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ALL TURKEY TOURS |
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INFORMATION |
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SIMENA;
From inscriptions that have been found, we know that the
history of the ancient city of Simena goes back to the 4th
century B.C. If we go ashore via the jetty next to the
sarcophagus on the seashore and climb the hill behind the
houses, we reach the castle of Simena. This castle was used
during the Middle Ages. In the medieval walls of the inner
keep are a few blocks of all that remains of ancient temple.
Inside the castle is a small natural theater carved into the
rock. This is the smallest of theaters among the cities of
Lycia. West of the theater there are rock tombs here and
there. Above the rock tombs is a Roman wall built of dressed
stone and located on the wall are late-period embrasures
thus giving one a glimpse of three eras simultaneously. On
the shore are the ruins of public baths whose inscription is
still legible and reads "A gift to the emperor Titus made by
the people and council of Aperlai as well as by the other
cities of the confederation".
Looking from the castle towards Üçağız it becomes clear how beautiful and
safe a natural harbor this really is. Simena (or Kalekoy,
its present-day name) is only a temporary shelter however.
The actual shelter for yachts is Theimiussa (Üçağız), a
landlocked bay sunounded by green hills. There is a road
overland that leads here. The ruins of the ancient city of
Theimussa are located here. Very little is known about the
history of the city however. One inscription indicates that
its history goes back to the 4th century B.C. One sees
mostly the ruins of a necropolis here and no city walls or
other major structures have been encountered. The oldest
sarcophagus is from the 4th century B.C. and is shaped like
a house. Over it is the nude portrait of a young man. The
inscription tells us that it belongs to "Kluwanimi". The
work is Roman and a later addition to the sarcophagus.
One may reach Kekova overland from Demre Çayagzi as well as
in boats that you can rent at Kas. After leaving Kekova we
pass Kisneli Island and Asirli Island and come to Gökkaya
harbor. Gökkaya is a beautiful bay and a fine harbor. One
the way is a big sea cave that was used at one time by
pirates. From here one comes to Çayagzi, also called Kokar
bay, alongside of which are the ruins of Andraki. There are
restaurants and souvenir shops here. From here, one may take
a car to Myra, the city of St Nicholas, which is quite
close. This is also a place from which one may visit other
Lycian cities as Isinda at Belenli, Apollonia at Kilinçli,
Istlada at Kapakli,Kyaenai at Yavu, and Trysa and Sura at
Gölbasi. The area is also filled with thousands of Lycian
sarcophagi lying everywhere
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