Kalkan known pearl of Mediterranean is a lovely small hilltop town that overlooks a tiny bay and has only a few thousand inhabitants.The town has not been touched by mass tourism. A mixture of history and peaceful Mediterranean resort, Kalkan it was once a Greek and Turkish fishing village. Distinctive features of this past can be still seen in its Greek architecture. Tourism is the main source of income here, that's why old part of the town has been preserved in its original form and its inhabitants put all their efforts in offering the best conditions on the Turquoise Coast of Turkey.
Kalkan is especially renowned in Turkey for its numerous roof terrace restaurants and bars which offer a wonderful view of the town and sea. Its traditional, white-washed houses, shuttered windows and balconies garlanded with brilliant flowers that cascade to the streets below, make it the ultimate in a peaceful holiday town in the Mediterranean of Turkey.Narrow winding streets lined with souvenir shops lead down to the charming marina.Every morning boats in the summer busily take tourists to one of the nearby beaches or small bays. As the sun sets it is Kalkan style to meet on the roof terraces for a drink before dinner and enjoy the comings and goings of the yahtch, the business of the marina and the panoramic view.With a very rich nightlife there are something for everyone: bars, pubs,, nightclubs, and also wide variety of International Restaurants.
There are a lot of things to do for anyone in Kalkan. You will find an overview of possible activities. Most of the local travel agencies organise daily trips at competitive prices.
You can enjoy a daily island excursions in a gullet (wooden hulled local boaths), a moonlight dinner cruise,.
Kalkan is situated on a beautiful small bay between Fethiye and Kaş in the beatiful land of Lycian civilation on the Mediterranean Coast and is certainly worthwhile visiting, nature is beautiful and unspoilt with the ancient sites of Lycian civilation; Xanthos, Letoon, Pinara, Tlos and Patara are all close by, with Kekova, Demre, Myra, Phaselis, Olympos and all easily accessible.
PLACES TO VİSİT İN KALKAN
LETOON
The Letoon was the most important sanctuary of ancient Lycia. The ever present Fellows couldn't find it and it was excavated in the 1950's by a French team, responsible for the informative signs you'll find there today, in French. A well preserved theatre rises above the little village that surrounds the site. The excavations are usually half submerged, now being below the local water table. The triad of temples, identifiable by their foundations, formed the heart of the sanctuary and it was here that Lycians came to pay their respects to Artemis, Leto and Apollo.
Half the charm of the Letoon lies in the concentration of terrapins and frogs that have made the site their home, an unusual combination of attractions. The site itself lacks the rugged appeal of the other cities in the valley but it will repay a visit nonetheless and it's proximity to Patara makes it a nice stop on the way to the beach.
PATARA
Probably as famous for its beach as for the ruins scattered about the valley Patara is a nice place to spend some time. During the summer and into the Autumn the water is lovely and the 15 odd kilometres of beach are very inviting, especially after a hard day climbing around old things. Patara was a member of the Lycian federation, in common with the other city sites in the valley, and was renowned for its oracle during antiquity. The ruins you can see, including the rather fine triple arch of the proplyon, delineate what was once the harbour but has now silted up into marshes.
Whether or not you're into the ruins you should make an effort to get here. There are some pensions and basic restaurants back from the site and a couple of cafes down on the beach.
XANTHOS
The history of this particular site is a little chilling. It seems the inhabitants burned their women and children and put themselves to the sword several times(?) rather than fall into the hands of marauding Persians or the Romans. The capital of Lycia, Xanthos occupies a prime spot above a twist in the river with commanding views of the whole valley. To get a good idea of the importance of this site you'll need to visit the British Museum where Fellow's finds were stashed away, transported by gunboat during the first half of the 19th century. There are still several monuments of import scattered about and the site is well worth an afternoon. If you're hurrying then check out the theatre and some of the more important tombs, which are sign posted from the car park.The Lycian structures are augmented by Byzantine buildings including the obvious remnants of a large church with fascinating mosaics hidden beneath the sandy gravel and plastic sheeting put there recently to protect them. For the really keen a circuit of the remaining city walls is possible but you'll need some tough clothing and a good reason.
TLOS
Spectacular in the spring with snow on the mountains that stand tall behind the theatre it's an interesting site because of the presence of the Ottoman fortress of 'Bloody Ali' a local brigand in addition to the Lycian and Roman remains.
The 19th century archaeologist Charles Fellows who rediscovered Tlos, and several other nearby sites, had this to say about the approach to Tlos..
The whole ride down this upper valley is beautiful and varies continually; it's scenery, on approaching the bold Greek like situation of the ancient city of Tlos, is strikingly picturesque.
Nice to approach on foot if you feel up to it. A dolmus running along the little road that serves Xanthos and Saklikent can drop you at the bottom of the access road and the 4km hike gives you a feeling for the situation of the city.
It's the sort of site you can take in quickly or linger on for an afternoon. I'm convinced that the stream running through the site goes uphill for a while but I'm prepared to be wrong on that one.
KALE (DEMRE MYRA)
Well known for being the hometown of Santa Claus, Kale is an important faith tourism spot in Antalya. The foundation date of Myra is not known exactly. However, the archaeological data, obtained from the researches in the grave reliefs with regard to style, indicates that the city has existed in the 5th century before Hellenistic Period. The city experienced its golden period during the 2nd century AD. Myra, completely destroyed by the earthquake in 141 AD., was rebuilt by the charities of the rich Opromaos from Radiopolis and Lucius Magnun, Roman Proconsul. Artemis Eleutera Sacred Place in the city was also rebuilt. Having been renovated in this period, the theatre with its ornaments was characterised as a wonder of the world in the Late Antique Period.
During the reign of Theodosius II (408-450 AD.), the city became the Metropolitan of the Lycians. In this period, the reputation of the city as the centre of pilgrimage where diseases having been cured spread not only in Lycia but also throughout the Christian World. The reason for this is that Santa Claus (St. Nicholas) has lived here in Myra in this period.
KEKOVA
It is the most mysterious on enhancing region of the antique world. The region cosists of Üçagiz, Kekova Island and Simena ( Kale ) thet may be called paradise triangle. It is almost impossible to find such a habitat where history and nature are remains both in the sea and ob the land at all around. The region faced with an erosion resulting from a geographic event, and the invasion of the sea, There fore the traces of a ruined city are freguently met. The main sightseeing places are the ruined city in Kekova Island, apsis remain, tomb monuments in Üçagiz and Simena, and the castle from Middle Age Which forms the silhovette for Simena. The region with diving prohibition is ideal for swimming, and sea sports.Tasting various sea food is advised.
SAKLIKENT (HİDDEN CİTY)
It is 40 km. away from province center and within the territories of Kayadibi Village. It is a natural miracle secreted within 18 km. long, and its height reaches 600 m. from place to place, unique canyon. It is an unique tourism center, so wing mountaineering, trekking, swimming possibilities for people fond of nature with steep rocky mountains, plane trees and clearly flowing ebullient springs.
YAKAPARK
It is an unique refreshment place, in which unforgettable moments can be lived within the mysteries of voices of water and birds, formed together with wide wealth of nature with works and creativity of human. Transportation is maintained with a 2 km. road from Yaka Village
Kalkan Property & Villas
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