Bodrum Windmills

One of the many beautiful sights overlooking the Bodrum peninsula are the windmills. Facing northwest, to catch the coastal winds, these windmills made of stone and lined with wooden planks, and were used from the 18th century until the 70s as a means to grind flour for the local people. Although a common sight the windmills are now derelict but still rest among the olive trees on the surrounding hills. Seven of these windmills (only two are in rather good condition) are on a hill which separates Bodrum and Gumbet, which is a fantastic location for great panorama views, especially if you go at night. On one side of the view you have a stunning view of Bodrum, and on the other side a glorious view of Gumbet. Dawns are also really beautiful there, you’ll enjoy to the fullest the synergy of sun, sea and wind….

The ruins of three windmills can be seen at Yalikavak and another one has been reconstructed which can be found near the harbour. All of the historical windmills in the Bodrum Peninsula are currently being restored to attract local and foreign tourists again. (12/2008)

Bodrum Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

Unfortunately there is not a lot left to see of this ancient and once magnificent tomb, which was named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World but now one must rely just on imagination and (computer) models. King Mausolus of Caria ordered the construction of the ornate marble monument. The mausoleum was completed in 350 BC after the death of the Carian satrap Mausolus by his wife and sister Artemisia II, the actual construction being done by the architect Pytheos. The monument tomb was in the centre of Halicarnassus, rising over a large plot of land.

The mausoleum standing at over 164 feet (50 metres) in height, is described as being an enormous white marble tomb with ionic columns to form a temple with a stepped pyramid roof topped with a carriage, containing sculptures of Mausolus and Artemisia riding in a chariot. This stood relatively intact for almost 19 centuries until an earthquake in 1304 destroyed it.

In 1522, after the earthquake caused the monument to collapse, the Knights Hospitaller of St John, then based in Rhodes, came to the region and demolished much of the Mausoleum of King Mausolus, using the stones for the reconstruction of the Bodrum Castle, named after St Peter. (Look for the greenish stones on the exterior of the chapel just beyond the entrance to the main portion of the museum.) Because of the damage caused by plundering, earthquakes and irresponsible excavations, todays archaeologists can only guess at the building’s original appearance. Some sections of the walls of the Mausoleum can be seen around the Myndos Gate on the Gumbet road. The site has pleasant gardens with excavations to the right and a covered arcade to the left. Despite the lack of the original tomb, this site is well worth a visit.

Turgut Reis Cad., up the hill off Hamam Sokagi (see map below). Admission fee 5 TL (TRL0.00)
Opening hours : between 08:30 am 12:00 am and 01:00 pm and 05:00 pm – closed on Mondays. Phone : 0252-316 1219

Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology

The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which received a special commendation in 1995 as a European Museum of the Year, was established in the Bodrum Castle in 1964. Initially, the restoration of the castle was the priority; later, exhibition halls were created in the available space.

The museum exhibits several collections of ancient artifacts including relics retrieved from local shipwrecks, divided over 14 exhibition departments in the museum. Many of the items found in the museums can be touched, feeled and read about by visiting tourists. Each shipwreck found in the museum takes it’s name from the area that they were found, the items that these ships were carrying can be seen in the display cabinets. Although the castle is under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Culture, all the museum exhibitions are overseen by the Institute of Nautical Archaeology, an American non-profit organization with bases both in Bodrum and Texas, United States of America.

The 14 departments in the museum :

• Carian Princess Hall
• Amphoras Exhibition
• The Dungeon
• British Tower
• German Tower
• Snake Tower (secret museum)
• Turkish Bath Exhibition
• Glass Wreck Hall
• Glass Hall
• Tektaş shipwreck
• LateRoman shipwreck
• Kaş-Ulu Burun shipwreck
• Commander Tower
• Coins and Jewellery Hall

The biggest group of artifacts on display in the museum are the amphoras, two-handled and portable jugs with a pointed bottom which were used in the commerce of ancient times to carry and store wine, olive oil and dry foodstuff. The world’s biggest Eastern Mediterranean Amphora collection can be found in Bodrum Underwater Archaeology Museum.

