The Turkish Riviera (Turkish: Türk Rivierası), also known popularly as the Turquoise Coast, is an area of southwest Turkey encompassing the provinces of Antalya and Muğla, and to a lesser extent Aydın, southern İzmir and western Mersin. The combination of a favorable climate, warm sea, mountainous scenery, fine beaches along more than a 1,000 km (620 mi) of shoreline along the Mediterranean and Aegean waters, and abundant natural and archaeological points of interest makes this stretch of Turkey's coastline a popular national and international tourist destination.
Among the archaeological points of interest are two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The ruins of the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus; and the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus.
The Turkish Riviera is also the home of the internationally known (Blue Voyage) (a.k.a. Carian Cruise), which allows participants to take a week-long trip aboard the local (gulet) schooners to ancient cities, harbors, tombs, mausolea, and beaches in the small coves, forests, and streams that are on the Turquoise Coast.
The coastline is regarded as a cultural trove that provides background on a fascinating mixture of factual and mythological individuals, conflicts and events, and has frequently been referred to in the folklore of various cultures throughout history. As such, it is regarded as the home of scholars, saints, warriors, kings, and heroes, as well as the site of numerous well-known myths. Mark Antony of the Roman Republic is said to have picked the Turkish Riviera as the most beautiful wedding gift for his beloved Cleopatra of Egypt.Saint Nicholas, who later became the basis of the Santa Claus legend, was born in (Patara), a small town close to present-day Demre.Herodotus, regarded as the "father of History", was born in Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) in c. 484 BC. The volcanic mountains to the west of Antalya, near (Dalyan), are believed to have been the inspiration for the mythical Chimera — the fire-breathing monster that Bellerophon slew.
Communities and settlements
Many cities, towns and villages in the area are internationally known, such as Alanya, Antalya, Belek, Bodrum, Çeşme, Didim, Fethiye, (Kalkan), (Kaş), (Kemer), Kuşadası, Marmaris, and Side.
Notable places on the Turkish Riviera include:
Gallery
- Typical architecture of (Alaçatı)
- (Castle) and harbour of Alanya
- Tip of the Alanya peninsula
- (Yivli Minaret Mosque), near the Gulf of Antalya
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- (Castle) of Çeşme
- View of the Fethiye coast
- Roman theatre in Demre, where (St. Nicholas) lived
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- (Butterfly Valley), Fethiye
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- Cape Gelidonya near (Finike) is the site of the wreck of a Phoenician merchant ship from about 1200 BC
- Port of (Foça), home of the (Mediterranean monk seal)
- Traditional two-masted gulet schooner visiting a cove in (Gökova) as part of the (Blue Cruise)
- Ancient sites of (Kaleköy) (or Simena)
- A street in (Kaş) with traditional houses and a Lycian tomb in the background
- Beach and marina of (Kemer)
- Moonlight Beach in (Kemer)
- A view of (Güvercinada) island, Kuşadası
- (Manavgat) waterfall
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- Karaca in Marmaris
- Olympos Beach
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- Ancient ruins in (Patara)
- The ruins of the Temple of Apollo, near Side
- Exterior walls of the ancient theatre in Side
- Lycian tombs in (Simena)
See also
- French Riviera
- (The Blue Voyage)
- (Marinas in Turkey)
- (Tourism in Turkey)
- (Foreign purchases of real estate in Turkey)
- (Riviera (disambiguation))
Notes
- The Mediterranean Region of Turkey ; at web.archive.org. November 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- "St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and Archbishop of Myra in Lycia". oca.org. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
- . Archived from the original on 14 November 2007. Retrieved 13 May 2017.