Konya

It is located on the Central Anatolian plateau. The name of the city in the Scythian/ Galatian language is Kawawana, meaning Ihe country where sheep (or goats) are bred", and from the fertile lands it appears that sheep, cows and lambs were raised in the area, The name of the city which was situated at the border Lycaonia-Galatia later became Ikonia. The Hatti and Galatian tribes included in the Etruscan tribes who moved southwards from the Balkans and via Caucasia circa 3000 B.C., settled down in Central Anatolia. According to Eflatun Pmar rock-carvings 40 km to the west of Konya and the prehistoric remains found on the Hill of Alaaddin in the city centre, it is presumed that the area was an old settlement place. The Hill of Alaaddin was essentially a prehistoric mound, raised with the piling of earth and stone upon it at various times. The area was annexed to the Hittite Empire circa 1400 B.C. and subsequently brought under the rules of Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Macedonians, Seleucids, Kingdom of Pergamum, Romans and. after the disintegration of the Roman empire, Byzantines. Notwithstanding that Turks came to the area for some time in 1069 the main Turkish sovereignty began in 1071. In 1097 Anatolian Seljuk State was founded, with Konya proclaimed as the capital. Konya which experienced its period of prosperity during this time was later brought under the jurisdictions of the Karamanoglu Turkomans followed by the Ottoman State in 1512. The most important personage of Konya is the worldwide famous "Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi". Mevlana who taught in Medrese established "the Mevlevi Order Sufi Philosophy". According to this, besides the imperative prayer to God, the necessity of whirling prayer is also emphasized. In the faith of Mevlevi Order, §eb-i Aruz rituals are performed in Konya every year. The essence of Mevlana's philosophy can be explained as "Still come whoever you may be", According to the Mevlevi Order which foregrounds love for humankind and brotherhood, a person should either "appear as he is, or be as he appears." The Museum of Mevlana is essentially a turbe (tomb) and a dervish convent housing the coffins of Mevlana and his family. The dome of the dervish convent is embellished with green coloured tiles. The works belonging to the Seljuk and Ottoman eras are displayed here. The museum, which is in the form of a complex, accommodates a mesjid, whirling conventicle, chambers of dervishes, carpet and fabric section, ethnographic works of art. epitaphs and the tombstones of Mevlevis. Immediately adjacenl to the museum is the Selimiye Mosque of the Ottoman architectural style ordered to be built by Sultan Selim II. The other museums in the city are the Museum of Monumental Tombs in Sircali Medrese, Ethnographic Museum, Wooden Works of Art Museum and Koyunoglu Museum. Constructed on the Hill of Alaaddin, under the order of Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, in 1221 is the Alaaddin Mosque of which the Mimber (pulpit) is adorned with tiles. Karatay Medrese is located to the south of the Hill of Alaaddin and was constructed by Vizier Karatay in 1251. The dome of the medrese consisting of various sections is laid with blue and black tiles on the inner side. Its main gate presents one of the most beautiful examples of the Seljuk art of stone-working. Sahip Ata Mosque and Adjacent Complex of Buildings, ince Minare (Thin Minaret) Mosque, iplikgi Mosque, Aziziye Mosque and Kapi (Gate) Mosque are the other mosques in the city. Built in the area are the Binbir (One Thousand and One) Church in Karadag where the remains of the church dating from the Byzantine era lie, Kubadabat Palace on the waterside of the Lake Bey^ehir. Bey§ehir Castle and E§refoglu Mosque, which is the oldest wooden mosque in Anatolia, Karaman Castie in Karaman, Karamanoglu ibrahim Bey Kulliye. Horozlu lnnr Zazadin Inn and the Turbe of Hodja Nasreddin. the worldwide famed satire master who died in 1248. Konya is wellknown today for its Mevlana bonbons, firm (oven-cooked) kebab, meat bread, wooden handicrafts and Ladik carpets.

