Turkish Riviera

The Turkish Riviera (also known as "The Turquoise Coast") is a popular term used to define an area of southwest Turkey encompassing Antalya, Muğla and to a lesser extent Aydın and İzmir provinces. The combination of a favorable climate, warm sea, and abundant natural and archeological points of interest makes this stretch of Turkey’s coastline a popular tourist destination. The region is known for pleasant climate conditions, including more than a thousand kilometers of shoreline along the Mediterranean Sea, and a host of archaeological and natural riches. The Turkish Riviera is strewn with ancient cities and harbors, memorial tombs and beaches and is laced with many small coves, lush forests and streams which make it frequent destination for Blue Voyages.

Throughout history, this unique landscape attracted numerous warriors, kings, and heroes. Mark Anthony of the Roman Empire chose Turkish Riviera as the most beautiful wedding gift for his beloved Cleopatra of Egypt. [ [http://www.myturkiye.info/english/turkey_regions_turkey_the_mediterranean_1.html The Mediterranean Region of Turkey] ] The Turkish Riviera is the birth place of some of the most important figures of history. St. Nicholas, later known as Santa Claus, was born in Demre (ancient Myra), a small town close to Antalya. [ [http://www.santas.net/stnicholas.htm St. Nicholas at Santa's Net] ] Herodotus, accepted as the father of history, was born in Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) in ca. 484 BC. [ [http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b2herodotus.htm Herodotus] ] In the mountains to the west of Antalya is the Chimera the firebreathing monster that the hero Bellerophon slew. Behind Antalya are the bay trees of the gardens of Daphne where the nymph was turned into a bay tree by Zeus to escape the amorous advances of Apollo. [ [http://www.myturkiye.info/english/turkey_regions_turkey_the_mediterranean_1.html The Mediterranean Region of Turkey] ]

In the mountains to the west of Antalya is the Chimera the firebreathing monster that the hero Bellerophon slew. Behind Antalya are the bay trees of the gardens of Daphne where the nymph was turned into a bay tree by Zeus to escape the amorous advances of Apollo. [ [http://www.myturkiye.info/english/turkey_regions_turkey_the_mediterranean_1.html The Mediterranean Region of Turkey] ]

Also two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are located in the Turkish Riviera. The ruins of the Mausoleum of Maussollos in Halicarnassus and the columns of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus can still be seen today. [ [http://www.sevenwondersworld.com/ Seven Wonders of the World - Ancient Times] ]

Communities and settlements

Many villages and towns in the area are internationally known, such as Alanya, Antalya, Bodrum, Çeşme, Fethiye, Kalkan, Kaş, Kemer, Kuşadası and Marmaris.

Places on the Turkish Riviera include:
* Adabükü
* Adrasan
* Akbük
* Aksaz
* Akyaka
* Akyarlar
* Alaçatı
* Alanya
* Antalya
* Armutalan
* Aslanbucak
* Bağla
* Beldibi
* Belek
* Beycik
* Bitez
* Bodrum
* Bozburun
* Çamköy
* Çamyuva
* Çayova
* Çeşme
* Çıralı
* Çiftlik
* Dalaman
* Dalyan
* Datça
* Demre
* Didim
* Emecik
* Eşen
* Fethiye
* Finike
* Foça
* Gazipaşa
* Göcek
* Gökova
* Gömbe
* Göynük
* Gümüşlük
* Gündoğan
* Güvercinlik
* Güzelçamlı
* Hisarönü
* Ilıca
* İçmeler
* Kabak
* Kalkan
* Karadere
* Kaş
* Katrancı
* Kekova
* Kemer
* Kızkumu
* Kiriş
* Kumluova
* Kuşadası
* Kuzdere
* Konyaaltı
* Köyceğiz
* Lara
* Manavgat
* Marmaris
* Milas
* Muğla
* Olympos
* Ortaca
* Ovacık
* Ölüdeniz
* Ören
* Özdere
* Patara
* Seki
* Selimiye
* Side
* Simena
* Söğüt
* Tekirova
* Torba
* Turgutreis
* Turnalı
* Turunç
* Türkbükü
* Ulupınar
* Yalıkavak

Image gallery

wide image|BodrumPano.jpg|1000px|
Panoramic view of Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, the city of Herodotus and the home of the Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

wide image|Alanya Panorama.jpg|1000px|
Panoramic view of Alanya, inhabited since the Hittites and the medieval homeport of the Seljuk naval forces, famous today for its natural beauty and historic monuments

ee also

* Blue Cruise
* Tourism in Turkey
* Foreign purchases of real estate in Turkey
* French Riviera
* Italian Riviera
* The article Riviera provides links to articles on the many coastal strips around the world which are known as Riviera.

Notes