The Bronze Age Shipwrecks exhibit displays interesting findings recovered from sunken trading vessels discovered by local sponge divers. The artifacts, from the 13th and 16th century B.C., are indispensable for understanding the late Bronze Age. Also on display is the world’s oldest known shipwreck, also one of the richest finds, discovered at Ulu Burun in 1982. The explorations took 10 years due to the depth of the wreck, the stern being at 147 feet (45 metres) and the bow at 170 feet (52 metres), although it was only 207 feet (63 metres) from the shore. Many of the artefacts needed to be chiselled out by hand due to the layer of concretion that covered the site. The boat used Greco-Roman techniques of building the shell first and then fitting the frame to it. The Ulu Burun shipwreck contained a cargo of treasures, including precious gems, exotic wooden logs, hippopotamus ivory and more than 150 pure-thin, resin, cobalt blue, turquoise and lavender-colored flat, round glass ingots. In addition to Canaanite gold jewelry, one amazing find was a solid gold scarab (these scarabs were carried by sailors for good luck) attributed in hieroglyphics to one-time owner Nefertiti, the Egyptian Queen.

Usually, archaeologists can reassemble an object from broken pieces of glass, because many of the object’s pieces are most of the time found in the same place. This is not the issue in the Glass Wreck Hall, opened in 1986, which contains piles of recovered glass that defy this theory. Archaeologists assumed that the ship was actually transporting broken glass as cargo for recycling. This magnificent collection of old Islamic glass is indispensable in dating similar artifacts from other medieval Islamic archeologic sites. The Carian Princess Hall (also known as Queen Ada Hall), displays the tomb of what is believed to be Queen Ada, a well known Hellenistic ruler of Halicarnassus, along with a golden crown and a few glass cases of other precious jewelry.

The Museum of Underwater Archaeology is perhaps Bodrum’s finest attraction. With the added mystique of the Knights of St. John who built the castle housing the museum, visitors to Bodrum seldom – if ever – fail to pay it a highly rewarding visit. The combined efforts of the Turkish ministry of Culture, local Bodrum sponge divers and the Institute of Nautical Archaeology have created and continually support the ongoing efforts to present and preserve the past treasures of the deep blue sea.

Admission 10 TL (TRL0.00) – Opening hours of the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology :
between 09:00 am 12:00 am and 02:00 pm and 07:00 pm – closed on Mondays. Phone : 0252-316 2516

History of istanbul

According to legend, the city of Istanbul was founded by Byzas the Megarian in 667 BC. But before forming this settlement, Byzas visited the Oracle of Delphi, requesting advice as to where would be a good location. The Oracle predicted that he would settle his town 'opposite blind men'.
Byzas went off to find this area and presently arrived at the vacant point of the Golden Horn peninsula, where Topkapi Palace presently stands. He was soon fascinated by the beauty of the area. Hearing of a civilization living on the opposite Asian side, named Chalcadeon (Kadikoy), he felt them to be ill-sighted. How could they have not found and appreciated the wonderfully convenient location just opposite them on the European peninsula? So, the Oracle's prediction was confirmed, and he so he built his town on the peninsula. So commences the recent history of Istanbul.

In 512 BC, the city was conquered by the Persian Emperor Darius, until 479 BC, when it was captured by the Spartan king Pausinias. Later, it passed into the hands of Athenian rule. It wasn't long before the city came under siege again, this time by Philip of Macedon in 340 BC, but the strong fight put up by the Byzantines allowed them to defeat the Macedonians. However, not long after, the son of Philip, Alexander the Great, went on to capture the city in 334 BC. Following his death, the city came under the power of the Romans.