Knidos

The remains of the ancient city lie to the western tip of the Datca Peninsula in the southwestern Anatolia. As the other western Anatolian cities, it was founded by the Carians, a branch of the Etruscans/ Luwis circa 3000 B.C. The name of the city is originally "Kindada", meaning "the Place with the Mother Goddess". As a matter of fact, the temple built in honour of the Mother Goddess when the foundations were laid, came to be identified with the Mother Goddess Aphrodite because of the evolving culture of faith during the Macedonian era and was transformed into the Temple of Aphrodite. The name of the city which was a major sacrarium of the Carian region changed into Knidos subsequently. As of 2000s B.C. its population increased with the influx of the Lelegians immigrating from the Aegean Islands and direction of the main urbanization was displaced from the southern tip of the peninsula towards the western side where the temple existed. Thus, they grew, in the western fertile part, valonia, almond, olive and fruit trees and engaged in agriculture and hence, obtained major products for export. Together with the other cities in the area a confederacy was established in the name of Hexapolis and subsequently, when Halicarnassus was expelled from this union, the confederacy was named Pentapolis. By exporting the timber and the agricultural products they raised to the various countries in the eastern Mediterranean they both prospered and became highly advanced in maritime trading. In the 5th century B.C. they intended to defend the Peninsula of Datca against the Persian occupation by opening a canal between the Gulf of Gbkova and Bozburun, but were unsuccessful. The Persians who came to the area in 546 B.C. under the command of Harpagos were impressed by the beauty of the city and did not damage it. The city which later fell under the hegemonies of the Macedonians, Rhodians, Romans and Byzantines was devastated by the Arab raids in the 7th century and abandoned after the earthquake in the 9th century.The Turks who came to the area in the 12th century established the settlement of Datga in the south of the peninsula, The ancient city of Knidos was built at the narrowest spanning site of the peninsula, upon terraces towards its acropolis. The remains of the breakwater and watchtowers as lying on the earth-filled harbour and the remains of the parallel colonnaded streets on a wide plan are those that first strike the eye. Situated behind the harbour are the sanctuary of the Goddess of Fertility, DemeterT and her daughter, Core, as well as the remains of a temple.
The excavations carried out here yielded the famed Statue of Aphrodite Praxiteles. Also found are the remains of the Agora Square and two Byzantine Churches and, to the north of the Temple of Apollon, the Cave of Nymphs siting the various depictions of dancing water nymphs. Lying behind this are the remains of the famed Temple of Aphrodite, with a diameter of 17,5 m, lined with 18 columns around its circular podium, and housing the Statue of Aphrodite. A small odeon and the Temple of Dionysus are the other remains.

Kemer

40 km after the centrum of Antalya one arrives at Kemer. 251 species of flowers are grown in the area. According to mythological accounts, Abihayat/ Bengisu. that is, the spring of immortality water, should be somewhere in the sea section of the cape into which Agva creek at the south-western end of the Kemer bay flows. The area was called Abaawa, that is, "sacred water spring" by the Luwians. The name of the city, situated in the ancient Pamph/lia. was later changed into "Idyros". According to the Luwian myth, Adra/Toro/ Toros, the bull-headed chief god and symbol of masculinity, drinks of the sacred immortality water at the shore where Mount £ali§ steeply plunges into the sea and becomes immortal. Luwians, based on this myth, build the Sacred Temple "Adrawana" meaning the country of Adra. Upon the overflowing of the Creek Agva the Temple of Adra remained under alluvial deposits. The plains of Kemer and Agva where the temple was located completely turned into a swamp and were abandoned to mosquitoes in time, It was rebuilt by the Teke Ybruks during the 1800s and the yoriiks coming from the Taurus tablelands in 1916-1917, In order to protect the village a stone wall was built on the slopes of the Mount Kizilcik. This wall was compared to an arch and hence the name Kemer (Arch). In Kemer which became a municipality in 1992 the agriculture and tourism potential developed at a great pace. The Yoruk Park daytime facilities and restaurants, with the ethnographic characteristics of yoruk lifestyle, on the Kemer Ayisjgi Bay are well worth a visit. Kemer is a major tourism centre with its worldwide-renowned touristic facilities. Beycik Hill in Kemer thanks to its low humidity and cool air and the facilities and villas built amidst its natural beauties, has turned into a mountain resort. Since 2000 "Anatolian Rally" is organised as a sportive safari activity on the tablelands of Kemer and recorded in the World Rally Championship under the name "Rally of Turkey", Additionally, "Golden Pomegranate Tourism Carnival" and "Yesilyayla Oil Wrestling Matches" are organized.Furthermore, hiking tours are carried out amidst the natural beauties on the routes of Kemer -Kuzdere -Karatasjar -Sapandere -Aslanbucak. Kemer-Agva Cape provides excellent location for underwater diving. In brief, Kemer, which was set up by the spring of immortality, opens today the doors of its touristic facilities built to high standards for tourists visiting from all over the world, offers means of shopping and grants everlasting memories to them through magnificent excursions into nature. BELDJBJ It is located 25 km west of the provincial centre of Antalya. Beldibi is today included within the "Olympos Beydaglan National Coastal Park". Three families that came to the area, which was completely covered by oak forests until 150 years ago, built up a settlement here and. later with those coming from Anamur the population increased and it became a neighbourhood under the Mukhtar (Village Elected Head) of Kemer. Sprawling on the land with an area of 30-40 acres located above the pool immediately beside Kocasu spring are the remains of the ancient city of Marma. The area where the remains lie is densely clad with forests. Not much information is available as no excavation or research was conducted. The only thing known is that they were punished, because of their plundering, by Alexander who spent the winter in Phaselis with his army in the 3rd century B.C. Beldibi, which became a Mukhtarlik (Village Elected Head's Post) in 1973 and, later, a Municipality in 1994 has today become a major tourism centre thanks to its nature, citrus fruits, parades, daily picnic areas, touristic facilities and neighbouring shopping centres. £AMYUVA is a narrow plain to the west of Kemer irrigated by Agva Creek. Today it is a tourism centre with all its magnificent touristic facilities. The most notable aspect of the natural port of Agva is that it was the place where the ban eships Paris II and Alexandra were sunk during the 1st World War in 1917. KJRJS is a natural bay where the blue sea meets the pine toress and which is home to worldwide-renowned touristic facilities, There are parades through the forest and along the coast between Kiris. - Qamyuva and Kemer.

