Fethiye
Fethiye is located on the Lycian
and Carian border and was called Telmessos in ancient
times. The city was very prominent and a centre of prophecy,
pledged to Apollon. That the city life was rich and
highly cultured during the Hellenistic and Roman periods
is evident from the existing monuments. Today the majority
of ancient ruins in Telmessos are rock-tombs, Lycian-type
sarcophagi, the fortress and the Roman Theatre.
The peninsula lying
between Fethiye and Antalya was known as Lycia in the
ancient times. Lycians were natives of Anatolia and
sea-faring people as mentioned in Homer’s Iliad and
Kadesh War Peace Agreement document.
The tomb of Amyntas,
which could be considered as the insignia of Fethiye,
strikes the eye with its grandeur on the slope as you
enter the bay. This tomb, whose façade was built as
an Ionic temple based on the plan of in antis, belonged
to Amyntas is believed to be a king or a governor of
Telmessos during the Hellenistic period.
Fethiye holidays Within the city there
are quite a number of Lycian-type sarcophagi. On these
there are epitaphs in the Lycian scripture. Especially
the sarcophagus near the government house is worthy
of notice, with its relieves depicting warriors.
The fortress
stands where the city was first founded and the existing
walls are from the 11th Century. At same places, portions
of walls from the Roman period can be seen. The fortress
was repaired by the Rhodesian Knights during the 15th
Century and was used as a naval base.
Telmessos Ancient Theatre stands
opposite to the commercial quay at Fethiye town centre.
Typical Roman type theatre was built in 2nd. Century
on the remains of a Greek style previous one. The site
was escavated by the Fethiye Archaeology Museum in 1993
and a restoration project was made to renovate the theatre’s
cavea and stage.
Fethiye Archaeology Museum exhibits
numerous Archaeological findings from the Lycian, Hellenistic,
Roman and Ottoman periods as well as ethnological works
of art typical of the region.
There is a new project
to be realised in 2001—2002 for a new “open-air Museum
complex with the ancient theatre”. Fethiye Municipality
and the Directory of Museum are leading this project
to reform the centre of town with the idea of protecting
natural and cultural environments of Fethiye.
The Teke Peninsula
of our times, lying between Fethiye and Antalya was
known as LYCIA in the ancient times. In fact the Lycians
participated in the Kadesh War together with Hittites,
Which indicates that they were one of the oldest tribes
of Anatolia. All through the history, Lycia was invaded
by the Persians, Alexander The Great, Romans and Byzantines
but was never evacuated. Fethiye is an appropriate centre
for excursions into Lycia. Either on your own or by
organised daily tours, you can pay visits to major Lycian
cities in the region.
Telmessos
The Telmessos
antique city is the only center along the Mediterran
cean shores where settlemment has been continuous from
the first establishment to the present day.The philological
studies reveal that city dates back to the third Century
B.C. cont >>>
Blue Lagoon (Ölüdeniz):
Explore Blue Lagoon
(Ölüdeniz) where the calm crystal water is ideal for
swimming and other water sports. Blue Lagoon is located
near the famous tourist resort of Fethiye, Belcekiz
Beach and protected as one of the natural parks of Turkey.
Xanthos:
Political capital of
Lycian Federation, Xanthos is known as the place of
people who committed suicide all together for peace
and freedom when Persians invaded town in 546 BC. Sir
Charles Fellows first discovered Xanthos in 1838 and
all relieves and unlikely beautiful Nereid’s Monuments
were carried to London—British Museum. The ruins still
standing in the city, which is at present location of
Kinik Village on the road from Fethiye to Kas Town,
are splendid samples of the Lycian Civilisation.
Cadianda :
The ancient city of
Cadianda is located at Üzümlü Village, about 20 Km.
from Fethiye. Best samples of Cyclops Walls of the ancient
ages, a sport complex, theatre and Heroon like temple
type tombs are all worth to see.
Tlos: Located at 28 km. from Fethiye, Tlos is one
of the oldest residential areas of Lycia and one of
the few cities, which continued its existence up to
the 19th Century. Tlos is known as “the sport centre”
of Lycian Federation and was the home of mythological
winged horse Pegasus and his hero Bellorophonte. Acropolis,
temple type tomb of Bellorophonte, Stadium—bath complex,
and theatre are some of the structures coming from early
periods of Tlos.
Pinara:
“Beauty Center” of Lycians,
Pinara is on the way to Minare Village and can be reached
by a short road branching off from the Fethiye—Kas highway.
Numerous Pigeon Holes like simple tombs carved on the
slope of the Hill and a hearth planned Aphrodite Temple
are probably the most interesting remains of Pinara
to see.
