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06:15 Kundu
07:15 Departure
· Rest stop near the valley of Olympos
· Visiting the Lycian Rock Tombs and the Antique Theater
· Visiting The Church of St. Nicholas
· Lunch Break
· Kekova – Simena Boat tour starting at Üç Agiz
· Swimming at the Dockyard Bay
19:15 Return to Antalya
and transfer to Hotel
KEKOVA & SIMENA
If you are looking for the crystal clear sea, shades of
blue in the sky and in the water, endless small bays for
swimming, castles, the ancient ruins on land and in the
sea, sarcophagus’ all around the land and the sea, the
fisherman villages and countless other beauties that can
not be listed here; The answer is KEKOVA; a feast for
the eye to behold The name of the island of Kekova is
now used as the general name of all the sites in the
same bay. It is easily seen that the whole area had been
heavily populated in the antiquity from the ruins and
other artifacts lying about. Now, it is one of the most
attractive picturesque yacht / boat tour locations. Boat
tours start from Çayagzi (Andriace; the ancient harbor
of Myra), Üçagiz (Teimiussa) or Kas (Antiphellos). Where
ever they start, you sail along the Kekova Island and
zigzag across the blue waters between the land and the
island, around the small peninsulas and in and out of
beautiful bays. Throughout the area often there are
structures half under the water as a result of the earth
quakes. This has caused it to be called the Sunken City.
Indeed one comes across houses, temples, staircases,
half under the water as you cruise along the coast of
the island and of the mainland land. The fisherman
village of Kale (Simena in the antiquity) with its
citadel, of which some of the walls are from the
Hellenistic period, at the top, like a crown, It reminds
one of the times that you could not do without a castle
to protect you and also how lively this now remote
village was in the past. It also gives a view of the
region in all directions, the sea, and mountains, the
island and so on, that no method of recording; a photo,
picture or drawing can give enough credit to, compared
to what you can see with your own eyes. It also includes
the most unique theater ever, as small as it is, but the
seats are totally carved out of the rock. The village
itself is living at present but side by side with
history, new and old – a Lycian Sarcophagus in the
garden, or the house resting on the Hellenistic walls.
Üçagiz (Teimiussa) is further to west and other than the
citadel, almost everything is also true for this village
too. That may be because it was a village in history as
well. It has none of the public buildings or any
prominent house either. But it has a vast necropolis
from the Lycian, Hellenistic and Roman periods. One can
only try to reflect only some of the beauty of this area.
You must see it for yourselves.
MYRA
Myra was one of the six prominent cities of Lycia, the
tekke peninsula today. Lycia and the Lycians are not
well known by many people. They were the oldest local
settlers in the area that we know of. They were tough
fighters and one of the very first people we know of, to
form a league of city states, the Lycian League, to
defend themselves against the invaders. It has been an
important city during the Roman period and a very
important city during the early Christian and Byzantium
period. The ship carrying the captive St. Paul went via
Myra to Rome and St. Nicholas was a bishop here in the
4th C AD. The inhabitants moved out about 7th century
due to earthquakes and the silting of the harbor by the
river Myrus. There is a good collection of rock tombs
which represent characteristics of the Lycian culture at
Myra along with the Roman Theater and the Church of St.
Nicholas. The numerous rock tombs give us very important
clues of what the Lycian houses and monuments looked
like. For example even though they are carved out of
rock they reflect wooden beams, doors, windows and many
other aspects of Lycian buildings. The Lycian
sarcophagus’ and other tombs are also very unique and
characteristic of the region and of the people. The
Roman Theater is in fairly good condition. The center of
the cavea rests on the rock. The stage building is in
good condition. The architectural elements from the
theater including the stone masks that lie all around
inside and outside the theater. The rock tombs, the
theater, the local present day life and the castle on
the mountain all together offer a good picture of the
old and the new side by side.
ST.
NICOLAS CHURCH
The church of St. Nicholas, now in the center of what is
now called Kale, was probably built in the 3rd or 4th
century. Now it reflects many alterations and it has
been restored. Nevertheless, it is toured by many
visitors from all nations and religions from all over
the world that has come to see the church of St.
Nicholas. St. Nicholas was born in Patara c 300 AD. He
was from a wealthy family was said to have traveled to
Palestine and Egypt. He was regarded as the patron saint
of Greece, Russia, children, prisoners and travelers. By
the late middle ages, 400 churches were dedicated to him
in England alone. Santa Claus, of the children, was
indeed running to the aid of those who were in need
through out his life. His statue, with the bag of
presents for the children and in company of the children,
in the garden of the museum/church, now greets all.
There are too many myths to relate about him but it is
known that he was very influential in the early and
medieval church. Myra with the church of St. Nicholas,
the Roman ruins, by being near Kekova and other sites is
an attractive place to visit. Indeed you can see
visitors of all nationalities throughout the day. |
