Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Need to Know
TOP TIP
The beach is a nesting ground for sea turtles; parts are sometimes off lim-
its.
RUINS
Climb to the top of the theatre for views.
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Patara Don't Miss List
BY UFUK GÜVEN, CO-OWNER OF BOUGAINVILLE TRAVEL
1 TRIUMPHAL ARCH
Patara has some of the area's finest Lycian ruins; it was Lycia's major port and, accord-
ing to the Bible, Sts Paul and Luke changed boats here while on their third mission
from Rhodes to Phoenicia. You pass through this 2nd-century triple-arched triumphal
arch (
Click here
)
at the entrance to the ruins, with a necropolis containing some Ly-
cian tombs nearby.
2 BOULEUTERION
Just north of the 5000-seat theatre is the
bouleuterion,
ancient Patara's 'parliament'
where it is believed members of the Lycian League met. The league was perhaps his-
tory's first proto-democratic union, and this was maybe the world's first parliament.
The
bouleuterion
recently reopened after a two-year,
"
8.5 million reconstruction.
3 LYCIAN WAY
This beautiful 509km waymarked footpath runs along the coast of ancient Lycia, from
Fethiye to Antalya. From Patara you can walk a circle in a day, which takes you past
the 2000-year-old Delikkemer water siphon and Patara Aqueduct, both built by the Ro-
mans; and Tava village, with olive, eucalyptus and pine trees along the way.
4 CANOEING
On the Xanthos River (
Click here
)
you can glide past junglelike riverbanks and dis-
cover the rich ecosystem, with river turtles, birds and crabs. On the way, stop for a re-
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