When you turn and enter the road that leads to Gelemis, on your way from
Fethiye to
Kalkan, you reach the
ruins of Patara at the 15th km.
Patara continued to develop during the
Roman Period, within the
Lycian union, and carried on its function as a naval base where the Judicial procedures of the
Roman governorship were carried out and the relations of Rome with the eastern provinces were maintained.
Patara continued to be important during the
Byzantine Period and it is the locality where St. Nicholas was born.
The
Harbor of Patara is filled with sand
today. You see the Arch of Triumph on your way to Patara; it was the gate of entrance to Patara.
This arch was built in the years of 100 AD during the time of Mettius Modestus, the Governor of Rome in
Lydia.
You see the
tombs of
Lycian type at the edge of the road. The temple of Apollon should have probably been situated on the hill above the arch.
There are
ruins of baths at the south of the hill. There are
ruins of a basilica at the edge of the road,
ruins of a bath on the west-hand side of this and further beyond, a temple of Corinthian order with its cella gate still standing.
The theater which was built at the skirt of the slope of a hill in 147 AD, is covered with sand.
The temple of Athena is located on the hill where the theater is set.
There is a cistern with a depth of 8 m adjacent to this temple. There was a cereal barn in
ancient times in the
Harbor which is filled with sand
today.
There is a monumental
tomb adjacent to the barn building and the structures of the agora of Patara are situated at the back of the barn.
Other interesting sites in
Turkey are:
Antalya,
Kemer,
Phaselis,
Olympos,
Demre,
Kekova,
Simena,
Aperlai,
Kas,
Kalkan, Patara,
Xanthos,
Letoon,
Tlos,
Pinara,
Oludeniz,
Fethiye,
Gocek,
Knidos,
Caunos,
Ekincik,
Gokova,
Marmaris and
Bodrum.
