The Underwater Archeological Museum of Bodrum
It is one of the most important and biggest museums of its kind in the world.
The relics recovered from excavation which started in the 1960's are on
display in this museum located in the Bodrum Castle. The Eastern
Mediterranean amphora collection as well as findings resulting from research
on sunken ships in the immediate vicinity are on display. The significant of
this sunken ships are those at Yassiada, Seytan Brook and Serce Harbour. The
remains of the oldest known sunken ship in the world are also here and well-worth
seeing.
Open days to visit: Everyday except Monday.
Maussolleion
It gets its name from the fact that the tomb of Mausolos, the King of Caria,
is located here. Known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The
construction was started in 350 BC by Mausolus and after his death completed
by Artemisia. The whole monument was built with green stone blocks and the
outer face was lined with white marble and bluish limestone with an
approximate height of 50 m. The monument consists four main sections; the
pedestal and the main tomb, the temple in the Ionian style, the pyramid of
24 layers standing on columns, statues of King Mausolus and Artemisia
standing standing side by side in the chart pulled by four horses at the
top. His wife, also his sister, had the most famous architects of the day
design the structure. It was almost completely destroyed in the Great
Anatolian earthquake. There is a small museum here at the site of this tomb
which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The word "maussolleion"
is taken from King Mausolos name. Many of the stones of this Mausoleum were
used in the construction of Bodrum Castle. The beautiful relief's on the
grave, however, were taken to the British Museum during the excavations in
the 19th century.
Ancient Theater: The theatre is located on the Bodrum - Turgutreis
road standing on the slope of Göktepe, is splendid construction. The theater
has been constructed during the period of Mausolus. It has an audience
capacity of 13,000 seats. Used as a necropolis for some time. It consists of
a stage - building, orchestra pit and cavea. The stage area has been
uncovered and the seats have been restored.
Rock Tombs: Above the theater on the slope are rock tombs that belong
to the Hellenistic and Roman periods.
Myndos Door : Is one of the two entrances to Halicarnassos, Located
west of the city, The Myndos Door consisted of two monumental towers and an
inner courtyard at the gate that lead to the city and was the most
important entrance to the city built by Maousolus. Alexander the great had
attempt to enter into the town through Milas Gate and left from Myndos Gate.
Çifit Castle (Aspat) : Built on a rocky outcrop in the south western
portion of the peninsula close to Bagla cove, it contains artefacts from
several civilizations.
Stratonikeia : Located on the Yatagan - Milas highway, the ruins in the
village of Eskihisar contains a very rich collection of artefacts from the
Caria, Roman and Byzantine eras.
Lagina : The temple of Hecate can be reached by following the dirt
road (9 km) leading to Turgut. Excavations have shown that this city, once
an important center of the Caria Civilization, has been inhabited since the
Early Bronze Age.
Cedrai Island: One of the most eminent ruins of the region with its
rich history and natural beauty, Sedir Island can be reached by boat either
from Gökova - Akyaka or Çamlikoy. The ruins which one would want to see
first are the Temple of Apollo, the theatre and the ancient harbor. The
famous Cleopatra beach is here as well.
Cisterns: Cisterns built by the Ottomans and known as "Gumbet" can be
seen all over the peninsula. They were built by the wealthy citizens who
named the cisterns after themselves.
MOSQUES
Mustafa Pasa Mosque : Upon his arrival to Bodrum to construct a
dockyard, Mustafa Pasha from Kizilhisar made this mosque built. (1723).
Tepecik Mosque : It was constructed by Hamam Aga, the steward of
Mustafa Pasha.
Adliye Mosque: It was built in 1901 through the means of the monastery fund
provided by the amount gathered among the public and given by Abdulhamit II.
Saldırsah Horasani Tomb, Kubbeli Tomb, Mustafa Pasha Tomb including the
grave of Kaptan-i Derya Cafer Pasha and Koyunbaba Tomb are worth to see.
TRADITIONAL BODRUM HOUSES
The common features of the traditional architecture used in Bodrum are
windowless first floors and doors on the second storey with access by way of
ladders that can be drawn up into the house. These houses, which are now
protected by the government, are located mostly in the villages of Ortakent
and Kocakaya above Gümüşlük. Individuals,such as artists and writers who
have settled in Bodrum have done a great service to the area by restoring
older houses and this has made it an even more interesting place to visit.
Didyma - Miletos - Priene
Priene: This is one of the most beautiful ancient cities in the area,
located five kilometres along the Söke-Bodrum highway near the village of
Güllübahçe. At the entrance to the ancient city there is a map that can be
used on your tour of the city. Priene is a masterpiece of architecture,
designed by the most famous architect of the era, Hippodamos. The theatre is
in good condition, with a Byzantine church at its side, a gymnasium to the
south, the Temple of Demeter on the slopes of the acropolis, the Temple of
Athena with some of its columns upright and the bouleuterion where the city
officials used to meet.
Miletos: Miletos was a major port city of its time. When the Menderes
River silted up the bay it lost its significance, just like Priene. It has a
magnificent 15,000 seat theatre, the Faustina Baths spread over a large area
nearby, a palaestra, and the Temple of Serapis behind the city walls. There
is also the foundation structure of the agora of which the main parts are in
the Berlin Pergamon Museum, the church of the archbishop near the northern
gate of the agora, a 100 metre protocol path, shops along the path, the
harbour avenue and two temples dedicated to the gods of prosperity Demeter
and Kore.
