THE CLASSICAL COAST

A spectacularly sited ancient site with beautiful views over the bay of Marmaris. The defensive walls are fine examples of polygonal masonry for comparison with Hellenistic rectangular masonry on other sites. An attractive walk in a pleasant landscape near the beach.

An ancient (and modern) port to the east of the Taurus mountains. Founded in 159 BC as the principal port of the Roman province of Pamphylia. It possesses a fine archaeological museum and a virtually complete Roman gateway dedicated to Hadrian. The oldest part is the Ottoman quarter around the small harbour.

A truly remarkable inland site with a large museum of sculptures. The on-going excavation of this site is one of archaeology's great revelations. A large number of ruins can be seen, some reconstructed with great skill, which it is a particular pleasure to examine at close quarters. Site under active excavation.

Re-discovered by Sir Charles Fellows in May 1840, it is a terraced city up in the hills, which may be compared with Delphi. It is a place of great antiquity. It can be reached by vehicle at the end of a deep-cut river valley with a 10,000ft mountain in the background. It has a fine pure Greek theatre (2nd Century BC), a spacious agora and a rare athletics stadium (110 yards long) with complete seating and an honoured finishing stand. Roman remains include an extensive bath and many large temple tombs. Site under active excavation. On return to the boat one can visit the necropolis of Limyra, that epitome of a Lycian city, with the most extensive necropolis on the coast with hundreds of tombs in fine condition, including rock-cut house tombs, gable-ended sarcophagi and coloured inscriptions.

Best known for the most magnificent and well-preserved theatre of the classical world. Built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. It is the best place to appreciate the grandiose effect of a Roman theatre as it is so remarkably preserved. The auditorium seats about 20,000 in 41 rows and it is still used each summer for opera productions. In addition, and nearby, is the best-preserved Roman aqueduct in Asia Minor, which shows how the Romans made water run up-hill.

Known in history as Halicarnassus of the ancient Mausoleum (Tomb of Mausolus) fame (one of 'The Seven Wonders of the World'). It also contains the crusader castle of St. Peter, built by the Knights of St. John (1402 onwards and occupied by them until 1523). Home to the unique Museum of Marine Archaeology (established by Professor George Bass) which contains, amongst several other boats, an impressive display of the oldest shipwreck ever discovered with its remarkable contents. A pure Greek theatre (being carefully restored) and the gigantic Myndus gateway, assaulted by Alexander the great. At that time, it was the strongest fortified city known in Asia Minor.

A great Carian city (Mausolus' easternmost outpost) with extensive remains on the Dalyan River with an excellent Greek stoa wall which is still complete, a fine Roman theatre, a Tholos (a very rare circular temple site) and a recently uncovered main street with a particularly interesting third-generation Early Christian church and a large Roman bath (Mausolus - the 4th Century BC ruler of Caria, see also Bodrum). Site under active excavation.

Famous for the most perfect statue of Aphrodite by the Greek master sculptor, Praxiteles (a head is now in England). The city was planned and built with great ingenuity on a grid with extensive terracing in the 4th Century BC. It has two harbours, several temples, a row of Roman shops and four (at least) Early Christian churches. Site under active excavation. Exploring the site takes 2-3 hours.

A particularly beautiful example of the many river valleys that reach this coast. The river is fringed with reeds and leads to the interesting site of Caunus and further on to a large lake with its mud-baths. The river is navigable by flat-bottomed boats which are needed to cross the shallow sand bar near a famous beach which is the nesting area for the rare Caretta Caretta turtle.

This majestic classical temple (no roof but walls and columns still standing 65 feet (19.8 metres high), much taller than the Temple of Zeus in Athens) housed a very famous oracle for 800 years. Over 370ft long, it is one of the largest classical temples ever constructed. Truly impressive.

One of the greatest of all archaeological sites with one of the largest classical theatres (seating 24,000) and exceptionally fine Roman houses which are rare in both size and quality. The great Basilica of St. John is nearby. Site under active excavation.

All that is left here of an ancient city is a surprise, near-complete Roman Corinthian temple, easy to reach and worth examining in detail.

