Places of interest in the Kemer area:

Phaselis, Lycian City , Antalya, Turkey

Built by the Rhodians in 700 BC, this ancient Lycian city is located in Antalya .  Phaselis lies between the Bey Mountains and forested areas of Olympos National Park and is 16km from Kemer. 

Three natural harbours are to be found, namely “Protected (Sun) Harbour”, “ Battle Harbour ” and “ Northern Harbour ”. This ancient city was crucial in matters of commerce between the merchants of Phoenicia, Asia, Greece and Egypt .

Captured by the Persians and later by Alexander the Great, Phaselis remained under Egyptian control following the death of Alexander.  Eventually being handed over to the kingdom of Rhodes , this vital city suffered under the relentless threat from pirates. In 42 BC Phaselis was linked to Rome under the orders of Brutus.

Today most of the visible ruins that tourists explore, date back to the Roman period, with a 24 metre wide street cutting straight through the centre of the city.  Along the sides of this street are the remains of shops, with the “Hadrian Waterway Gate” on the south section of the street. Roman baths, theatres and agoras (places of assembly) are located close by and date from the 2^nd century BC.

Known for the heady aromas produced by extracting the essence from roses, Phaselis is an important historical site and a definite place of interest for visiting tourists.

Olympos, Kemer, Antalya, Turkey 

Dating back to the Hellenistic period and close to the town of Kemer, this fascinating ancient city is thought to have been named after the neighbouring Mount Olympos . Coins have been discovered dating back as far as the 2^nd century BC.

Once one of the six leading cities of the Lycian Federation, Olympos was described as “an ancient city full of riches and works of art”, this description is attributed to the Roman philosopher, Cicero.  In 78 BC, accompanied by a youthful Julius Caesar, the Romans took Olympos and incorporated it into the Roman Empire .

History tells that by the 15^th century, Olympos was completely abandoned.  Located in the Olympos coastal national park, visitors today are attracted not only by the history, but by the natural beauty of the area.  Outdoor pursuits including mountain biking, trekking and rock climbing prove to be popular, providing tourists with an ideal view point from which to fully appreciate this stunning scenery.  

Cirali, Kemer, Antalya, Turkey 

Located near to the ancient city of Olympos and 200 metres above sea level, Cirali is known for its eternal flames or Chimaera, emerging up from beneath the ground. The mythical Chimaera, according to legend, was a beast with the head of a lion, a goat’s body and a long serpent’s tail. The creature was said to breathe fire from its mouth.  This natural phenomenon is actually caused by methane and other natural gases, seeping through cracks in the ground.