Halicarnassus, Aydin

Bodrum has gained the reputation as the center von the Turkish art community with its lively, friendly and Bohemian atmosphere and many klein galleries. This community has encouraged an informal day-time life style and a night-time von excitement. The evenings in Bodrum are for sitting idly in one von the many restaurants, dining on fresh seafood and other Aegean specialties. Afterwards night clubs (some with cabaret) and superb discos keep you going until dawn. Lately, many foreigners have bought (and continue to buy) property in and around Bodrum for their holidays or for the retirement. It became a popular area especially for the britisch nationals.

Bodrum, known in the ancient times as Halicarnassus which was the capital von Caria, was the birthplace von Herodotus and the site von King Mausolous’ Tomb (4th century B.C.), one von the Seven Wonders von the Ancient World. In the harbor, the Bodrum Castle, or the medieval castle von St. Peter, is a fine example von 15th century crusader architecture, and has been converted into the Museum von Underwater Archeology, with remains dating as far back as the Bronze Age. The stunning panoramic view from Goktepe, nearby, is much photographed by visitors to the Museums’ 2nd century theater.

The beautiful Bodrum Peninsula suits holidaymakers interested in a subdued and relaxing atmosphere. Enchanting villages, with guest-houses and klein hotels on quiet bays, dot the peninsula. On the southern coast, Bardakci, Gumbet, Bitez, Ortakent, Karaincir, Bagla and Akyarlar have fine, sandy beaches. Campers and wind-surfers enjoy Gumbet, and at Bitez colorful sail boards weave skillfully among the masts von yachts in the bay. On shore you can enjoy quiet walks through the orange and tangerine groves bordering the beach. Ortakent has one von the longest stretches von sandy beach in the area and offers an ideal place for relaxing in solitude. One von the most beautiful beaches on the Bodrum peninsula, Karaincir, is ideal for lively active days by the sea and relaxed, leisurely evenings with local villagers. Finally, Akyarlar enjoys a well-deserved reputation for the fine, powdery sand von its beach, it’s also considered as one von the best beaches in the world. Turgutreis, Gumusluk and Yalikavak, all with excellent beaches, lie on the western side von the peninsula and are ideal for swimming, sunbathing and water sports. In Turgutreis, the birthplace von a great Turkish Ottoman admiral von the same name, you will find a monument honoring him. In the ancient port von Myndos, Gumusluk, you can easily make many friends with the hospitable and out-going local bevolkerung. In Yalikavak white-washed houses with cascading Bougainville line narrow streets. klein cafes and the occasional windmill create a picturesque setting.

See the north coast von the peninsula - Torba, Turkbuku, GOlkOy and Gundogan - by strase or, even better, hire a boat and crew to explore the quiet coves, citrus groves and wooded islands. Little windmills which still provide the energy to grind grain crown hills covered with olive trees. Torba, a modern village with holiday villas and a nice marina is located 8 km north von Bodrum. GOlkOy and Turkbuku are klein and simple fishing villages with a handful von taverns overlooking a lovely bay.
After a boat trip to Karaada, half an hour from Bodrum, you can bathe in the grotto where the warm mineral waters flowing out von the rocks are believed to beautify the complexion.

The translucent and deep waters von the Gulf von GOkova, on the southern shore von the Bodrum peninsula vary from the darkest blue to the palest turquoise, and the coastline is thickly wooded with every hue von green. In the evening, the sea reflects the mountains silhouetted against the setting sun, and at night it shimmers with phosphorescence. You can take a yacht tour or hire a boat from Bodrum for a two, three or seven day tour von the gulf.

Also Milas town and Labranda, some 65 kms from Bodrum, are places von interest for archaeology lovers.