Moving on is what one does on a tour. It amazes me that I used to lead these. It is much better to be a passenger and look out the window.
After we left the ruins at Ephesus we started to head to the junction of the Agean and Mediterranean Seas. The next few days found us on the Mediterranean Coast. The water is so blue and the sky is so blue and all the limestone formations made the colors more vivid.
Riding across the Taurus Mountains to arrive at the Sea.
The Mediterranean Sea
We stayed in the town of Kas for two nights.
One afternoon we went to a “ghost town” The Ghost Town Kayakoy village in Turkey stretches along the hillside. In the XVIII century Greeks arrived here from Dodecanese Islands and founded a town here , it’s name was Levissi. In this quite a large town with about 3.500 homes the Greeks lived for centuries. In 1923 when the city had about 6,000 Greeks the “population exchange” was started between Greece and Turkey the Greeks were forced to leave the town. Kaykoy Ghost Town in Turkey was recognized as one of the World TOP 10 Ghost Towns according to National Geographic – a world leader in geography, cartography and exploration.
Following the Kayakoy history after the departure of the Greeks the Levissi city was renamed in a Kayakoy by name of a nearby valley – Kaya Cukuru (pothole from Turkish) and vacant houses were populated with Muslims that came from Macedonia. However the Macedonians did not like Kayakoy Turkey and they left the village – Kayakoy village became the largest abandoned Greek village of Asia Minor and it is called Kayakoy Ghost Town or Kayakoy Village.
Now Kayakoy Ghost Town in Turkey is open-air museum with about 500 preserved houses and three churches
Kayykoy
Upon Arrival in Kas we had a chance to see a small Hellenistic theater. Antiphellos was a small settlement and the port for Phellos, the much larger Lycian town further north in the hills. The small Hellenistic theatre, 500m west of Kaş’ main square, could seat 4000 spectators and is in good condition. It was built in the 1st century BC and restored 300 years later, probably after the great 141 AD earthquake. There’s a good view of Kaş from the top tier of seating.
Finally we had a full day on the water. After a beautiful drive through the mountains we arrived at a small village on the Mediterranean Sea. We boarded a boat and went to explore more ruins and go swimming in the most beautiufl blue water I ahve yet to see.
This area also had the ruins of a city that sunk into the sea after several earthquakes.
Located along Turkey’s stunning Mediterranean coast, the Sunken City of Kekova offers a unique glimpse into the past, where history and nature beautifully intertwine. Originally built on Kekova Island, this ancient city was a thriving harbor town before it met a tragic fate. Earthquakes and invasions led to the submersion of much of the city, leaving behind a fascinating underwater site.
Dolchiste: A Glimpse into the Past
Once a modestly bustling harbor town, Dolchiste was home to shipbuilders, merchants, and fish sauce producers. In the 2nd century, a massive earthquake struck, submerging much of the town into the sea. Though the city was rebuilt, it was abandoned after Arab invasions. What remains today is a fascinating blend of submerged and terrestrial ruins, collectively known as the Sunken City of Kekova.
The Sunken City Today
The day ended with a climb to a castle, where the view was stunning. There were tombs and sarcophagi scattered among the hills
Simena Castle, also known by its Turkish name ‘Kalekoy’ meaning ‘castle village’, is located on Turkey’s stunning Mediterranean coast in the Kekova Region between the modern town of Kasand Antalya, the province’s capital city. Once a notable Lycian settlement, the castle remains largely intact upon a hill overlooking the Gokkaya bay. Villagers have made their homes on one side of the ancient site and a handful of local restaurants can be found next to a small harbour, offering the daily seafood catches. It’s an interesting mix of old and new as locals have managed to build their modern lives while still maintaining the rich historical sites. To the west a series of rock-cut tombs are scattered across the slopes of the castle, you can walk down from Simena Castle and take a look inside.
Today I am leaving the coast and we are driving into another area of Turkey, Cappadocia.
I will see you all soon. Next post coming up. Wait for it.
A final pic of the day.
