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Karaöz – Adrasan

Because of the layout of the Lycian road sections, the Lycian road part shown in this section reaches the settlement of Karaöz from the coast and continues towards the cape in parallel fashion to the dirt road. This part is shown in Section 22. The Lycian road moves around the slope where the Gelidonia Lighthouse is located at further south and via the forest path, arrives at the settlement of Adrasan, as seen in Section 21 again. The Lycian road passes the Adrasan coast and moves upwards from the creek basin at the end of the coast.

Upon the asphalt road, at the point where the lodging houses and restaurants end over the creek basin, the Lycian road moves toward right and ascends in the direction of the Olympus settlement. The settlement of Adrasan is the only settlement within this section in which essential needs such as food, water, etc. can be met.

Mavikent – Karaöz

The entirety of the Lycian road within this section progresses on the coast in parallel fashion to the sea. On the coast, in the south of the Mavikent settlement, the settlement of Gagai and aqueducts can be seen. Even though the section legend includes markings indicating a grocery or settlement, it is highly probable for the settlements within this section, especially the ones on the coast, to be empty during the winter since these locations are generally inhabited during the summer for vacation purposes. Particularly, the stores for food and water can be accessed in the summer.

GAGAI

Gagai, which is located within borders of Mavikent Town in Kumluca District, Antalya Province, was established on the hill at north of the white limestone mound on the beach, the skirts of this hill and the plain in front of it. The name of the settlement is referred to as “Palaion, Teikhos or Old Castle” in ancients sources.

While most sources cite that the city’s name was derived from the word “ga” which meant “earth” in Doric, or that it was derived when a Rhodian commander named Nedius came into danger with his ship after winning a battle against Lycian and Cilician pirates and his crew shouted “ga ga” upon seeing the land, it is presumed that the name Gagai was derived from the word “hahha” which is spelled “gaxe” on coins with Lycian inscriptions and which is originated from old Anatolian languages.

Sahilkent – Hasyurt – Kumluca

The entirety of the Lycian road that is within this section progresses on the coast, parallel to the sea. If the travelers wish to do so, they can part from the Lycian path, follow the main road to the Kumluca district and visit the archaeological settlements of Rhodiapolis and Korydalla.

CORYDALLA

Corydalla, which is located in Hacıveliler Village, expands on two hills and their skirts. Corydalla was represented in the Lycian League together with Gagai and Rhodiapolis and even though it was not the largest of the three cities, it was the leader among the three.Most of the ruins, such as the remains of the theatre, which were identified in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, could not survive until our day. The most attention-drawing structures in Corydalla are the bathhouse, waterway, the cisterns on the Small Asar Hill and the Large Asar Hill, rock tombs and a mosaic tiled building of which the walls were built with meticulous workmanship. Rather than the structural remains in it, Corydalla is essentially known for its treasure, which was dug out after an illegal excavation, of which a part was smuggled abroad and which had a special place in the Byzantine metalworking art.

Bonda T. – Finike – Sahilkent

Two paths, coming from south and north, merge further up from the Bonda Hill and around the Dinek Hill. The combined path descends to the Finike district via patches of scrub and pine woods, sometimes intersecting with dirt roads opened for vehicles. While there are no set centers of population along the Lycian road, which will be following the coast for 20 kilometers after the district of Finike, there are some summer houses on the coast.

However, it can well be said that the most suitable location for acquiring food, water, accommodation, etc. is Finike. The archaeological settlement of Arycanda, which is one of the biggest in the region of Lycia, can be accessed after an approximately 1-hour journey with vehicles via the main road that goes north within Finike. If the Lycian road is continued to be followed through Finike, the archaeological settlement of Limyra can be visited after following the creek that goes north from the Sahilkent settlement for a few kilometers.

Subcategories

The Lycian way is a 509 km way-marked footpath around the coast of Lycia in southern Turkey, from Fethiye to Antalya. The Lycian Way is a coastal walk and mild temperatures mean it can be walked throughout the winter months.

According to the Sunday Times the Lycian Way is one of the ten most beautiful long distance hikes of the world.

The route is graded medium to hard; it is not level walking, but has many ascents and descents as it approaches and veers away from the sea. It is easier at the start near Fethiye and gets more difficult as it progresses. We recommend walking the route in spring or autumn; February-May or September-November; summer in Lycia is hot, although you could walk short, shady sections. The route is mainly over footpaths and mule trails; it is mostly over limestone and often hard and stony underfoot.

On the first part of the route, and in Patara, Kalkan, Kas, Myra, Finike, Adrasan, Olympos, Cirali and Tekirova, you can stay in pensions or small hotels. On other nights, you may stay in a village house, or camp out. There are plenty of camping places with nearby water mentioned in the book; you do not have to ask permission to camp out.

 

Highlights of the Lycian Way include:

# Spectacular walks on the slopes of Baba Dagi, beneath the flight path of the paragliders.

# Stunning descent to Faralya, above the cliffs of Butterfly Valley.

# The 12km long beach at Patara.

# Spectacular views over the coast from above Kas and Kalkan.

# The castle, harbour and sunken ruins at Ucagiz.

# The church of the Angel Gabriel in the hills above Myra

# A fabulous ridge top walk to Finike.

# Staying at the lighthouse at Cape Gelidonia.

# Climbing Mount Olympos - 2388m.

# Splashing in the canyon at Goynuk.

# And the ruins of hidden Lycian cities, the friendliness of the villagers, the quaint old houses in deserted corners, the deep forests and white rocks, and the blue Mediterranean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Teke peninsula, which is located between the Antalya and Fethiye gulfs in the Mediterranean region, was named as Lycia in ancient geography. The southern border of the region is its coast to the Mediterranean Sea, while its eastern, western and northern borders changed throughout the history. According to the ancient writers, Beydağları which start from the west of Antalya and extend to southwest, Akdağ range and their extension to the northwest defines the northern border of Lycia. In the famous epic poem Iliad, Homer states that the Lycians, which were commanded by Glaucus and Sarpedon, supported the Trojans against the Achaeans.


