MUGLA TURKEY
14.04.2021
Connecting theAegean and Mediterranean Seas, Muğla is known where the time has stopped, thehistory and nature are protected, sea and pine forests are intertwined like anaquarium.
Located in the south of the Aegean Region, Muğla conquers the hearts of visitorswith both its historical and cultural values, preserved from antiquity to thistime, and its soul-warming sun, sparkling sea and untouched bays.
The first human settlement in Muğla, which has been home to manycivilizations throughout history, dates back to the pre-historic periodaccording to the rock paintings in the caves in the region.
Visitors to Muğla, while enjoying the sea, sand and sun on the one hand,visit hundreds of museums and archaeological sites in the region, and take ajourney through history as well.
Muğla Culture House
Muğla Culture House (Muğla Kültür Evi) is one of the most loved and visitedplaces. It is possible to see both Turkish and Greek architecture togetherin the House of Culture, which dates back to the 1800s and was nationalized in1999.
Muğla Museum
Our museum is built upon a two-storey rectangular plan with an opencourtyard and has Archeology, Ethnography, Gladiators and NaturalHistory Halls. In the Ethnography section, accessories of everydayclothing, utensils, paraphernalia related to the weaving and carpentryprofession. The Gladiators hall has 7 Gladiator grave steles, which it receivedfrom the Stratonikeia ancient city; and animal and plant fossils of 9 millionyears are exhibited in the archaeology department.
Yağcılar Inn
The Yağcılar Inn’s (Yağcılar Hanı) history dates back to the 1940s. It wasan important trade centre in the city´s past. There is a resting area under theshade of the plane tree in the courtyard of the restored inn, which onesconsisted of former oil production facilities, called the yağhane. We recommendthat you take a tea break under this plane tree during your trip.
Saburhane Square
Saburhane Square (Saburhane Meydanı) is a typical settlement where theunique architectural character is shaped in harmony with the geography, andwhere two different cultures, Turkish-Greek or Muslim-Christian, live together.The square takes its name from the prison that used to be located here.Saburhane Square is an exemplary Urban Site with nearly 400 registered houses,nearly 170 examples of civil architecture, nearly 100 streets, old inns,fountains, bazaars, squares and mosques. Some houses can be reached by passingthrough courtyard gates in the dead ends. Porches and Patios, woodendecorations, verandas, closet-shaped bathrooms embedded in the wall are thedistinctive features of Muğla houses and the houses in thisregion.
Muğla Houses and their Chimney
Natural and genealogical-cultural environmental factors play an importantrole in shaping the traditional Muğla houses, which are one ofthe important symbols of the city. It is possible to divide Muğla houses intotwo as Turkish houses and Greek houses. Thedistinction between haremlik and selamlık in traditional Turkish houses is notincluded in Muğla houses. The area opening to the garden in Turkish houses,which are generally built on two floors, is called "life". Greekhouses, on the other hand, are usually two-storey stone-built houses withsimple lines. The ground floor of the houses is generally planned as awarehouse and the upper floor as a living space. The fact that the housesfacing the street or the road are not separated by a wall shows the status ofthe merchants in the society.
The most important feature that distinguishes Muğla houses fromother houses in the region is their chimneys. Climate plays an important rolein shaping Muğla chimneys. Chimneys are shaped in a rectangular shape bycovering the top so as to block the wind and rain. The “Muğla Chimney(Muğla Bacası)” formed by the unity of Turkish style tiles in thehands of stone masters has become the symbol of the city.
Historical Arasta Bazaar
As the only factor connecting the city to the outside world was the İzmir-Aydın -Cine, Tavas-Denizli route, the caravans using this route were passingthrough Muğla. Camel caravans entered the city from today´s Sekibaşı Streetand, following this road, they reached the centre and stayed in Yağcılar Innand Kocahan Inn in the region, which is still the commercial centre of theUrban Protected Area today. The caravans left the city from the Saburhane district,reached Tavas on the "Yılanlı Mountain Road (Yılanlı Dağ Yolu)",which is still present today, and from there they passed to Denizli. It isknown that Inns, like the Yağcılar Inn (Yağcılar Hanı), İbrahim Inn(İbrahim Hanı), Bacılar Inn (Bacılar Hanı), Balcıoğlu Inn (Balcıoğlu Hanı),Konakaltı Inn (Konakaltı Hanı), and the Kocahan, whichis not existing anymore, were the most active places of the city in the past.They were located on the route through which the historical caravan routepasses. There were guilds of various professions in the ArastaBazaar (Çarşısı) and they gave their names to the placesthey were found collectively.