Letoon: Letoon
is a holy city, dedicated to Goddess Leto, located at
the Kumluova Village and 4 Km. from Xanthos. It is known
that all holy ceremonies were held here with the priests
of the temples of Leto, Artemis and Apollon.
Oenanda: recently excavated city of Oenanda is located
near Incealiler Village, about 88 Km. to Fethiye. British
and Turkish archaeologists discovered about 300 scribed
tablets of Lycian Epicurean Philosopher Dioghenes.
Fethiye is surrounded by
Toros (Taurus) Mountains, which are fully decorated
with pine and cedar trees in addition to about 10.000
sorts of floral components. Ecological life of Fethiye
is waiting to be explored by the people who are the
lovers of nature, culture and history.
Butterfly Valley:
Pieri Rapos, Euglapia
Quadripunctia, Danaus Chtsippus and others… Butterfly
Valley is placed at the bottom of deep and sharp of
a Valley, which is one of the most beautiful bays around
Fethiye. Starting springtime for about 9—10 months more
than 40 kinds of butterflies can be watched in the valley.
Gemiler Bay & Island:
Following the road
leading from Kaya Köyü, you end up at a beautiful beach
surrounded by pine and olive trees. Gemiler bay is facing
you to the small Island where Byzantine ruins lie tucked
among the pines. A Japanese team has carried on archaeological
excavations for 10 years.
Günlüklü (Küçük
Kargi):
This site is also operated
as a camp-site by the Directorate of National Parks
and renewed for its incense (Sytrax) trees (Liquidi-Ambar
Orientalis) which grow only in Mugla region.
Katranci:
The Mugla—Fethiye highway
branches off to this campsite at a point 15 km. from
Fethiye and there are numerous little bays around this
spot. Katranci is an ideal place with camping facilities
where pine trees stretching right to the shore.
Saklikent Gorge:
High in the mountains
above Fethiye rushing torrents cut a narrow gorge /
canyon through the mountains, creating Saklikent Gorge.
A cool refuge on hot summer days, Saklikent Gorge is
a favourite picnic spot with rustic restaurants serving
delectable fresh trout.
Gebeler Spa: The Gebeler Spa is a thermal spring
recalling Tlos baths. The spring, that content high
Chlorine and sulphate cures many ailments. The 15 meters
deep hot water wells are most efficacious remedies for
rheumatism, sciatica and skin diseases.
From the coastline
to the mountains—pastures, Fethiye is the place where
different cultures are mixed and coloured the life.
Yörük (Nomads) and fishermen come together easily in
a typical Fethiye picture. Folkloric values as folk
music, folk dances, and handcrafts, local cuisine are
all different than the other regions of Turkey.
Kaya Rugs: Kaya Village rugs
have been made for centuries with specific designs and
colours and specially used technique for the dyes.
Dastar: Dastar is hand-craft more specifically seen
in Üzümlü Village. Cotton is used for these scarves
and they are hand made either in plain weaving or with
designs in white—on—white.
Kilim: Flat woven carpets as well as saddle—bags
are hand—made at Seydiler, Atlidere, Karaçulha and Eldirek
Villages with specific designs.
Kolan: These are thin, long belts woven from wool
dyed in various colours. .
KAYA KÖYÜ—MOSAICS OF
CULTURES: Beyond the Fethiye fortress going south, if
you follow the road climbing up to the slope some 7
km. you can come to a magnificent lowland where Anatolian
Greeks had lived until 1922. Greeks called the town
Levissi in the past. Kaya Köyü in the year 1922 during
the exchange of Turks in Thrace with Anatolian Greeks
was evacuated and the new residents did not take up
the existing houses. Kaya become a “Ghost Town” as an
abandoned town after 1923.
2 churches, chapels, numerous houses, schools, library,
hospital, work—shops and the other structures will be
renovated soon according to a project which is made
by The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies and The
Chamber Of Turkish Architects. After the renovation,
Kaya Köyü will serve as the place of “ Piece & Friendship
Village” and be protected forever.
Fethiye’s magnificent
mountains and forests are mostly undeveloped, existing
as wonderful natural preserves for an extraordinary
variety of life a culture, flora and fauna.
For centuries
nomads and semi—nomadic people have migrated annually
to the fresh pastures of the higher elevations in summer.
Seki and Girdev Pastures
are two of magnificent picturesque areas on Taurus (Toros)
Mountains about 80 km. to Fethiye Town centre and famed
for their horses and Juniper trees. At Bogalar Village,
there is a nomad museum worth seeing, immortalising
the traces of culture at pastures
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