Places to You Should See
Patara (Ovagelemiş): Archaic City is on the east part of the harbour. The city and the Harbour is in the entrance of the valley that is about 3 kms. Patara Harbour took today's view by the alluvium that Eşen Stream brought. At first, Heredotos talked about the name of the city. According to the rumor, Patara is the city in which Apollon and Water Nymph Lykia, the founder of thecity, were born. There are signs that show the city's history goes to 600-500 B.C.
It has an important role in Byzantium Period. St. Nicholas was from Patara. Saint Paul, one of the disciple of Jesus, got on the ship to go to Rome from Patara. Patara became Office of Bishop in early Christianity Period.
You can see ancient tombs of Roman Period while you are enter to Patara. There are historical ruins of Triumphal Arch with three eyes, Harbour Church with three naves and Hurmalık Bath in the entrance of the city. In last excavations a map, which shows the distance between Lykya cities, was found 100 mt far from that. The map is the oldest and most comprehensive sign of world's roads. Vespasianus Bath was built in 69-79 A.D. If you follow the path ner the bath, you come to main street of Patara. You see the big walls of Byzantium Castle in the further part. There is Korint Temple on the east and Byzantium Church on the west.
Patara Theatre was built on the side of a hill and approximately for 10000 people. The places that covered by sand was cleaned and the building brought out. The archaeological excavations are being continued near Patara.
Patara Beach is the longest beach in Türkiye (18 kms). Patara Beach, which was chosen a 'Private Environment Protection Area' by Ministry of Environment, is the procreation area for
Caretta-Carettas. Some measures are applied to continue the ecological habitat of Caretta-Carettas.
Patara is a touristic city and there are hotels, pensions, shopping centers and restaurants. Also Greenhouse Agriculture was really developed in recent years.
Gömbe ; you can see the pine and cedar forests along the road. Gömbe is famous for its cold water and apple gardens. Accomondation centers and unique herbal smell tarditional foods will help you to feel that you are a part of nature. The highest mountain of the region, Akdağ (3024mt) is here. Yeşilgöl and Uçarsu are ideal places for trekking and have a day without summer hot. This area is famous for its snow sherbet and ice-cream which is made from snow.
Kalkan (Kalamaki); It is 10 kms far from Patara. You should see that cove. There are hotels, pensions and shopping centers. Thousands of tourists visit Kalkan every year.
Kalkan's architectural structure wasn't corrupted. The Harbour serves for all the needs of the boats that visit here. There is a cave called Güvercinlik Sea Cave because it shelterslots of pigeon. You can go this cave by boats.
Saklıkent; It is 15 kms far from Patara. You can reach the Natural Wonder Saklıkent Canyon from a 100 mt wood bridge. There are restaurants and fish farms. Totally, Canyon is 18 kms and t-you can easily walk for 6 kms. It is an ideal place for people who want to rest under the great plane trees, swim in cold water and escape from hot weather.
Xanthos; It is the capital city of Lykya Union. The ruins show that the city's history goes at least to 800 B.C. The first person who searched in the city was British Charles Fellows in 1838. But unfortunately some amazing tombs, Nereidler Monument, Herpyler Monument, Pavaye Sarcophagus, Leo Tomb were stolen and taken to British Museum.
The city walls was repaired in Roman and Byzantium Period. There is a door which was built in 200 B.C. On the south. You can see the Triumphal Arch which belongs to Vespasianus behind that door.
Bezirgan (Pirha) ; It is an important plateau village. Pirha ruins are 20 min. walk distance from the village. The Archaic City was built 850 mt high from the sea. There are lots of stone tombs and their direction is to the sea. Sarcophaguses were not positioned tidily. Lots of statues and reliefs were found and put in Antalya Museum.