“Demirciler Arastası” and “Bakırcılar Arastası” are still calledthe same today. Tabakhane, which is located in the north ofthe Arasta, was an important trade centre within the city structure. Theleathers processed here attracted a lot of attention from the caravans. Othergoods that are important to the caravaners are fabric produced on hand-operatedwaving looms, forest products (timber), and high-quality lime extracted fromthe Hamursuz Mountain. The Arasta, which is a traditional trade centre, islocated at the intersection of north-south and east-west axes on the formercaravan route of Muğla, which is a region with commercial density, reflectingthe historical texture of civil architecture.
Gümüşkesen Grave Monument
This magnificent monument was undoubtedly built for a high-levelpersonality and family of Milas, such as a ruler or commander, upon thedecision of the city council. It is situated in the area of the ancient citynecropolis (cemetery) on the eastern slope of the Sodra Mountain (SodraDağı) on the borders of Milas. The tomb structure, built of marblewith grey veins extracted from the Sodra Mountain quarries, rises on a flatplatform due to the inclination of the land. Basically it consists of threeparts: the burial room, in which the deaths were buried, the middle floorsurrounded by columns where religious ceremonies were held, and the roof floorsupported by these columns.
The ceiling of the roof, which was obtained as a result of the large marbleblocks overflowing and narrowing inwards, was embroidered with geometric andfloral motifs, as if emphasizing the importance of the person lying in thetomb, as well as the high level of workmanship in shaping the stone.
As a general form, which resembles one of the world´s 7 wonders - Halicarnassus´Mausoleum, it is peculiar and has highly suggestive parallels in theEastern Mediterranean and North Mezopotamia (South East Anatolia). Due to theconstruction technique and characterized grave marble decorations it is datedto the 2nd century medium.
Kurşunlu Mosque
Kurşunlu Mosque (Kurşunlu Cami) is an Ottoman-era mosque located in theMenteşe Balıbey District. It was built in 1493 by Es seyit Şücaaddin. Thenarthex was added by Şerif Efendi in 1900. Its minaret was built by Hacı İsmailin the same years. The most important feature of the mosque, which used to havea madrasah with thirty rooms in the past, and which makes it differ from othermosques in Muğla, is its large lead-covered dome. The hand-carved decorationsinside the mosque were processed with madder colours brought from Rhodes. Themain walls made of smooth cut stone bear the characteristics of SeljukArchitecture.
Şeyh Mosque
It was built by Sheikh Bedrettin in 1565. The mosque has been restoredseveral times and the minaret was added in the early 19th century. The ŞeyhMosque (Şeyh Cami) is one of the oldest mosques in Muğla,and has an important place in history. Evliya Çelebi calls the Şeyh Mosque inMuğla, which he visited when in 1671, an important work.
Yelli Mosque
It is located in the east of the city walls, at the area called Kepez. Thenarthex of the mosque with a central dome is covered with two cross vaults. Thedome sits on lozenge patterned pendentives. The narthex (coveredportico) is accessed through the arch at the north corner of the west facade,surrounded by a row of tiles. In addition, a wide door from the east providesdirect access to the mosque.
The corner stones, door frame and arches are made of limestone. Ceramiccubes hidden inside the wall at the level of the pendants inside the mosque areto provide acoustics. Most of the cubes that emerged by pouring the plaster arebroken. It is dated to the 14th century.
Firuz Bey Mosque
The building, which is located in the middle of a large courtyard inthe Firuz Paşa District in the city centre, was built in 1394.The south of the mosque between Hisarbaşı and Yeldeğirmeni is in the middle ofan area surrounded by madrasah rooms. The building is called “Kurşunlu” mosquebecause of its lead-covered dome, and also “Gök” mosque because of the colourof the marble used in the main walls. There are three entrances to thecourtyard from three directions: south, north and east. The building, which hascharacteristics of early Ottoman architecture, has an inverted "T"plan.