Kekova

island that gives its name to the area is in front of the village of Kalekoy and it is accessible by boat. It is a long and narrow island measuring 7,4 km long by 500 m wide, at its section closest to the shore, The deepest point between the island and the shore is 104 m. The island is covered with maquis and red pine trees are found at certain places. Wild olive trees are the most abundant vegetation on the island. The name of the city was "Khawakuwa" in the Luwian/Etruscan language and meant "Land of Sheep Bull". Based on this, it is assumed that a "bull/sheep" cult existed in Kekowa and that it was a shelter and sacred reproduction place for animals such as sheep, bulls and cows, which were considered sacred. The remains of the settlement with the same name as the island are seen on the northern side which faces the mainland. The island sank a few metres in the water during an earthquake in antiquity. The remains of buildings seen under the sea. along the northern shore of the island, confirm this. Following the earthquake, the survivors moved to the sister cities of Simena and Teimiussa on the shore across the island. On the side of the island of Kekova which faces the mainland, one sees the harbour walls, shops, sidewalks and stone steps of the Sunken City. The remnants of the apse of a Byzantine church, apparently built in the 5th century A.D., of square plan and embellished with frescoes are seen on the shore of the Bay of Tersane. SiMENA / OgAGIZ KALEKOY The ancient city of Simena is located on the peninsula right across the island of Kekova, The small fishing village of Kale is situated among the ruins of Simena. The village of Ugagiz, also accessible overland, is 20 kms to the south of the Demre - Ka§ highway. Boat tours are organized to here from Demre/Qayagzi and Kas. The fish restaurants along the shore serve to boat and yacht tourists. The name of Simena appears to be a phonetic variation of "Soamawana" which means "Land of the Great Mother" in the Etruscan/ Luwian language. In one of his books, Stephanos, a Byzantine historian, refers to Simena as Somena. The history of the city dates back to 3000 B.C. After the Trojan War in the 12th century B.C., many Gallipolians who had sided with the Trojan King Hector, appear to have settled in Soamawana. Following the earthquake during which the city of Kekova sank into the sea. the population of Simena increased due to the influx of surviving Kekovans and the city expanded beyond the fortress. The most prominent structure in the area is the fortress. The pointed arches of the towers of the fortress are an architectural feature of the Etruscan/Trak tribe. The main entrance gate of the fortress is rectangular and it is constructed of regularly cut blocks of stone. There are cisterns within the fortress. In addition, there is a small theatre with a seating capacity of 400 and consisting of 8 rows of cavea. This was the smallest theatre in the Lycian region. It may be associated with the male population staying away from home; because they were sailors, they did not need a large theatre. Outside the city walls, overlooking the sea, there is the stoa of the temple of Poseidon. Down towards the shore, the remains of the bathhouse of rectangular plan stand out. The walls of the structure were built using the polygonal wall technique and according to an inscription, it was presented to Emperor Titus. There are more than twenty house-like tombs and they are all carved into rock in the form of doors and windows. Their facades bear inscriptions in the Lycian stating facts about the deceased. Sarcophagi are carved out of rock. Their lids are pointed arched. The ruins of the ancient city of Theimussa are found within the borders of the Ucagiz village. Among the ruins, several towers and various Lycian tombs are the most conspicuous. On the facade of one of the Lycian tombs, there is an inscription of the name of the deceased which was Kluwanimi. This proves that the site was a Luwian/Etruscan settlement and that the settlers were of Luwian origin.

