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REGIONS OF TURKEY

TURKISH FOR FOREIGNERS

THE TURKS ECONOMY AND FOREIGN TRADE

EDUCATION AND CULTURE

FOLK CULTURE

VISITING TURKEY

SEA, SUN, SAND AND HISTORY

REGIONS OF TURKEY

Thrace and The Marmara

The Aegean

The Mediterranean

Central Anatolia

The Black Sea

The East and Southeast

ISTANBUL / GENERAL INFORMATION

EPHESUS

Is there a greater city than Ephesus? asked St. Paul, and indeed when you arrive at these magnificent ruins you can see that the question was well asked.
This former Roman capital of Asia is only 2 1/2 km. along the well singposted road from Selçuk to Kuşadası. On this road you will pass the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Templete of Artemis ( or Diana ). There were two Artemisions: the first, the archaic was burnt down by the Lunatic Herostratos, and the second, the Hellenistic Artemision, was built on Alexander the Great's orders. Unfortunately nothing but the foundations remain after its sacking by the Goths.
Ephesus, on the slopes of Mount Pion, was a great port into which Cleopatra's barge once sailed. However, the silting up of the Caistrol River has left the site far inland.
The site was probably inhabited as early as 3.000 B.C., but most of the ruins date from Alexander the Great's time the Roman times.

Ephesus Antique City

Ephesus Antique City

DIDYMA

The Temple of Apollo at Didyma, which was one of the largest masterpieces of Hellenistic architecture, lies 80 km. south of Kuşadası.
Didyma was one of the most sacred places of the ancient world and its oracle was considered second only to that of Delphi. Within the temple was a sacred well, the sulphurous fumes of which used to send the priest who spoke the oracle into a trance. The present temple was built on Alexander the Great's orders, but there was an ealier temple destroved by the Persians.

Looking at Didyma

TOURS FURTHER AFIELD

If you feel more adventurous, a drive to the west to Denizli will take you to the interesting ruins of the Carian city of Aphrodisias and the fantastic calcifiedwaterfall of Pamukkale, with the nearby ruins of Hierapolis.

BODRUM, MARMARİS, FETHİYE

   The south western corner of Anatolia is a region of enique beauty and tranquility, with a wonderful coastline, and has much to offer the visitor in seacrh of pleasure and relaxation.
   The scenery of the region is beutiful and drivese: rich green contrasting with bare, rocky shores, forested mountains, the remains of ancient citivilizations, and secluded bays with splendid beaches.
   Undoubletedly, one of the greatest attractions of the region is sailingand if you do not have your own boat, you can hire one along with the crew from all of the main resorts, particyularly from Bodrum.
   The main centres of attaction are Bodrum, its white-washed houses dominated by the castle of St. Peter; Marmaris, with red-roofed houses nestling along the shores of a brilliant bay; and lastly, the capital of the Lycian coast, Fethiye, with its wild, wooded countryside.
   After a day spend on the beach, swimming, fishing, od cruising to one of the neighbouring shores, everyoneseems to meet at the harbour to enjoy a drink with friends or to watch the magnificent sunset, a little later you can sit in one of terraced restaurants overlooking the sea and a delicious fish dinner. Really, life in Bodrum is so easy-going, you will never want to leave.

Bodrum

BODRUM, THE ANCIENT HALICARNASSUS

Halıcarnassus was founded by the Dorians in the 7th century B.C., then it fell to the Persians.
It became the capital of Caria and the principal stronghold of the Aegean in the 4th century B.C., when the famous King Mausolus ruled. Only the foundations remain of his fabulous tomb, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the world.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN BODRUM

   The castle of St. Peter: built by the Crusader Knights of St. John in the 15th century on the site of an ancient Turkish strong-hold, this fine castle is well preserved. Beautiful landscape and seascape views can be seen from the castle.
   Insıde the castle is a museum which houses fragments of sculpture and objects discovered in the surrounding area, and the Museum of Marine Antiquities displaying under water discoveryes, including the carco of a ship which sank off the Cape of Gelidonya 32 centuries ago.
   Of interest in the old town are the remains of a theatre, a small agora the old city wall and, above all, the foundation of the Tomb of King Mausolus, where a Danish archaelogical expedition recently restored some sections of the periphery of the monument, which was comprised of 36 pillars surmounted with a marble sculpture of four horses pulling a chariot.