Lycia came under the dominance of the Persians after 545 BC and supported the fleet that was formed by the Persian King Xerxes for the conquest of Greece in 480 with 50 ships. The Persian occupation ended when Alexander the Great crossed the Bosphorus to Anatolia and defeated the Persians in 333 BC in the Battle of Granicus. After the death of Alexander the Great, Lycia came under the dominance of Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt, which descended from the general Ptolemy, from the year 309 BC for 100 years; this is known to be the period in which Lycian language was forgotten and replaced with Ancient Greek.

The region has been ruled by the Syrian King Antiochus III between the years of 197 BC and 167 BC. Lycia received its independence from the Roman Empire in 167 BC. During this period, 23 cities united and formed the Lycian League, of which the capital city was Xanthos. According to inscriptions and ancient coins the League had its monetary unit.

Strabo states that the six biggest cities of the Lycian League were Xanthos, Patara, Pinara, Olympus, Myra and Tlos. The Miliarium Lyciae, which is the map of the Lycian region with distance units and routes connecting the settlements, is the oldest road map known. During the Roman Empire period, the League did not lose its function and reached maximum level of prosperity during this time. The city populations were around 5,000 and the total population of the region was approximately 200,000. The borders were pushed further as to include Kaunos (Dalyan) in the northeast.

Around the middle of 5th century, there were 34 cities ruled by the Proconsul of the Lycian State. The region between Demre and Kaş was the most populated area in Lycia. The amount of settlements per kilometer is nearly 30 in this region. Introduction of Christianity to Lycians did not occur until the visit of St. Paulus to Myra and Patara at his third missionary journey between the years of 53 and 57. Methodius of Olympus was the first known bishop of Lycia and he was executed in 312. The Byzantine period between 4th and 7th centuries was the period in which Christianity was adopted and many churches were built in the region.

One of the most prominent changes that occurred during the said period was the start of monastery settlement constructions, especially in the mountainous areas of Demre. Monasteries were very important points of power which had influence on the economic and public life. The monastery life in Lycia started as early as the 5th century. The fact that many large churches were built during the 5th and 6th centuries indicates that the population of the region was very high during the said period.

Most of the Lycian coast is formed of rocky terrain. This type of topography has allowed for natural harbors to be shaped at some locations. Strabo has expressed that the Lycian coastline is rough and difficult to pass through, while the harbor is very well-equipped. Maritime trade, which existed in the region since the Bronze Age, became diversified in the following periods and lasted until the Roman and Byzantine Periods. Purple dye, cedar wood, olive oil, wine and sponges are the key goods that are produced in Lycia. According to ancient sources, high quality and soft sponges can be harvested at Antiphellus and the area surrounding it. In addition, the quality of the cedar wood in Lycia, which is used in shipbuilding is rather high as well.

The harbors in Lycia can be named as Idyros, Phaselis, Corycus, Olympus, Posidarisus, Melanippion, Gagae, Phoinikos, Andriaca, Simena, Teimussa, Aperlae, Antiphellus, Kalamaki, Phoinike, Patara, Pydnai, Arymnessos/Perdicia, Calabantia, Karmylassos, Telmessus, Krya, Lisse and Lydai, respectively from east to west.
Of these harbors, Andriaca and Patara is distinguished from the others in that they possess political and economic power, in addition to being an internationals trade point. By virtue of its local traditions and distinctive architectural style, the region is the most interesting area in Anatolia; the cities of the region are generally located on the coasts and the valleys of Xanthos and Arycandus, which are considered to be the core of the region. Some of the texts that belong to the Lycians, who were known for having their own language and alphabet, were translated into modern languages; most of these are epitaphs.

The region of Lycia consists of cities of large, medium and small scale, port cities, military zones, farm settlements and towers. Most of the visible remains in the region belong to the Roman and Byzantine periods. The most encountered types of remains in the traditional settlements concentrated in the mountains are olive oil and wine workshops, and agricultural terraces. These rural settlements, in which most of the population lived, provided food for both themselves and the large cities.

The residential structures in Lycia are generally divided into four groups. The first group consists of adjacent residences in which each room has its own entrance. The second group is made up of stand-alone residences of one or two rooms in rural settlements. Both types of residences in these groups are generally two-storey houses that are located collectively or closely within walls of the settlement. The third group consists of single-storey residences with two to four rooms in agricultural areas of which some has courtyards, cisterns and workshops, while the fourth group is made up of residences of mostly rich people in rural areas, which are built as rooms surrounding a courtyard which is positioned in the middle.

Natural disasters and epidemics that occurred in the region have deeply affected the lives of those in the cities. The most prominent of these are the earthquakes that occurred in the years 141, 240, 385, and 529, and the plagues that happened in the year 542 and the period between 1346 and 1347. Due to the blights that were suffered in the coastal regions, the settlements in the inland areas came into prominence. Emperor Constans II fought the Arabians in 655 on the coast of Phoenix with the fleet he personally commanded. After being defeated, the Emperor managed to survive by way of the self-sacrifice of a young soldier. After this battle, the Arabians began navigating freely near the Mediterranean coasts.

In 802, the regions of Lycia and Caria were occupied by the Abbasids. During the 10th century, Lycia and the whole of the Mediterranean region were under the domination of the Byzantine Empire. Turks acquired access to Lycia after the Seljukian Sultan Kılıç Arslan II defeated the Byzantine army. After 1204, the whole of Lycia came under the domination of Turks.

Demre/Hoyran