Patara Ancient City

Patara Ancient City is located between Fethiye and Kalkan, at the southwest end of the Xanthos Valley, in today's Ovageleş Village, and is one of the most important and oldest cities of Lycia.

Famous thinker Montesquieu, in his book The Spirit of Laws, showed the Lycian League's form of government as "the most perfect example of a republic". The magnificent parliament building of the capital, Patara, enabled the implementation of this first 'most perfect' form of government known in history.

Patara is one of the eye-catching destinations of Antalya with its ancient city and 18 km of magnificent beach. It is located in today's Gelemis Village, between Fethiye and Kalkan, approximately 42 km from Antalya's Kaş district. Patara, also known as Lycia in ancient times, is a Lycian port city located in the southwest of the Teke peninsula, west of Antalya, and east of the Xanthos River (Eşen Stream). Fascinating visitors with its natural beauty, Patara also stands out with its archaeological values. The ancient city, which draws attention with its eye-catching architecture, is spread over a wide area on the east side of the harbor. It is known that the famous historian Herodotus first mentioned Patara, which is famous as the birthplace of the god Apollo. In the researches, the name of the city is mentioned as Patar in the Hittite texts of the 13th century BC. It has continued to be an important city throughout history, as it is the only place to sail in the Xanthos Valley.

There are Lycian Type Roman Period Tomb Monuments at the entrance of the city. The triumphal arch welcomes you with its impressive architecture consisting of three eyes. The evidences of the Hurmalık Bath and the three-naved Harbor Church are worth seeing. The Road Guide stands out among the impressive works of Patara. Archaeologists state that this is the oldest and most comprehensive road sign of the world's highways and shows the distance between Lycian cities. It is understood from the inscriptions that the theater leaning on Kurşunlu Tepe at the southernmost tip of the city was rebuilt in 147 AD after the earthquake. Kurşunlu Tepe, on which the theater leans, is the most beautiful corner from which the general view of the city can be watched. The Vespasian Bath, whose construction date is stated as 69-79 AD, reflects the characteristics of the period. When you follow the path next to the historical bath, Patara's marble-paved Main Street draws attention. The granary (granarium) behind the swamp in the northwest of the hill is one of the monumental structures of Patara that has survived, and it was built by Emperor Hadrian and his wife Sabina in the 2nd century AD. To the north of the theater is the Parliament Building, where Patara, the capital of the Lycian League, hosted meetings. The Byzantine Castle, which is among the important structures of the period, displays its majesty with its wide walls located beyond the street. The Corinthian Temple to the east of the castle and the Byzantine Church to the west are other places you can see on your journey in the ancient city. The water of the city was brought from the rock on the slope of Kızıltepe, near the village of Islamlar, about 20 kilometers northeast. Between the source and the city, north of the Fırnaz pier; The section called “Delik Kemer” in the neighborhood is the most monumental part of the waterways. The magnificent Patara Theater, which was hidden by the sands for years, was cleaned from the sands as a result of archaeological studies and met with the visitors. With a capacity of approximately 10.000 people, BC. It was built in the 2nd century.

Patara, which is one of the most important cities of not only Lycia but also Anatolia in the three-hundred-year history of the Roman Empire, continued its urban existence uninterruptedly during the transition to the Eastern Roman Period (Byzantine Period). It has resisted the ravages of time and is admired by all who visit it. Also, Patara, known as Santa Claus in the world, is referred to as "the city of Patere, where St. Nicholas was born". Patara and the Lycian union continue to be a source of inspiration and motivation for people and states regarding how a better future can be today, with its close relationship with nature, its people enriched by culture and trade, and its democratic structure and ideals.