popular for its cool climate, even on the hottest of days. Its history goes back to antiquity and a cache of ancient artifacts, known as the Elmalı Treasures, was discovered in a field near the village of Bayındır but were unfortunately smuggled out of the country.

There are a number of mosques, prayer schools and other buildings from the Beylik of Teke and the Ottoman periods. Of particular interest are the library containing a collection of Ottoman writings and the mosque and medrese (prayer school) of Ömer Paşa, (1608), student of the great Ottoman architect, Mimar Sinan. There is an earlier, Seljuk period minaret opposite the mosque. The civilian residential structures of Elmalı have been protected to a great degree. In the higher part of the town the old streets are full of houses with the traditional double bay windows. Some of these houses have been restored. To the northwest is Karaburun and the Boztepe tumuli, where many tomb chambers were unearthed. In all the chambers the walls are decorated with colourful paintings.

 

Kaleköy (Simena) is one of the most beautiful places of the region, one that can be reached by boat from Kaş, Demre or Üçağız. Once there, one has to climb up to its fortress that overlooks all of the small and large coves in the area and Kekova Island. The houses made of piled stones within the city walls are in harmony with the environment. When you approach the region by boat or view the areas from the top of one of the hills one of the things that catches your eye the most is the Lycian type sarcophagi in the sea.

 

At about 10km beyond Kalkan on the Kalkan-Fethiye highway you turn south and continue 10km along the road to Patara. Patara opened its doors to Alexander the Great, thereby earning the status of an important harbour city, in addition to having been the birthplace of St. Nicholas.

 

This is the oldest and largest city of the mountain province in Lycia, settled in the valley of the Xanthos river. The city itself consists of the Lycian acropolis and the parts remaining outside it, as well as the Roman acropolis. The most interesting building is the Roman theatre and the building west of the theatre. The most famous is the Harpy Monument, which is a family sarcophagus situated on a rock.

 

To reach Letoon, you turn west one kilometre beyond the road from Kinik to Fethiye and continue 5 km. It is known to have been one of the most important religious centres of the Lycian region. Due to the rising water level, archeological digs have been suspended. The most important edifice is the Hellenistic style theatre which has been preserved until today.

 

Konya was the capital of the Seljuk Empire between 1071 and 1308. One of the major Seljuk monuments in the town is the Karatay Medrese, an Islamic school built in 1251 and today a ceramic and tiles museum. The Mevlana Museum houses the most valuable silk carpet in the world with 144 knots per sq cm. The home of the whirling dervishes is Mevlana Tekkesi, which was founded around 1231 by Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi, an Islamic mystic, preaching tolerance, forgiveness and enlightenment.

 

Paul’s birthplace is one of the oldest settlements in Cilicia. Among the famous people of Tarsus is Adam’s son Seth, Sit Aleyhisselam. His mausoleum can be visited on the eastern side of the Ulu Cami (Mosque). When Alexander the Great marched through southern Anatolia it was after his bath in the cold Cydnus river that he nearly lost his life. But the person most associated with Tarsus is Paul the Apostle. He was sent to Jerusalem to study with Gamaliel and it was there where he got in touch with the new Christian community.

 

It is situated 18km north-west of Antalya. It was built in 1219 by order of the Seljuk Sultan Izzettin Keykavus. There is a large courtyard surrounded by rooms and an ornamental gate to the west.

 

Situated 31 km north-west of Antalya. It was built in 1247 by the Seljuk Sultan Giyasettin Keyhusrev II and still survived almost intact. The entry gate to the south is without much ornamentation. Around the central courtyard is a large number of rooms there was a well in the centre. On the north side is also a very large hall.

 

30 km before reaching Alanya on the Antalya-Alanya highway is the turn-off to Alara Han. It is a very solid construction entered by a gate with inscriptions and lion's heads. It has somewhat the apperance of a fortress as it looks as thought it was meant to ward off aggressors. 

Above Alarahan is a fortress (Alara Tower).

Sarapsa Han (Serapsu Han)

It was constructed on a large area and the stone ceiling is still in a good state. It is closed on the south side. It has also the appearance of a fortress and its ormamental entry gate is on the north side. A small mosque is close to the Inn.

 

Built on a rock rising, straight up from the bed of the Alara stream it is also not known when it was built and was repaired by the Seljuks when they captured this tower in 1231. It was also used for a long period in the Ottoman era. It is reached by a staircase inside a tunnel cut in the rock.