An attractive recently-built small town designed in a low-rise traditional style. It nestles within a curve of impressive red-stone hills covered with pale-green pine trees and it faces one of the most beautiful gulfs with small islands. This peaceful place is the best starting or finishing place for a cruise, as it is also within 30 minutes of Dalaman, an international airport.

Known in history as Halicarnassus of the ancient Mausoleum (Tomb of Mausolus) fame (one of 'The Seven Wonders of the World'). It also contains the crusader castle of St. Peter, built by the Knights of St. John (1402 onwards and occupied by them until 1523). Home to the unique Museum of Marine Archaeology (established by Professor George Bass) which contains, amongst several other boats, an impressive display of the oldest shipwreck ever discovered with its remarkable contents. A pure Greek theatre (being carefully restored) and the gigantic Myndus gateway, assaulted by Alexander the great. At that time, it was the strongest fortified city known in Asia Minor.

Known to Lysander the Spartan, this now quiet small village has a fine Roman forum with an exquisite council chamber nearby and a new museum with a courtyard enclosing a nearly complete Roman temple tomb (very rare).

An attractive small town noted for old merchants' houses and shops in a setting of great natural beauty. It is a good centre for visiting the ancient sites of Lycia such as Patara and Xanthus (both large).

Known in ancient times as Antiphellus. In Roman times it was a major trading city famous for its sponges. An attractive, small Turkish town, good for shopping and site-seeing. It has a picturesque street of jewellers' shops with the finest example of a Lycian tomb known as 'The Lion Tomb'. Kas is the setting off place for visits to the small but charming Greek island of Megiste (also known as Castellorizo).

This impressively large fortress, virtually intact, was sited to guard a strategically valuable inlet of water large enough to accommodate the Athenian fleet during the Peloponnesian War and Demetrius' fleet of 200 triremes assembled for the siege of Rhodes in the 4th Century BC. One of the best examples of Hellenistic military masonry, it is easily reached after a short walk. Then to Serci Liman for walk through the Kasara Valley (a 3,000 year old agricultural area) to 'Goat cleft'.

On the edge of this beautiful Arcadian valley are two large well-sited Roman mausolea. One of a rare design with a ruined dome on pendentives and the other with the remains of a fine white marble sarcophagus inscribed to the family SARPEDON (a hero of the Trojan Wars and said to be the founder of the earliest Lycian community).

Once a great city on the coast (birthplace of the early philosopher, Thales) known to St. Paul, who left from here when returning to the Holy Land. One of the largest of Roman baths and the site of the finest Greek council chamber anywhere.

Sited inland a short distance from ancient Andriace (site of more of Hadrian's granaries). This is the port where St. Paul changed ship escorted by a centurion in 60 AD en route for Rome to be tried before Emperor Nero. It is one of the earliest Lycian cities with extensive rock-cut house tombs. Nearby is a Roman theatre (second only in size and interest to Aspendus further to the east) recently cleared and restored. Germanicus, heir of Emperor Tiberius, visited here in 18 AD, one year before his tragic death near Antioch. Site under active excavation. The church of St. Nicholas can be visited. It was restored by Czar Nicholas of Russia in the 19th Century.

A very romantic site near white-topped Mount Olympus reached from the beach through an overgrown valley, passing a fine and complete temple doorway erected 172-5 AD, dedicated to Marcus Aurelius. Further up towards Yanar Dag, 'the Burning Mountain', is the fire-breathing pit (Pliny's Chimaera of legend). This legend recounts that the Corinthian hero Bellerophon (similar to Herakles) on the winged horse Pegasus slew the Chimaera (a monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the tail of a dragon). It is, despite the legend, a mephitic flame which has 'issued continually and unvaryingly from time beyond the reach of history'. It gives a very hot smokeless flame and a brilliant light which was seen far out at sea by Captain Beaufort RN (he of 'the Beaufort scale' fame) who visited the site in the early 19th Century.

After Ephesus, this is the biggest site on the Turkish coast, and possesses a large Roman theatre, recently cleared, a complete triumphal arch, the Roman successor temple of Apollo related to the oracle of Delphi and one of the largest Hadrianic granaries still standing and bordering the old harbour. Birthplace of Nicholas (about 300 AD), later St. Nicholas. Site under active excavation.