Yediler Monastery
It is located in Gölyaka Village (Gölyaka Köyü) within theborders of Bafa District in Milas District of Muğla Province.
It is the largest of the monasteries in the region. The monastery areaconsists of a large courtyard in the east and a small courtyard in the westcompletely surrounded by rocks. To the north of the small courtyard, there isan upper castle surrounded by walls, and a small shelter castle on a singlerock to the south, fortified with loopholes.
There was probably a religious centre in the southwest. There are twochapels and a cave with an apse formed by a wall on the inside, used as achapel. The entrance to the underground front room of the chapel is provided bya narrow staircase in front of the west wall of the church.
There are frescoes with scenes of Jesus´ life, actions and death, theresurrection of Lazarus, the crucifixion of the Prophet Jesus, the tomb and theAnastasis (resurrection) scene, and other important events inChristianity.
Clock Tower
In 1895, the first Mayor of Muğla, Hacı Kadızade Süleyman Efendi, and hiswife Pembe Ana, wanted to replicate the one they saw in Damascus on their wayto the Hijaz. So, they had the present clock tower built bythe famous Greek masters Filvarus (Mikhail Constantine´s son).
Myndos Ancient City
The city of Myndos is one of the cities mentioned by the ancient writers,often known as Gümüşlük today. It was established by the famous king Mausole ofCaria. It is very easy to reach. Apart from the Byzantine churches, a few citywalls, the remains of the fortifications mistakenly known as the Lelegian wallon the hill, and the ruins of the jetty and tower, there is almost nothing seenon the ground. However, if observed well, half-covered columns, mosaic traces,ceramic pieces can be seen almost everywhere under the ground. This city,which Alexander the Great had was besieged but failed toconquer, is a cute fishing village today.
It is one of the places that produced wine in ancient times. With thethought of being good for the stomach, Myndos wine was mixedwith sea water and drunk. This custom was seen elsewhere in ancient times. Thetown of Gümüşlük, which is today´s Myndos, is famous for its tangerine gardens.Even though not on a big scale, but rug weaving is also a part of the culture.
During Mausoleus era, Koyunbaba resort near Gümüşlük was used as a quarry.It is one of the places worth seeing.
Bodrum Ancient Theatre
It is a magnificent building dating back to the 4th centuryBCE. It is located in the north of Halicarnassus ancient city on the southernslope of Göktepe, which was used as a necropolis, i.e. a cemetery. It has allthe characteristics of theatre theatre before the Roman Imperial Period. TheAntique Theatre (Antik Tiyatro) is the only building that has survived from theClassical Age of Bodrum. Among the interesting features of the theatre are thealtar, where the sacrifices were offered to Dionysus before the games, and theholes between some of the seats, which may have been used as a canopy. With adistance of 40 cm between each seat, the theatre has a capacity of 13,000people.
Kadı Kalesi Church
The main structure of the Kadı Castle Church (Kadı Kalesi Kilisesi) isquite good, yet it is still empty and not used. Most of the structures attractattention as an example of the Hellenistic era. In the past, Bodrum judgesgathered in these buildings to make important decisions. Kadı CastleChurch was the most important place where local decisions were madeduring the Ottoman Empire (Osmanlı İmparatorluğu). It was usedas the supply port of the navy during the Ottoman period and later played animportant role in border trade with the island of Kos and Kalymnos.
Bodrum Castle
The Bodrum Castle (Bodrum Kalesi) was built onthe island, which was known as Zephyirion in ancient times, and which is apeninsula now. It was built in 1406 by the knights of St. Jean whoseheadquarter was Rhodes. Bodrum Castle preserves the original plan and characterof the Knights Period and reflects Gothic architectural features.The Castle is the only well-preserved example of the St. John knights. It isalso one of the best preserved medieval monuments in the world and stands as amonolithic heritage. In the construction of the castle, the stones left afterthe destruction of Mausoleion, one of the Seven Wonders of the World,were used.
After the St Jean knights left Bodrum in 1523, the castle was used as aprison by the Ottomans until the 19th century. It suffereddamage through British and French bombardment during World War I.
Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum
Today, the Bodrum Castle houses the Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum(Bodrum Sualtı Arkeoloji Müzesi). The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeologyis one of the most important of the world´s few and Türkiye´s only underwatermuseums. The museum received the "Special Praise" award inthe European Museum of the Year competition in 1995.
