 |
|
|
Fethiye is probably the most
advantageously situated town in the area for access to some of the
region's more fascinating sites. Fethiye's bay is speckled with twelve
islands, and one of the greatest pleasures here is to embark on a boat
tour from Fethiye's harbor, in search of secluded coves in which to swim,
fish and camp out. The scene as
you come down from the pine-forested hills is absolutely beautiful. In the
distance is open sea, in the foreground a peaceful lagoon bordered by
forest, in the middle a long sand spit of perfect beach. There is also
another interesting site, right out of Fethiye, which looks like a
"Ghost Town" called Kaya, a former Greek settlement abandoned
after the 1923 population exchange and whose semi-ruined houses and
churches conjure a sad, dramatic history.
Of ancient Telmessus, today's Fethiye, nothing remains except a number of rock tombs and sarcophagi. The rock tombs which cut into the cliffs that rise behind the town can be admired clearly from the sea. To get to them you must climb up a lot of steps clearly sign-posted from the town. The largest is that of Amyntas, an unknown citizen which was built in the 4th century BC, in the Ionic order, embellished with a frieze and imitation iron studs on the door of the main chamber. Inside is a chamber with three benches for the dead. Many other tombs can be seen around it as well as sarcophagi around the town, one of them is especially interesting: a heavy stone carved to represent a two-storey Lycian house with a curved lid adorned with a relief of rows of warriors. It says much for the Lycians artisans when the 1957 earthquake destroyed most of modern Fethiye and the lid of the sarcophagi moved only slightly. |
|
|
Tip: |
|
|
For more information about
Turkey visit http://www.DestinationCoupons.com |
|
|
A copy of this information is available onboard the Gundogan for your convenience. |