|
 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 Homers 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.
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 theatres cavea and stage.
Fethiye Archaeology Museum exhibits numerous Archaeological
findings from the Lycian, Hell enistic, Roman and Ottoman periods as well
as ethnological works of art typical of the region.
There is a new project to be realised in 20012002 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, Belcekız Beach and protected as
one of the natural parks of Turkey.
X anthos:
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
Nereids Monuments were carried to LondonBritish Museum. The ruins still
standing in the city, which is at present location of Kınık Village on the
road from Fethiye to Kaş 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,
Stadiumbath complex, and theatre are some of the structures coming from
early periods of Tlos.
Pınara:
Beauty Center of Lycians, Pınara is on the way to Minare
Village and can be reached by a short road branching off from the
FethiyeKaş 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 Pınara 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 İncealiler
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 910 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 Kargı):
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 Muğla region.
Katrancı:
The MuğlaFethiye highway branches off to this campsite at a
point 15 km. from Fethiye and there are numerous little bays around this
spot. Katrancı is an ideal place with camping facilities where pine trees
stretching right to the shore.
Saklıkent Gorge:
High in the mountains above Fethiye rushing
torrents cut a narrow gorge / canyon through the mountains, creating
Saklıkent Gorge. A cool refuge on hot summer days, Saklıkent 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 mountainspastures, 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 whiteonwhite.
Kilim: Flat woven carpets as well as saddlebags are handmade at
Seydiler, Atlidere, Karaçulha and Eldirek Villages with specific designs.
Kolan: These are thin, long belts woven from wool dyed in various colours.
.
KAYA KÖYÜMOSAICS 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,
workshops 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.
Fethiyes 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 seminomadic
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 Boğalar Village, there is a
nomad museum worth seeing, immortalising the traces of culture at
pastures.
REDISCOVER THE LIGHTS OF
NATURE, CULTURE AND HISTORY IN FETHIYE.
HOPE TO SEE YOU
|