There are 14 exhibition halls in Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum andit has the richest Eastern Mediterranean Amphora collection in the world. Theshipwrecks of Yassıada, Şeytan Deresi and Serçe Limanı arealso exhibited in the museum. 3 tons of broken and unbroken glass was removedfrom the ship that sank in the exhibition in the Serçe Harbour Shipwrecks GlassDebris Hall in 1025, which is the oldest sunken ship wreck in the world. Inaddition, the world´s largest Islamic Glass Collection is exhibited here.
The Bodrum Archaeology Museum consists of the KaryalıPrincess Hall, English Tower, East Roman Wreck, Turkish Bath Exhibition, GlassShipwreck Hall, German Tower, Coin and Jewellery Hall, Glass Hall, HiddenMuseum Snake Tower, Uluburun Shipwreck, Dungeon, Commander´s Tower and TektaşGlass Wreck sections.
The largest Amphorae Collection is also in the Bodrum UnderwaterArchaeology Museum. Next to the cross vault there is the Balta Tower, with the"Queen Island" hall.
Mausoleum Memorial Museum
Considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,the Memorial of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (a tomb built for Mausolus) isone of the most important historical places you should visit in Bodrum.Mausolus, one of the Hekatomnos dynasties, who was assigned as a Satrap to theCaria Region by the Persians, started its construction while still alive (in353 BCE) and continued to be built by his wife and sister Artemisia when hedied.
Mausolus, the most important ruler of the time, probably decided to makesuch an important structure in order to symbolize hiz immortality andgreatness.
Synonymous with Bodrum’s history is the Turkish author of essays andnovels, Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı, who is also known as the "The Fisherman ofHalicarnassus. He wrote regarding the architecture of the Mausoleum: "Justthink about it! Making something brand new by kicking all traditions… Thatdrives you crazy! Whenever I think about this challenge, a tambourine and adrum roar inside me"
In the list of Seven Wonders of the World, Mausoleion´s height is 80 ionfeet. This is approximately 50 meters, the height of a 20-storey apartmentbuilding.
Ancient writers state that the architect of the building was Pytheos, whowas also the architect of the Priene Athena Temple. Vitrivius says that themost important sculptors of the period worked in this building in the 4th centuryBCE. Bryaxis among the Sculptors was in fact from Caria; and he was the one,who sculpted the statues of Mausolus and Artemisia standing on a 4-horsechariot on top of the Mausoleum.
The monument survived for 1500 years, but collapsed during the earthquakein 1304. Today, the Mausoleum stays as one of the World’s Seven Wonders of theWorld.
Stratoniceia Ruins
Stratoniceia ancient city was founded in the 3rd century BCE. Syrian KingSeleucus I. married his wife Stratonice to his son Antiochus. Antiochus thenfounded a city in the name of Stratonice, who was his stepmother and then hiswife. According to the traveller and writer Strabon, the city was equipped withbeautiful buildings. From the coins found during the excavations, it becomesapparent that the city started its independent coinage from Rhodes in 167 BCE,which continued until the time of Gallienus (253-268 CE). The acropolis of thecity is on the top of the mountain in the south. This hill is surrounded by awall. To the north, on a terrace on the slope, just below the current highway,there are the remains of a small temple built for the emperor.
Ruins of Heracleia at Latmus
Latmus is a Hellenic word. In ancient times, this region was known by thisname because of the Mother Goddess Lada. The Hellenes changed the name Lada toLatmus and named their city after it. The city, which remained under the ruleof Pleistarchus from the Ptolemaic dynasty for ten years at the beginning ofthe 3rd century BCE, was named Pleistarcheia during thatperiod, and later renamed by Lysimachus to Alexandreia on the coast of Latmus,but these names were not permanent. Although it is not certain when the citywas built, it was mentioned in the Battle of Miletos-Magnesia inthe 2nd century BCE. Its importance grew after gaining independency during theRoman period. In the 7th-9th centuries, when itbecame an episcopal centre, many churches and monasteries were built. Heracleiaat Latmus experienced its most brilliant period in the Hellenisticperiod. The city walls were enlarged by Lysimachos in 287 BCE and its lengthreached 6.5 km.
