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FETHIYE
Fethiye is a pretty town at the hillsides of the Mount Mendos, the part of the Tourus Mountain chains, and surrounds the bay that it has given its name to.
The high mountain range formed by rises and falls of the crust during the Tertiary Geological Period, and hundreds of bays lying
at the mountainside seem to embrace each other along the Fethiye shore line.
This mountain range (it was called the Kragos and Antikragos in the antique period) with an altitude of more than
6560 feet (2000m.) forms the southwest end of the Toros (Taurus) chain and lies parallel to the shore without a single
passage to the inner regions. On a warm and sunny winter day, peculiar to the Mediterranean climate while you are sipping
at your Turkish tea or Turkish coffee, at one of the local tea gardens, along the coast, these mountains with pine trees at
their skirts, white snow and mist on their summits will once more welcome you to heaven. Dry, long, hot summers and short, warm,
rainy winters are climatic characteristics of Fethiye . The temperature which is around 86-105 F (30-40 C) during the summer, is usually
above 50 F (10 C) in the winter. Considering the fact that in these turquoise-colored seas that in no season falls below 60 F (16 C)
swimming is possible for nine months of the year, we might as well conclude that there are only two seasons in Fethiye : Spring and Summer!
Due to the prevailing climatic conditions in the region, pine forests consisting of silver fir, Scotch fir, and Norway spruce cover the place.
Olive, laurel, myrtle, acacia, plane tree, and popular trees are some other types that you can find in this rich flora.
the frankincense tree (Liquidamber Orientalis) which is the source of myrrh widely used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries,
is among the rare species in the world. This plant has survived for 10 million years and has remained in existence since before
the ice ages is cultivated only around Fethiye and Koycegiz and in a small district of California.
You may reach this natural and historical heaven that God has donated to nature by any of one of the land, air,
or sea courses that you chose. You could have a comfortable journey to Fethiye by the three highways through the pine forests,
with connections to Mugla, Antalya and Burdur. Scheduled bus trips in all three directions provide the link between Fethiye and other cities.
The nearest center for air travel is the Dalaman Airport 31 miles (50 kms.) to Fethiye. In addition to the year round
Istanbul - Izmir - Ankara and Antalya connected flights of Turkish Airlines, there are direct flights to all major cities in
Europe, Asia and America. During the touristic season, Fethiye's having the fourth largest seaport after Iskenderun, Mersin and
Antalya provides great ease of marine travel. The naturally protected harbour is a drop-by place for all yacht crews...
HISTORY
Fethiye , known as Telmessos in the antique period, is the most important city of LYCIA -one of the oldest Anatolian Civilisations-
at the western borderline with CARIA. Despite lack of information regarding its establishment, it is stated in the history of the
city reaches far back to 5th century BC. A Lycian legend explains the source of the name Telmessos as follows: "God Apollon falls
in love with the youngest daughter of the King of Finike (Phoenike), Agenor. He disguises himself as a small dog and thus gains love
for the shy, withdrawn daughter. After he reappears as a handsome man, they name their son 'Telmessos' (the land of lights). The
city, with its name believed to have come from that of Telmessos, -son of God Apollon-, forms the first state of the Persians after
being invaded by the Persian King Harpagos in 547 BC. along with all other Lycian and Carian cities. Telmessos then, joins the
Attik-Delos Union established in mid. 5th century BC. and, although it later leaves the union as an indipendent city, continues
its relations till 4th century BC. A rumor that the city, invaded by the Alexander the Great on his Asian cruise of invasion
in the winter of 334-333 BC. has has yielded to him with his own will. Another legend says that Alexander the Great on a mission
to invade Anatolia, enters Telmessos harbour with his fleet. Their commander Nekros asks permission of Antipatrides, ruler of
the city, for his musicians and slaves to enter the city. On getting the permission, the warriors with guns hidden in the flute
boxes capture the acropolis during the feasts held at night." The city has been handed over to the son of Lysimachos in 240 BC.
by Ptolomy III. By the treaty signed in 189 BC. after the Magnasia war, the Romans have left the city to Eumenos, the King of
Bergama (Pergamon) Kingdom collapses, Telmessos, in 133 BC., joins the Lycian Federation and is one of the six most important
cities in the group. In the 8th century its name as Anastasios II. The city, taken over in 1284 by Menteseogullari, receives
the name MEGRI, meaning far city, after its inclusion in Ottoman land in 1424. In 1934, the city has been renamed as FETHIYE
to the honor of Fethi Bey, a martyr Pilot. Amynthas Rock Tomb, one of the most splendid examples of the Lycian civilisation,
lies noble with its long years, coupled with the grandeur of the mountain whose slope it rests upon, and seems like a volunteering
guide to your journey through history. This tomb is in the form of a temple built in Ion style, and has a landing with adjacent
pillars at the two sides, with four steps leading to it. In the middle of the leftmost pillar, "Amynthas: son of Hermapias"
is engraved in 4th century BC. letters. At the top, there is a head piece with three actoters, one in ruins, and at the bottom
there is a dentile fresco. Three stone benches go along the three walls of the flat-topped tomb chamber, with a door leading into
it that has iron nail-like joints carved out of stone at its four corners. Although two of the numerous other tombs at the left
of the hill look like the Amynthas tomb, they are much smaller. Within the town and in the vicinity a lot more tombs may be
found, some sarcophagus tombs and some cut-out pieces of rock. One of the best examples of these sarcophagii, is located to
the east of the government building. Both sides of its arched, Gothic style lid are decorated with war scenes and the two-storey
front face has carvings that look like wooden, square joists. At the high acropolis hill behind the city a mediaveal castle,
believed to be the remains of Saint John's knights, catches the eye. There is not much in the castle except some writings carved
on the walls and a cistern of unknown origin. Another old building in Fethiye that has remained up to this day is an ancient mosque
that Cezayirli Hasan Pasha has ordered to be constructed in 1791. An ancient peculiarity of the city is that it has been famous for
its soothsayers. It is known that soothsayers of this city that has been devoted to God Apollon have had great impact on the course of history.
Paragliding
Jeep Safari
Scuba Diving
 
White Water Rafting
Daily 12 Islands Boat Cruise in Fethiye
Gobun Bay or Cavy Bay
Cleopatra's Baths
Dockyard Island
The Flat Islands
Red Island or Samanlik bay
 
 
Ölüdeniz
 
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