Didyma: with the spectacular Didymaion Apollon temple at the entrance
to Didim-Yenihisar. The sacred area of the ancient city of Miletos, this is
the most sacred structure in the region after Ephesus and the island of
Samos.
Köyceğiz - Dalyan
Kaunos Ruins : It is accepted that first settlement is till to the
1000 B. C. Lycia, Caria and Romans are the ones who settled here. Acropolis
and ramparts, theater, Roman bath, round fountain revealed during
excavations, temple and agora are the visible ruins here.
Rock Graves : Rock graves near to the Dalyan channel which connects
Köyceğiz lake and Mediterranean are dated as 4th century B. C.
Dalyan Strait : People who have participated to a ship tour from the
strait which connects Köyceğiz lake to Mediterranean are stroll between
narrow corridors, which are not known where to enter and where to leave.
Peninsula is just like a haven with at the left side, a 80 - 100 m. wide,
kilometers long, forest entering sand sea, at the right side, bays within
pine forests.
İztuzu Beach : It is a unique beautiful beach on which Caretta -
Carettas are lying their eggs.
Traditional Milas Houses : Most of the Milas houses are from 19th
century. All houses generally have an irregular big or small courtyard.
Upper floors of two floor houses are exceeds to street like balconies. There
is absolutely a floor furnace within each Milas houses. Shafts are also an
exceptional architectural samples. External walls and garden walls of the
houses are painted with whitewash. On the İzmir exit of province at Burgaz
District, Abdülaziz Ağalar Villa is still standing and its masonry sample
composing consoles are attractive.
Iassos : It is on a peninsula against Güllük in Mandalya Bay.There
are big rampart, aqueducts, theater within the city, extending till 3000s B.
C. 18 km. after Köşk village junction of Milas - Söke road, you will reach
to city and sea. Also it is advantageous to remember that a visit to be made
via sea transport from Güllük, will be unforgettable. Antic harbor of the
city is the resort place of yachting persons today.
Labranda (Koca Plateau) : You can reach to Labranda, founded on a
terrace on Mount Çomak, at 18 km. north - east of Milas, with a stabilized
road from Milas. Wanderers can see upholstery signs from place to place on
the 8 m. wide road, beginning from Mylasa during antic era, today. First
excavations in Labranda, whose ruins are largely preserved, are commenced on
1940. It is famous with Zeus Labrandus temple, constructed during Satraplas
period in Karya on 4th century B. C.
Keramos : It is at the today's Ören borough, North coast of Gökova
bay, and it is 50 km. away from Milas. Defense walls, rock graves at feet of
mountain, tombs at necropolis from the city, which took its name Keramos,
which means "Pot" or "Ceramic" in Greek language are the important ruins
which reached till today. It is one of the most attractive ruin places of
tourists, participated to Blue Voyage, made in Gökova bay, begun from
Bodrum.
Herakleia : City is founded at the coast of Bafa Lake at the south
feet of Beşparmak Mountains. It has supported 6,5 km. long rampart walls
with 65 towers on a very rough grounds and rocks. There are Athena Temple,
Agora, City Assembly Building, Theater and a hamam in the city, constructed
during Hellenistic Era.
Bargylia : It is founded within a bay, extended through land at south
of Güllük Harbor within Mandalya Bay. Bargylia, at the 30th km. of Milas -
Bodrum road, is founded by Bellere Phon, one of the Greek Myth heroes. At
the twin peeks of this hill, Roman and Greek at north and at the other areas
Byzantium Era pieces of arts are present.
Beçin : It is founded on a steep rock at 200 m. height at
approximately 5 km. south of Milas. Name of the city is passed as "Pezona"
in Medieval Italian sources, and "Berçin", "Peçin" and "Beçin" in Turk -
Islam sources. Structure ruins, reached today from city are dense at Kenez
and Sığmen, ramparts and external castle surrounded by ramparts, internal
castle looking to Milas plains.
Zeus Karios Temple : It is in the Hisarbaşı District. It is
constructed on a 3.5 m. high podium at east of Hisarbaşı hill. Only a column
at corinth order, named as Yuva today is standing.
Gümüş Kesen Monument : Probably IInd century A. D. dated this
monument is composed of a cover gradually narrowed like pyramid, supported
by columns and grades on this chamber and a rectangular grave chamber.
Sinuri Temple: There is a temple ruins, which belongs to god Sinuri,
preserving an old Kar name on a hill over today's Kalınağıl village at 14
km. east of Milas.
Sinuri priest had remained within a family passing from father to son after
4th century B. C. A great bairam is made Per year, and cows are sacrificed.
As well as it is not known that how god is described, but it is understood
that it holds a double faced axe in his hands. Sinuri Temple is turned into
church during Christianity period.
Lake Bafa: There is Lake Bafa, which is the mirror of Lunar Goddess
Athena between oil groves, on Söke - Milas road. Lake is just like a mirror
including moon within summer nights with its small white beaches and small
resort places at the coast. It is recommended to eat the grey mullet and
yılan balığı.
Güllük : This bay, famous with its fish egg and natural beaches
within olive grove 25 km. away from Milas is also appropriate for yachting.
Ören: It is 49 km. away from Milas, and can be reached with passing
within high pine forests. Gökova bay, is an ancient settlement center and
decorated with citrus gardens at the place where sea descended of bay north
high mountains.
Beypınarı : It is at the place, where passenger coffeehouses are
present within high pine forests on Milas - Yatağan road. It is famous with
its chicken roast and ice like water fountain under cool trees. Akbük
(Güllük Bay) and Kazıklı Bay are the places to mention within the Bay
coastal line.