After a certain period, following the abandonment of Heracleia, monasteriesand churches were built in the first half of the CE 8th century.170 of the rock paintings symbolizing the transition from Paleotic to Neolithictime have been found.
Kaunos Rock-Cut Tombs
Kaunos, which is one of the most interesting places in Türkiye with itsrock tombs, and once a commercially important port city, lost its port featurewhen the sea was filled with alluviums over time. The acropolis, which formsthe heart of the city, was built on a 152-meter-high hill. Thenorthern part of the city walls originates from the Middle Ages. The long wallstarts from the north side of the harbour and extends to the steep cliffsbeyond Dalyan Village. The northern part of the wall was built inthe period of Mausolus, the famous Satrap of the Caria region in which Kaunosis located. His tomb is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, andis located in Bodrum (Halicarnassos). The walls in the northwest direction arefrom the Hellenistic Period (323 BCE-30 BCE), and the walls extending towardsthe harbour are from the Archaic Period (750-475 BCE). At thefoot of the acropolis is the theatre of the ancient city. One of the buildingsthat remained in the western direction of the theatre belongs to the basilicatype church, while the others in the city are the remnants of the Romanbath and temple. The rock tombs, which can be seen from Dalyan, are datedto the 4th century BCE, were later also used in the Romanperiod. The cavities carved into the rocks, which you can see from the pier,are places where giant fires were lit that serve as lanterns to shipsapproaching the ancient harbour to carry cargo to Kaunos.
Knidos Ancient City
Knidos, affiliated to the Rhodes Regional Unit, is one of themost important Western Anatolian coastal cities. It is located on Tekir Cape,at the far end of the Datça Peninsula, where the Aegean and the MediterraneanSeas meet. Knidos had a developed trade thanks to the export of wine. The citysurrounded by walls reinforced with round and angular towers had two harbours,a military and a commercial one. Important buildings and areas in thearchaeological site are the Doric Temple, the Temple of Apollo and the Altar,the Round Temple and the Altar, the Assembly Building, the Corinthian Temple,the sundial showing the season and the time, the Theatre, the Temple ofDionysus and the Slope Houses, the Odeon, the Sacred Place of Demeter, theNecropolis and the Krio Peninsula. British archaeologist Charles Newton wrotein his diary while excavating in Knidos in 1858: “…a monumental tombthat Halicarnassos would be proud of: His mausoleum, a monumental statue of Rhodescast from bronze: If there is Helios, the small town of Knidos, also likewisethere is a statue of Aphrodite that he can be proud of; it is the statue thatNikomedes, King of Bithynia (north of Aegean region), reveals all the income ofthe city in return; All the debts of Knidos have been erased, but in vain…”Althoughthe naked Aphrodite sculpture made by the sculptor Praxiteles for Knidos hasnot been found today, its pedestal can be seen.
Tlos Ancient City
In the 2nd century BCE Tilos entered the LycianUnion. Continuing its existence in the Byzantine period, Tlos, was one ofthe rare ruins that could survive until the 9th century. Thetransportation was provided through the Kemer district on the Fethiye-Korkuteliroad, 13 km after the Yaka village Castle quarter. The history of the cities ofLycia is known to go back to the 5th century BCE. Since noolder documents have been recovered, we cannot know the exact establishment ofthese cities, but life in Lycia starts in the 2nd century BCE.An axe found by chance in Tlos is also evidence that supports this thesis. Tlosis known to have existed in the 2nd century under the nameTalaw.
Hekatomnos Memorial Tomb
The Hekatomnos Mausoleum and Sanctuary (Hekatomnos Anıt Mezarı ve KutsalAlanı) is located in the Milas district of Muğla, one of the most importantcities of the Caria Region in southwest Anatolia. The said MemorialTomb and Sanctuary consists of the Temenos Wall, the Honour Column ofMenandros, Podium and Tomb (Carrier Room, Tomb Room, Sarcophagus andDromos). The Monuments has a unique value from various aspects: it isconsidered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, it originates from anearlier period than the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, it is the monument of thefather of Mausoleus, which also has the same dimensions, and it is the only onein these dimensions that survived to our days. The work, which is the mostimportant grave monument of the ancient world and the representative of thecult of the dead, is at a high level in terms of both architectural design andother important branches of art, like sculpture and wall painting. Especiallythe "Sarcophagus with Frescoes" is the only example in Classical andHellenistic Anatolia in terms of its size, quality and the prominentpersonality of its owner.
