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Turkish Riviera
The Turkish Riviera (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 thousand kilometers of shoreline along the Aegean and Mediterranean waters, and abundant natural and archeological points of interest makes this stretch of Turkey's coastline a popular national and international tourist destination.
Among the archeological points of interest are two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The ruins of the Mausoleum of Maussollos in Halicarnassus; and the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.[1]
The Turkish Riviera is also the home for the internationally known Blue Voyage, which allows participants to enjoy a week-long trip on the locally built gulet type schooners to ancient cities, harbors, tombs, mausolea and intimate beaches in the numerous small coves, lush forests and streams that lace the Turquoise Coast.
The coastline is further regarded as a cultural trove that provides 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 Empire is said to have picked the Turkish Riviera as the most beautiful wedding gift for his beloved Cleopatra of Egypt.[2] St. Nicholas (who later became the basis of the Santa Claus legend) was born in Patara, a small town close to present-day Demre.[3] Herodotus, regarded as the father of History, was born in Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) in c. 484 BC.[4] The volcanic mountains to the west of Antalya, near Dalyan, are believed to have been the inspiration for the mythical Chimera – the firebreathing monster that Bellerophon slew.[2]
Communities and settlements
Many cities, towns and villages in the area are internationally known, such as Alanya, Antalya, Bodrum, Çeşme, Fethiye, Kalkan, Kaş, Kemer, Kuşadası, Marmaris and Side.
Places on the Turkish Riviera include:
Image gallery
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- Turkish coast near Dalaman.jpg
View of the Dalaman coast
- Kemerayisigi.jpg
Moonlight Beach in Kemer
- SIMENASUKALEKOY 002.jpg
Ancient sites of Kaleköy
- Antalya Hafen.jpg
The historic marina of Antalya
- Yivli Minaret Mosque Antalya.jpg
- Manavgat waterfall by tomgensler.JPG
Manavgat waterfall
- Alanyafromcastle.JPG
Alanya city centre and harbour
- Tip of the Alanya peninsula.jpg
Tip of the Alanya peninsula
- Katrancı Bay Fethiye.jpg
Katrancı Bay near Fethiye
- Oludeniz.jpg
View of Ölüdeniz Beach near Fethiye
- Kekova20052709 20.jpg
View of Kekova
- Patara-view.jpg
Ancient ruins in Patara
- Side.Apollo(4).jpg
The ruins of the Temple of Apollo, near Side
- Side TH au.JPG
Exterior walls of the ancient theatre in Side
- Icmeler Marmaris Beach Turkey.jpg
View of İçmeler Beach
- Myra Theatre.JPG
Roman theatre in Demre, where St. Nicholas lived
- Çeşme.jpg
Historic houses of Çeşme
- Foça pictures 6.jpg
Port of Foça, home of the Mediterranean Monk Seal
- Mount olympos turkey.jpg
Mt. Olympos (Mt. Tahtalı) was the namesake of the town of Olympos in Lycia
- OlimposBeach.jpg
Olympos Beach
- Gelidonya lighthouse.jpg
Cape Gelidonya near Finike is the site of the wreck of a Phoenician merchant ship from about 1200 BC
- Finike hafen.jpg
Marina of Finike
- A street in Kaş.jpg
A street in Kaş with traditional houses and a Lycian tomb in the background
- Marmaris, centrum - 1.10.2011 r..jpg
Marmaris center
- Turkey Harbour in Kalkan.JPG
Harbour of Kalkan
- Kuşadası genel.JPG
A view of Kuşadası
See also
- The Blue Voyage
- Marinas in Turkey
- Tourism in Turkey
- Foreign purchases of real estate in Turkey
- Riviera (disambiguation)
Notes
- ^ Seven Wonders of the World - Ancient Times
- ^ a b The Mediterranean Region of Turkey[dead link]; archived copy at web.archive.org.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Herodotus
Coordinates: 36°40′30″N 31°37′49″E / 36.67500°N 31.63028°E{{#coordinates:36|40|30|N|31|37|49|E|region:TR_type:waterbody_source:kolossus-dewiki |primary |name= }}