Kalkan

Kalkan, located to the southernmost end of the Teke peninsula, by the small bay of the same name, is a new settlement unit. Obviously, the first settlers of the area were the Tekelioglu Turkomans who first immigrated to the Gombe and Elmali plateaux and, then, moving down to the south, settled and built their villages in the Esen Valley and the Yesjlkoy-Firnaz plains. Some of the Turkomans who settled in Yesilkoy laid the foundations of today's district of Kalkan which is by the bay on the other side of the hill of the same name in the east of the village. For years. Kalkan remained as a small community annexed to Yesjlkoy. In recent years, however, due to the very low rate of humidity of its fine air and the hotel, motel and pension house businesses, fish restaurants, cafeterias and marina, it has become a popular centre for tourism. Located in the east of Kalkan is the KAPUTA? BEACH with its strand measuring 60 m long by 20 m wide between the sheer falez rocks of 25 m height, is the best known natural bay formed by the Taurus mountains running perpendicular to the shore. In the east of the beach is the BLUE CAVE, with a diameter of 60x70 m, having a pebbly strand and formed of sea erosion beneath the falez rocks. The cave is accessible by touristic boats.

Kaş

Located to the south of the Teke peninsula, at the tip of the bay of the same name, is the settlement of Kas,. The town has become a true centre for tourism thanks to its growing touristic potential during the recent years. The origin of the city is traced back to the "Aprillans". The Apnllans who settled in Phellos subsequently moved down to the place called Habesuwa/ Habesos as founded by the Luwis at where Kas is located today and settled in the small harbour complex. They renamed the harbour Antiphellos meaning "Opposite Phellos" in order to avoid any presumptions that it is a separate settlement from Phellos. The flourishing city declined and was abandoned in time as was the case with all other Lukka/Lyctan cities, In late 11th century Kinik Turks of Tekeogullan settled down in Kasaba and Gombe and without spoiling the original name of Antiphellos they started calling it as "Karsi" in short. This word became "Kars" and then "Kas" in time. The ancient wooden book belonging to Nefertiti is the best evidence of the relations between the Lycian coastal cities and Egypt. The city which joined the Lycian Federation in the 6th century B.C. was subsequently captured by pirates and Romans. The first ancient remains in the city are the 7 metre-tall and 500 metre-long walls of the quay made of block stones. To the north of the walls, the remains of a square temple with a 5 metre-tall stone podium attract the attention. The temple has one cella and it was used as a chapel during the Byzantine era. A theatre with 26 rows of seats is seen in the west of the city. The caveas have retained their onginal height. There is a mausoleum built in Doric style behind the theatre. The entrance appears to have been closed by a stone. A frieze, depicting 21 small women holding hands and dancing, with wind-blown skirts, is seen on the back of the stone podium on which the deceased was placed. The necropolis of the city stretches in a northwest direction. Many sarcophagi and rock tombs are seen in the necropolis.

Gaziantep / Zeugma

From the settlement of Dolike/Dijliik located in the area it appears that the history of the area dates back to the prehistoric times. The prehistoric finds recovered in Gedikli Tumulus and Tumen Tumulus in Islahiye and the Outdoor Statuary Workshop in Yesemek are among the prominent works of art. The Acropolis Castle, built in circa 3000s on both banks of the River Euphrates/Firat in the district of Nizip, later gained importance during the Assyrian era because of its location on the trade route. It became the political and commercial centre of the Northern Mesopotamia. It was expanded as a result of the settlements of Galatians, Phrygians and Commagenians in the 7th century B.C. In the 3rd century B.C. Seleucos Nicator, of the Macedonian generals, founded Zeugma on the banks of the Euphrates in his and his wife's names. It fell under the Roman sovereignty in the 1st century B.C. and the slope of the acropolis was adorned with various temples and villas. A temple was built in honour of Fortuna, goddess of trade and luck, on the acropolis to commemorate the trade thriving off. It was razed to the ground and abandoned as a result of the Sassanid assaults in 252 -A.D. and Arab invasions in the 7th century. In the 12th century the village of Belkis was founded by the Turkomans who came to the area. The GAP Irrigation and Power Project is the largest project in the world, aimed at reclaiming the northern Mesopotamia which has become barren. In the ancient city of Zeugma which will be submerged in the water of the Birecik Dam built for this purpose the rescue excavations started in 1987 under the leadership of the Gaziantep Museum Directorate backed by an international cooperation. 24 instants of mosaic, 93 wall pictures, statues and seals made of clay earth, called bulla, of numerous numbers as the foremost cultural values have been recovered. These objects are on display in the Gaziantep Museum.