Xanthos-Letoon Ancient Cities (UNESCO Heritage List)
46 km away from Fethiye, close to the Kınık village, Xanthos is locatedwithin the provincial borders of Antalya. It was the largest administrativecentre of Lycia in ancient times, and independent until it came under the ruleof the Persians in 545 BCE. It was completely burned downapproximately a century later. After this fire the city was rebuilt, even hadundertaken the task of being the capital of the Lycian Union in the 2nd centuryBCE. The city later came under the control of the Romans, then under Byzantinerule and remained under Byzantine rule until the Arab raids in the 7th century.This centre, featuring the effects of Lycian traditions, and the Hellenisticand Roman periods, and which has traces of every civilization that inhabitedit, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988.
4 km from Xanthos, located within the borders of Muğla province, Letoon wasthe religious centre of Lycia in Antiquity. This sacred are contains the ruinsof a monastery, a fountain and a Roman theatre, along with the temples of Leto,Apollo and Artemis. The largest temple dedicated to Leto, the mother of Artemisand Apollo, is the Leto Temple, which is located in the west. It was built inthe type of a Peripteros, and is 30.25 by 15.75 m in size. The Apollo temple,built in the Doric style to the east, is less preserved than the Leto templeand is 27.90 by 15.07 m and with smaller dimensions. Located in the middle ofboth temples and being the smallest temple, the temple of Artemis is 18.20 by8.70 m in size. Letoon is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List(UNESCO Dünya Mirasları Listesi) along with Xanthos.
Sedir Island
The altitude of the Sedir Island (Sedir Adası) ruin is approximatelybetween 0 meters and 15 meters. Transportation to the area is provided by dailyexcursion boats from Muğla Province, Ula District, Akyaka District orby boats located in Çamlı Village of Marmaris District.
The island, formerly called Kedreai, is a settlement east of the Bay ofKeramos. The island, which was called "Şehiroğlu" in the TurkishPeriod, is now called "Sedir". The name also comes from the cedartree but there is no cedar tree on the island today.
The island, which has a coastline of approximately 800 m, consists of threeislands with Orata and Küçük Ada next to it. The settlement on Sedir Island wasformed on the eastern side of the isthmos (isthmus) that divides the islandinto two. The theatre, holy areas, residence, harbor and many other importantcivil and religious buildings of the city are on this area surrounded by walls.Necropolis, a portion of the ports and other civil structures a located in themainland on the eastern side.
In ancient times, lands including Sedir Island, were considered theproperty of Rhodos. Bozburun Peninsula is the part of the Rhodos Peraia, whereRhodos influence and domination was most intense throughout the ancient times.In the city, there is a theatre with a capacity of 2500 people, theApollon Sanctuary, the Great Basilica, the Kıstak Church and the Agora.
Idyma
The ancient city of Idyma, which has a history of about 2,500 years, iswithin the borders of the Akyaka town in the north-east corner of the Gulf ofGökova. Today, the ruins of the city of Idyma extend from Gökova village to thefoothills of Kıran Mountain (Kıran Dağı). On the hill risingjust north of Gökova village, remains of the acropolis (upper city) of the citydated to the BCE 4th and 3rd centuries are noteworthy. On the east side of thesame hill, there is a necropolis (cemetery) that witnessed pain and sorrow. Thetombs, which were obtained by carving the rocks along the hill, were built likea house to continue their lives after death. Some of the rock tombs were builtin a richer style than other rock tombs, in accordance with the form of thetemples we can see in many ancient cities in Anatolia, in order to show thesocio-economic differences in their period. The best-preserved example of theserock tombs is the monumental rock tomb in the area called İnişdibi, betweenAkyaka-Gökova village. On the same road, the Byzantine castle standson the low hill near Azmak.
