|
DAY
1 - ANTALYA
Arrival at Antalya airport, meeting and
escort to hotel for welcome cocktail and
briefing. Following lunch, we will visit
the Archaeological Museum in Antalya and
the Old Harbor with its narrow streets
and whitewashed houses.
Return to hotel (L,D).
DAY
2 - ANTALYA
Today we will visit the three sights Perge,
Aspendus and Side. In Perge, highlights
will be the Stadium, the Agora, city walls
and the theater, dating from the 2nd century
A. D. in Greek style. The balustrade surrounding
the orchestra and the skene bear the characteristics
of the
Roman period. The building held and audience
of 15.000 in an auditorium divided into
12 sections by 13 flights of steps. The
skene facade was decorated with relieves.
The city gates of Perge flanked by two
Hellenistic towers, the portal leads into
a horse -shoe shaped courtyard. During
the 4th century A. D.,a second gate was
added to the main portal as further reinforcement.
A large number of statues were found in
the portal court, which is 92 m. in length,
and are now in the Museum of Antalya.
Perge is also very important because of
St. Paul preached after arriving from
Cyprus. Our second stop will be the Aspendus
which has one of the best-preserved theaters
in Anatolia. The theater was constructed
by the architect Zeno, during the reign
of Marcus Aurelius (161 - 180 A. D.) and
dedicated by Curtius Gripinus and Auspicatus
to the deities of the city and the throne
of the emperor, according to the inscription
on the lentil of the portal. Fine dressed
stone resembles a fortress on the exterior,
possesses a double diazoma and a columned
promenade behind the upper row of the
auditorium. The other highlights will
be the Nymphaeum and the Odeon. Highlights
will be the Temples of Athena and Apollo
and the Theater in our third and last
stop at Side. We will drive to Manavgat
to take a little rest watching the waters
of Manavgat fall.
Return to hotel (B,L,D).
DAY
3 - KAŞ (ANCIENT ANTIPHELLOS)
Following breakfast, we will drive to
south and stop at ancient cities of Phaselis
and Myra. The ruins of Phaselis, largely
covered by rich vegetation, may be considered
among the most picturesque ancient remains
of Turkey. The city was founded by colonists
from Rhodes at the beginning of the 6th
century B. C. Highlights are the fine
Paved Street connected two harbors, gateway
which was erected in honor of Hadrian's
visit, the Theater and the Agora. Our
second stop Myra (present day Demre) contains
the famous Church of St. Nicholas. It
consists of a Byzantine structure with
three apses and a basilica restored in
the 11th century A. D. The basilica is
preceded by an atrium and a double narthex.
A sarcophagus, believed to be the tomb
of St. Nicholas, is early Christian in
date. The lid, dating from the Roman peiod,
which bears two recumbant figures, does
not belong to this sarcophagus. The cupola
which covers the Eastern part of the nave
of the basilica was adorned with frescoes;
figures of the apostles are still visible.
Myra was one of the earliest Lycian cities.
The ruins and necropolis are a few km.
to the north of Demre. The rock-cut Lycian
tombs of Myra are among the most fascinating
historical remains of Turkey. These rock-cut
tombs and sarcophagi, together with accompanying
high relieves, date from the 4th century
B. C. The Roman theater, built to the
rock tombs is in a very good state of
preservation. Continue driving for dinner
and overnight in Kaş which is a small
fishing village (B, L, D).
DAY
4 - FETHİYE (ANCIENT TELMESSOS)
Following early breakfast, we will visit
the small theater dominating the landscape
is of the Greek type. This splendidly
preserved structure, with its beautiful
ashlar masonry, must also have been erected
in the Hellenistic period. We also will
see well-preserved Lycian tombs in the
city and around. On the way to Fethiye
today, we will visit the three ancient
cities. Patara, Letoon and Xanthos.
Although today it is a sleepy little village,
Patara was one of ancient Lycia's six
major cities and later served as headquarters
for the local Roman Governor. In the Greek
era the oracle of Apollo was situated
here. Highlights are the famous Roman
Triumphal Arch from the 1st century A.
D., a Roman Bath, an Amphitheater and
distinctive Lycian tombs with their odd
roof-shaped tops. History aside Patara
has 18 km. of glorious white sand beach
offering safe bathing in the clear blue
Mediterranean. Letoon was situated on
the west bank of the River Xanthos, the
Lycian Federative Sanctuary. Highlights
will be the Sanctuary, the Nymphaion and
the small church dating from the 4th century
A. D. The ruins of Xanthos are among the
most attractive ancient remains of Turkey.
It was a principal city of Lycia. Highlights
are the Agora, the plaster casts of Harpy
Tomb (the original slabs were removed
to the British Museum) and the Theater.
Continue to our drive and check-in hotel
for dinner and overnight at Fethiye (B,
L, D).
DAY
5 - TRANSFER
We will have a city tour in the morning
to see some beautiful Lycian tombs of
the Greek type. A well-preserved Lycian
tomb of the Sarcophagus type with a handsome
pointed arch, that is particularly worth
seeing. After a brief tour in Fethiye,
we will drive to Dalaman Airport. On the
way, we will stop at Göcek for lunch (B,
L). |
