Turkish Riviera

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The Turkish Riviera (also known as "The Turquoise Coast") is a popular term used to define an area of southwest Turkey encompassing Antalya, Muğla and to a lesser extent Aydın and İzmir provinces. The combination of a favorable climate, warm sea, and abundant natural and archeological points of interest makes this stretch of Turkey’s coastline a popular tourist destination.

The region is known for pleasant climate conditions, including more than a thousand kilometers of shoreline along the Mediterranean Sea, and a host of archaeological and natural riches. The Turkish Riviera is strewn with ancient cities and harbors, memorial tombs and beaches and is laced with many small coves, lush forests and streams which make it frequent destination for Blue Voyages.

Throughout history, this unique landscape attracted numerous warriors, kings, and heroes. Mark Anthony of the Roman Empire chose Turkish Riviera as the most beautiful wedding gift for his beloved Cleopatra of Egypt.^[1] Moreover, Turkish Riviera is the birth place of some of the most important figures of history. St. Nicholas, later known as Santa Claus, was born in Demre (ancient Myra), a small town close to Antalya.^[2] Herodotus, accepted as the father of history, was born in Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) in ca. 484 BC.^[3] In the mountains to the west of Antalya is the Chimera the firebreathing monster that the hero Bellerophon slew. Behind Antalya are the bay trees of the gardens of Daphne where the nymph was turned into a bay tree by Zeus to escape the amorous advances of Apollo.^[4]

It is said that Turkey has more Greek monuments than Greece and more Roman sites than Italy. Also two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are located in the Turkish Riviera. The ruins of the Mausoleum of Maussollos in Halicarnassus and the columns of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus can still be seen today.^[5]

Contents 1 Communities 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 Notes

[edit] Communities

Many villages and towns in the area are internationally known, such as Antalya, Alanya, Bodrum, Fethiye and Marmaris.

Places on the Turkish Riviera include:

[edit] Gallery

thumb|View of Ölüdeniz near Fethiye	thumb|Beaches and marina of Kemer near Antalya	Ancient Lycian tombs in Simena	View of Kekova
Beaches of Marmaris	Katrancı Bay near Fethiye	The historic marina of Antalya	Stone carving of Medusa in Didim
Exterior walls of the ancient theatre in Side	Roman theatre in Demre, where St. Nicholas lived	Olympos	Historic houses of Çeşme
Port of Foça, home of the Mediterranean Monk Seal	Kaputaş Beach between Kaş and Kalkan

Panoramic view of Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, the city of Herodotus and the home of the Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Panoramic view of Alanya, inhabited since the Hittites and the medieval homeport of the Seljuk naval forces, famous today for its natural beauty and historic monuments

[edit] See also

• Blue Cruise
• Tourism in Turkey
• French Riviera
• Italian Riviera
• The article Riviera provides links to articles on the many coastal strips around the world which are known as Riviera.

[edit] Notes