Aminthas Rock Tomb
Within the borders of Fethiye, there are many rock-cut tombscarved on a steep rocky slope, 3 of which are temple type and others reflectexamples of civil architecture. This tomb, which is one of the three templetypes and known as the "King´s Tomb" among the people, has remainedrelatively intact compared to the other two. Named as Aminthas Tomb(Aminthas Mezarı) due to the inscription "Aminthas son ofHermapias" on the central part of the east ante walls and dated to the4th century BCE, this Ionic Regular in antis (temple type withtwo columns between the antes) is the projected form of the front facade of atemple on the rock. The other tombs, which are the symbol of the city and onthe same steep slope to the east, are the best examples that give informationabout the metal and woodworking of the Lycian Region.
There is a depiction of a door divided into four main panels in the sectionopening to the burial chamber. In the interior of the room, there is a smoothand rough ceiling and three klines.
Telmessos Ancient City (Telmessos Antik Kenti) and rocktombs were seen by many travellers in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Kayaköy
Kayaköy is a village 8 km south of Fethiye, was known as Karmilissos inancient time. Although according to philological data the village dates back to3rd century BCE, no findings were discovered that date back to later than 4thcentury BCE. All of the observed building groups on the hillside of the townwere built by Greeks, who were settled there in the second half of the 19thcentury and in the first quarter of the 20th century through the rights grantedto minorities by the Ottoman Empire The village was abandoneddue to the Population Exchange between Greece and Türkiye. As a result thewooden doors, windows and exterior of the houses decayed due to natural factorsthe village appears like a ghost city. Before the village was abandoned, the350-400 houses were built in a way that they did not obstruct each other interms of view and light. The two-story buildings were not bigger than 50 sqm.The ground floors generally served as cellars. Each house had an undergroundcistern, where the rain water was collected from the roof at the entrance. Inaddition to the residences, there are many chapels among the houses, two largechurches, a school building, and a customs building.
İztuzu Beach – Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta Caretta)
İztuzu Beach (İztuzu Plajı) is one of thelast beaches where loggerhead sea turtles are found, and thesecond beach in the world that preserves its naturalness. The lovableinhabitants of İztuzu Beach, knowns as caretta carettas are1-1.5 meters tall and 150 kilos in weight. These cute animals go to the beach,use their hind legs, dig various holes, lay their eggs in the most appropriateway and return to the sea. After the day is full, the hatchlings instinctivelytake the moonlight compass and head towards the sea. This jobis not that easy, as it takes a long time to cover the beach and reach the seawith the tiny steps of the baby carettas. They have to go the wayuntil the sun rises and it starts to get warmer. Those who fail to do so fallprey to the heat or to birds. Of course, when they reach the sea, the dangerdoes not end. Until they reach a certain size, they cannot avoid becoming foodfor fish. The few carettas that can grow and reach a giant size return to thisbeach where they were born, following their instincts – this time to lay theireggs.
When the hatching time comes, light or fire is prohibited on this beachbecause it deceives the young and prevents them from finding the sea. Eggs aretaken under protection and no permanent facility is allowed on the beach.During spawning, environmentalists from all over the world set up camp on thebeach, and from time to time support the march to the beach.
Walking the ancient roads
Muğla has a great potential in terms of many alternative tourism types inaddition to the sea-sand-sun holiday type. The Lycian Way (Likya Yolu),the Carian Way (Karia Yolu) and the Kanuni Trail (Kanuni Yolu) aretrekking routes that are of great importance for trekking, whichis an alternative tourism type.
The Lycian Way, one of the oldest known roads with alength of 540 km and connecting 19 ancient cities along its path, isregarded one of the 10 best long-distance walking routes in the world.
The Lycian Way, which has a history of thousands of years, and which isstill used by nomads, starts from Fethiye and extends to Antalya. The Lycianroad passes between the coast and mountains, and generally consists of Romanroads, old paths and mule roads. Along the course, there are beauties of naturesuch as Kabak Bay (Kabak Koyu), Cennet Bay (Cennet Koyu), ButterflyValley (Vadisi), Patara, Kekova, Korsan Cove, Gelidonya Lighthouse, Adrasan,Çıralı; ancient cities such as Antiphellos, Sdyma, Letoon, Limyra,Simena, Xanthos, Patara, Apollonia, Chimera, Myra, Olympos, Phaselis.; Itis possible to swim in virgin bays and stay in settlements, accommodationfacilities or tents on the road.