Marmaris and Side, Turkey

Marmaris (Turkey)

A picturesque old town and a beautiful one Harborare in Marmaris, a former fishing village with one of the most charming areas on the south coast of Turkey.

In 1798 the anchored here British Fleet under Admiral Nelson. Marmaris was once the Doric city of Physkos, an allied city to Lindos and part of the island state of Rhodes. ManygreekTrains on the houses are a reminder of this time.

Today Marmaris is an extremely lively and popular place with tourists with a large marina. A bay, which is surrounded by oleander bushes, pine and pine forests, also makes the place attractive. The beach promenade directly at the harbor takes up the entire length of the city. The city on the Aegean Sea is about 60 km south of the provincial capital Mu? La. Particularly enthusiastic sailors will feel very comfortable in Marmaris, the Netsel Marina can fulfill almost all wishes. Marmaris can also be the starting point for a luxury cruise. The Yacht Festival in Marmaris has been celebrated every year in May for over 20 years, which is certainly a must for boat enthusiasts.

The Marmaris Kalesi is well worth seeing. A medieval fort from 1522. It was built under the rule of Süleyman the Magnificent and extensively restored in 1985. Today the castle houses a museum with a collection on maritime history. In the courtyard of the fort there is a small exhibition with sculptures and inscriptions, and from here you can also enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the harbor and the city.

The old town with its half-timbered houses is laid out around the castle and is the most beautiful and picturesque part of Marmaris. Many of the Greek houses that were derelict or empty have been restored to the original plans.

Those who like to go shopping can buy nice things in Marmaris at the bazaar on the south or west coast. In addition to the usual souvenirs, there are fine carpets, jewelry, leather goods or the best honey in Turkey, including some unusual varieties such as thyme or pine honey.

Bars and pubs can be found in the “Street of Bars” (Hací Mustafa Soka? I), there are also a few hotels and guest houses here. However, due to the many restaurants, it is certainly very noisy.

You can make a nice day trip from Marmaris to the Datça peninsula, which is particularly beautiful in spring when the almond blossom. About six kilometers from Marmaris is? Çmeler, there are some holiday villages here.

The destination airport for a trip to Marmaris is Dalaman, which is about an hour away by car. Marmaris can also be reached by bus from most of the larger cities.

From Marmaris it is also possible to take the ferry to the Greek island of Rhodes, the crossing takes about two hours by normal ship, but the excursion is definitely worth it.

Side in Turkey

The Turkish city of Side is located on the Turkish Riviera and connects one ancient ruins with a modern tourist center. Side is located on the south coast, about an hour’s drive from Antalya. The place is closed to cars on most beautiful side and is certainly in spring or late autumn.

Around 1,000 BC The Side peninsula was already settled in the 7th century BC. Chr. Have Greek settlers from Kyme settled here and created a port of a small peninsula on the Gulf of Antalya. During the Roman period, Side developed into a well-known and flourishing port city. Many Muslims from Crete settled in Side around 1920.

The best way to get to know the city is probably on a walking tour. There is a road into town that leads to the city ​​walls (only about 500 meters from modern Side). Here you can find the remains of an ancient colonnaded street and you can visit the almost square agora, once the site of a slave market. The city also got rich from the slave trade. Also of interest are the remains of a public latrine, which, with its 24 seats, gives the feeling of how the Romans valued community life.

The Side Archaeological Museum has a collection of statues from localities. The museum is housed in the Roman thermal baths, which can be reached via the road from Agora.

Also the old city ​​gate and the mighty theater are worth seeing. The latter has a free-standing arena and is therefore an extremely unusual structure, because in the past the Roman and Greek theaters were always built on the slope of a hill. At that time there was space for around 15,000 spectators in 49 tiers. In the event of a collapse, considerable parts of the grandstand were destroyed, but the remarkable Roman architecture can still be seen in the ruins.

A visit to the Temple of Athena and Apollo and the theater is a special attraction, especially when it is dark. The ruins are illuminated with floodlights and therefore look all the more impressive, and from here you have a great view over the Gulf of Antalya.

A well thought out and impressive water distribution system was laid out by the Romans. An aqueduct about 30 kilometers long fed the water from today’s Manavgat River and passed it on to the houses.

Of course, Side is also ideal for a beach holiday. Side has a number of beautiful sandy beaches and is one of the most important seaside resorts on the Turkish Riviera.

The closer surroundings of Side can also be attractive. During a detour to the small town of Manavgat, which is about 8 km northeast, you can see the waterfalls of the same name, which is certainly a worthwhile visit.

Marmaris (Turkey)