Faselis is a city of ancient Lycia, whose ruins are preserved in the Turkish province of Antalya. It is interesting for both lovers of antiquities and beach lovers. We visited Faselis to wander through the ruins of the historic city, founded in the seventh century BC.
How to get there
Faselis is located on the road to Tekirova, at the foot of Tahtali Mountain, 16 kilometers from Kemer and 60 kilometers from Antalya.
As a rule, those who travel, using the services of travel agencies, get the opportunity to go there with a tour. We, as independent travelers, went to Faselis by car from Antalya. The GPS navigator did a great job laying out the route, which took us a little less than an hour. You can get there on your own too: there are special flights from Antalya directly to Faselis.
History
Many centuries ago, Phaselis was considered a major trading center. It was so because of its advantageous location: the city was built on the sea and had three harbors. The population of the city was growing because for 100 drachmas anyone could become a citizen.
By studying the surviving buildings and ruins, scholars have concluded that life in the city was in full swing: the ports received merchant ships, defense fortifications, temples, houses and baths were built. Once the city was even visited by the Roman Emperor Hadrian. The peak of prosperity Faselis reached by the VII century. From this point it began a gradual decline. New towns sprang up around, and Faselis could not withstand the competition. By the 13th century the city was in decline.
What to see
Only ruins have survived to our time. But it is very pleasant and interesting to wander around Faselis, because the places around it are very picturesque. A lot of pine trees, a very beautiful beach and the sea, mountains nearby…
The walk begins with the ruins of an aqueduct – several fragments are perfectly preserved until today.
The city was built according to a single plan. There was a temple of Athena in the center. The central street had shopping malls, government buildings and baths. It ran from the southern to the northern harbor.
If you go up the hill, you can admire the ancient amphitheater. It once held 1,500 visitors. It was built in the likeness of Roman amphitheaters: the price is at the bottom, and the stone terraces rise like steps to the top. There is also a beautiful observation deck from which you can see the ruins of Faselis from above.
Beaches
The beaches in Faselis are located on the site of ancient harbors. There is no infrastructure, just clean sand and sea.
It’s great to walk on the beach, we spent about half an hour there, just enjoying the views and the fresh air. The water is very clear and clean, there are trees nearby, and because of the proximity of the rocks, the waves don’t reach here.
Interesting Facts
There is a legend that says that Alexander the Great was buried somewhere in the city.
According to legends, the land for the foundation of the city was bought for a bag of fish.
There is evidence that women in Faselis wore a special hairstyle called “sisoe”. It resembled the hair of the Egyptian goddess Isis. Among the city’s famous residents were the philosopher Theodectus and the wealthy Opramaos of Rhodiapolis, who spent much of his personal savings to rebuild the city after another earthquake. It is true that in the end it did not save the city from extinction.