One of the most spectacular achievements of Greek imagination, set on its 'pineapple-shaped' mountain (according to Strabo), 1000ft above the plain of the River Caicus. It was planned to equal or supersede Athens after Alexander liberated the area. To be seen are the Acropolis with the magnificent partly-reconstructed Trajaneum, a huge Roman temple, the vast Greek theatre (10,000 seats), the site of the Pergamum Library (one of the three great libraries of the ancient world) and the Aesclepieum, famous as a great medical centre from Hellenistic and Roman times, when Galen practiced here. One of the greatest of all sites.

The most important city in Pamphylia, birthplace of Apollonius, a great mathematician of the Hellenistic age (born 360 BC). The site is very large and noted for the enormous well-preserved stadium with seating for 12,000 spectators (2nd Century AD), the large circular-towered Hellenistic gateway, the marble-paved main street and the very large agora (215ft square) were built in the 4th Century AD.

This, the easternmost city of Lycia, is a picturesque ancient site set in grand scenery against a backdrop of mountain peaks, Phoenicus, Olympus and Climax (7500 ft) rising in a chain of splendour. Alexander wintered his army here in 332 BC and it was visited by Hadrian in 130 AD. It has three harbours, a fine paved main street, the remains of an archway in honour of Hadrian, a rare aqueduct and a fine Roman theatre and tombs.

A particularly fine Greek planned town, beautifully sited and virtually untouched by the Romans, with an unspoilt council chamber and the famous Ionic Temple of Athena, designed by Pytheos (the architect of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus) and a well preserved Greek theatre with stage and special seating for notable people. The temple is said to exhibit the finest example of the Ionic order of architecture, which was the model for the columns of the British Museum in London.

Although not a site but an area, bordering 'The Sea of Tranquillity', it contains many sites recorded and mapped by Lieutenant Spratt RN and others in 1830-45. It is a mountainous area of noble limestone country with a number of small pretty Turkish villages for relaxation, easily reached on foot from the sea.

This large ancient site, dating from 750 BC, is on a peninsula still surrounded by defensive walls which are amongst the finest examples of Hellenistic fortifications (with a large defended gateway) in Turkey and dating from the 2nd Century BC. Within the walls are a vast Roman theatre (one of the best examples of Roman engineering skills), two large agora (one is 300ft square), a colonnaded street, Roman baths with an exhibition of some of the finest Roman statuary in Asia Minor and a large Early Christian church.

A beautiful calm anchorage behind an island (with ruins of an ancient church) fringed by a sunken city which can be seen from a boat. On shore is a quaint Turkish village (no roads) built on the site of an Hellenistic fortress now overtopped by an old Ottoman fort, which can all be explored.

Extensive ruins of a large Early Christian community crowded on to a small hilly island, spectacularly positioned close to a tall white limestone mountain. There are four early churches. One situated close to the pinnacle of the island is linked by a very unusual vaulted processional way leading to a ruined bishop's palace of the Early Christian Church. The island is in some way closely associated with St. Nicholas (4th Century AD), the patron saint of Greece and Russia as well as sailors and merchants and the model for Father Christmas. A rare and mysterious place. Site under active excavation.

The exception - it is a Greek island. Although what you see is not ancient, but largely built in the 19th Century, it is a very fine example of a small town of exquisitely designed and maintained domestic architecture, dramatically sited. It is a rare and memorable experience to explore its streets and enjoy its restaurants and shops.

A small fortified hilltop, a short hike above an ancient agricultural landscape. It is a perfect textbook example of ancient Greek skills in the design of military fortifications. The finest example of its period on the whole coast. It was once the acropolis of an ancient city that held Olympic-style games with competitors from other cities. The views from the top are spectacular and a small Early Christian chapel is to be found within the walls.

The prime city of Lycia, witness to several great tragedies, the last being the assault and destruction (in 42 BC) by Brutus and Cassius (the assassins of Julius Caesar). Spectacularly sited on a high rock above the Xanthus River, it still shows ancient Lycian tower tombs alongside a large Roman theatre, a very large basilican church and a recently excavated Roman street with a perfect stone paving 40ft wide, probably the finest in Anatolia. Site under active excavation.