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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.
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.
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.
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 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, Stadium—bath 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 Fethiye—Kaş 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 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 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 Muğla—Fethiye 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 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 Boğalar Village, there is a nomad
museum worth seeing, immortalising the traces of culture
at pastures. |
