Turkish Riviera

Castle of Bodrum, located in ancient Halicarnassus, the city of Herodotus and the home of the Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

The Turkish Riviera (Turkish: Türk Rivierası), also known popularly as the Turquoise Coast, is an area of southwest Turkey encompassing the provinces of Antalya and Muğla, and to a lesser extent Aydın, southern İzmir and western Mersin. The combination of a favorable climate, warm sea, mountainous scenery, fine beaches along more than a 1,000 km (620 mi) of shoreline along the Mediterranean and Aegean waters, and abundant natural and archaeological points of interest makes this stretch of Turkey's coastline a popular national and international tourist destination.

Among the archaeological points of interest are two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The ruins of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; and the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.

The Turkish Riviera is also the home of the internationally known Blue Voyage (a.k.a. Carian Cruise), which allows participants to take a week-long trip aboard the local gulet schooners to ancient cities, harbors, tombs, mausolea, and beaches in the small coves, forests, and streams that are on the Turquoise Coast.

The coastline is regarded as a cultural trove that provides background on a fascinating mixture of factual and mythological individuals, conflicts and events, and has frequently been referred to in the folklore of various cultures throughout history. As such, it is regarded as the home of scholars, saints, warriors, kings, and heroes, as well as the site of numerous well-known myths. Mark Antony of the Roman Republic is said to have picked the Turkish Riviera as the most beautiful wedding gift for his beloved Cleopatra of Egypt.^[1] Saint Nicholas, who later became the basis of the Santa Claus legend, was born in Patara, a small town close to present-day Demre.^[2] Herodotus, regarded as the "father of History", was born in Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) in c. 484 BC.^[3] The volcanic mountains to the west of Antalya, near Dalyan, are believed to have been the inspiration for the mythical Chimera — the fire-breathing monster that Bellerophon slew.^[1]

Communities and settlements

Many cities, towns and villages in the area are internationally known, such as Alanya, Antalya, Belek, Bodrum, Çeşme, Dalyan, Didim, Fethiye, Kalkan, Kaş, Kemer, Kuşadası, Marmaris, and Side.

Notable places on the Turkish Riviera include:

Gallery

Typical architecture of Alaçatı
Castle and harbour of Alanya
Tip of the Alanya peninsula
Yivli Minaret Mosque, near the Gulf of Antalya
Roman theatre in Aspendos, Antalya
Castle of Çeşme
View of the Fethiye coast
Roman theatre in Demre, where St. Nicholas lived
Lycian tombs in Fethiye
Butterfly Valley, Fethiye
Ölüdeniz Beach, Fethiye
Cape Gelidonya near Finike is the site of the wreck of a Phoenician merchant ship from about 1200 BC
Port of Foça, home of the Mediterranean monk seal
Traditional two-masted gulet schooner visiting a cove in Gökova as part of the Blue Cruise
Ancient sites of Kaleköy (or Simena)
A street in Kaş with traditional houses and a Lycian tomb in the background
Beach and marina of Kemer
Moonlight Beach in Kemer
A view of Güvercinada island, Kuşadası
Manavgat waterfall
Castle and harbour of Marmaris
Karaca in Marmaris
Olympos Beach
Mt. Olympos (Mt. Tahtalı) was the namesake of the town of Olympos in Lycia
Ancient ruins in Patara
The ruins of the Temple of Apollo, near Side
Exterior walls of the ancient theatre in Side
Lycian tombs in Simena