What You Need to Know About Patara Ancient City

The year 2020 was declared as the year of Patara. Things to know about Patara Ancient City.

Patara, one of the 16 cities of the Lycian Union that has the right to vote, is among the cities surrounded by Alexander the Great. It is stated in the mythological stories that Patara was founded by Paturus, the son of Apollo, along with the nymph Lykia. Saint Nicholas, known as Santa Claus, is also said to be from Patara. Patara, which was an important trade center during the Romans, continued this importance in the Byzantines period. Patara Beach, located on the beach of Patara Ancient City, offers a magnificent experience to its visitors with its historical and cultural heritage.

In the Hittite texts of the 13th century BC, the name of the city is mentioned as Patar. While the ceramic fragments uncovered in the Tepecik Acropolis contain Middle Bronze Age features, the stone ax dating back to the pre-Iron Age, discovered on the skirts of Tepecik, shows how old Patara's history has gone. Patara, which has continued to be an important city throughout the history since it is the only place in the Xanthos Valley that can sail, has been named as Patara in the inscriptions and coins in the Lycian language.

Patara BC It became the leading city of Lycia when it was ruled by Ptolemy in the 3rd century.

BC With the beginning of Lycia being controlled by the Seleucid Kingdom at the beginning of the 2nd century, Patara was accepted as the capital of Lycia. This situation became official in 167/168 BC when Patara gained autonomy against Rome and independence against Rhodos and became the capital of the Lycian League of Patara. Monumental buildings such as the Parliament Building and the Theater, which were built in the capital during the Hellenistic Period, are in parallel with this historical process.

According to the Legend

Poseidon, the God of seas, storms and high waters, was very angry with the Lycians someday. He was so angry that he started to blow waves and rains on Patara every time he blows. Poseidon hasn't stopped for days, weeks. The prayers, offerings, and spells of the Patara people who are in fear, regret and anxiety are in vain. In the end, the city's great prophets gathered and decided: All the women of Lycia would fill the beach to be united, and they would undress against God Poseidon... Lycian women gathered on this beach and started to undress against the waves. And Poseidon was embarrassed, suddenly everywhere covered with silence. Neither vicious waves nor sandstorms… Combative waves never came to Patara beach again.

Continuing its importance throughout 4 medieval times, Patara has also reached today as an important center with the arrival of the Turks. The entrance to the city, to the ruins of today, takes place in the magnificent and well-preserved Roman victory arch. On the slopes of the hill to the west of arch, there is a cemetery area with Lycian type sarcophagi. Other ruins of the city; Vespasian Bath, Corinthian Temple, main street, port and granary can be easily observed.

The granary behind the marshland (granarium) on the northwest of the hill is one of the monumental structures of Patara that has survived to the present day. It was built in the 2nd century AC. To the north of the theater is the Parliament Building, where Patara, the capital of the Lycian Union, hosts meetings. The water of the city was brought from the rock on the Kızıltepe slope, near the Islamlar Village, about 20 kilometers northeast. Between the water source and the city, to the north of the Fırnaz pier; The section called "Hole Arch" is the most monumental part of the waterways.

Not only in Turkey, all known as one of the world's most beautiful beach of Patara Beach, Gelemis of Antalya's Kaş district to the west of the village is located on the borders. 

Patara Beach, which has a length of about 18 kilometers, takes its name from the ancient city of Patara.

Patara Beach is located 15 kilometers from Kalkan. You can reach Patara Beach by using the D400 highway.

You can easily reach Patara Beach, which is 45 kilometers from Kas, 81 kilometers from Fethiye and 376 kilometers from Antalya, with your personal vehicle.

You can also get off at Ovaköy by buses that travel between Fethiye and Kaş, and you can reach Patara with a walk or taxi ride of approximately 3.5 kilometers.

Patara Beach is located in Patara Ancient City. For this reason, entrance fee to the museum is required when entering the beach.

If you have a museum card, you can enter for free. The daily entrance fee is 24 TL.

Completely naturally formed sand dunes add a unique atmosphere to Patara Beach. Especially at sunset, you will witness a view that you cannot see anywhere else on the dunes.

Patara Beach, one of the most important spawning areas of caretta caretta sea turtles, which are under the danger of extinction, is under protection by the Wildlife Conservation Foundation.

Patara Beach, which is used alternately between visitors and sea turtles between May 15th and September 15th, takes advantage of visitors between 08:00 and 19:00, and caretta carettas between 19:00 and 08:00. Using umbrellas and sun loungers in the spawning area of ​​the caretta caretta beach, entering the beach after 19:00, making noise is strictly forbidden and those who do not comply with the ban are punished with a fine.