In the year 179 BC, the city was captured by the Rhodian, Pergamonian and Bithinian forces, followed by a brief takeover by Mithritades, the king of Pontus, before returning again to Roman domination. It was the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus who first built the city walls. In 324 AD, Constantine rose to power and during his reign the city was enhanced and new city walls were added, further beautified and enlarged by his successor, Theodosius the Great. The year 395 historically saw the Roman Empire split in two - to western and eastern Rome, although the Western Roman Empire quickly declined within a hundred years. The powerful Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, choose Istanbul as its capital. However, it came under Arab and Bulgarian rule for a short time, although the city always remained the capital of the Byzantine Empire during these periods. It also suffered from the crusades. Finally, in 1453, the Ottomans lead by Mehmet II conquered the city and made it their capital, from 1453 until 1922. When the Turkish Republic was established in 1923 by Ataturk, Ankara became the capital. Nevertheless, historic Istanbul remains the commercial and tourist center of the country today.

Antalya Travel

Antalya is the most famous Turkish city on the Mediterranean, as the capital of the fertile coastal plain to the south of Asia Minor, who since ancient times as Pamphylia “. But even as the “Turkish Riviera”, this area today. Antalya lies above a cliff and is on three sides surrounded by imposing mountains. In the center of the city bordering the famous Konyaalti – beach to the major seaport in the south of the city. The port and associated with the existing free trade zone will ensure that the city is a true shopper’s paradise for everyone.
Antalya Travel
A landmark of the city is the Hadrianstor at the Ataturk Caddesi, which is the only remaining entrance to the ancient city of Antalya and the port. The gate was in honor of the visit by Hadrian in 130 AD and is built on four pedestals have been built, with three archways and pillars decorated with ornaments complete the goal. Antalya is surrounded by interesting places around you. Thus, the possibility of short trips to these places to organize how to Cappadocia, where the impressive tuff mountains with underground cities and churches, or a trip to the beautiful bays of Kemer and / or Belek.

The long sandy beaches, bathing, swimming, surfing or diving ideal, fascinated the visitors in Antalya. Above all, Antalya for its clean beaches, clear water, long summer and mild winter. The city is one of the few major cities throughout the Mediterranean, mainly to the cleanliness of the beaches very large value. The number of beaches provided with the “Blue Flag” as a symbol of high standards of bathing water quality, is in Antalya and around very high.
This bustling metropolis million (1 million summer / winter 0.5 million) has made a remarkable recovery behind them, not least the result of tourism. The ideal situation in the Gulf of Antalya on the Mediterranean and the year-round mild climate provide the best conditions of the city.Incidentally, the region countless culturally interesting sites, whose visit to the compulsory programme of each visitor counts.The powerful airport, which recently for a further expanded terminal, is the hub of the entire coastline.In the south-west of Antalya extends to the mountains to the city up. The miles of public beach of Konyaalti is a great contrast to the nearby steep mountains. Even with daily trips by bike, it is possible heights of 2000 meters to reach mind of “zero” …..
In the Antalya region are tours from 1 to 6 (7)
Relevant bike tours for ANTALYA 1 to 6 (7):
Short plug Brief:(Tour 1) round with a city tour of the Old Town and an impressive waterfall as a target.(Tour 1, 2, 3) Cultural and ancient monuments as targets.(Tour 1, 2) Two asphalt tours, including one to the ancient theatre of Termessos to over 1000 meters above sea level.(Tour 5, 6) Two smaller tours, including one on a 600 m high mountain lookout with a restaurant and magnificent views over the bay of Antalya.(Tour 4) A “marathon”, the bikers until well into the hinterland with a beautiful landscape of over 2000 meters above sea level brings!.(Tour 7) A marathon region of Kemer, in the 1800 m high Saricinar, with magnificent views can also be operated from AntalyaNo single trails.
The Antalya region offers a wide range of tours. From the pure flat land route with sightseeing, on the half-day mall or Einrollrunde to stamina very demanding 120 km wide round with 2750 metres altitude, everything is offered. Historical sites are also catered to, as well as scenic highlights.
Especially close to the big city to make this region all-round destination. Sea and mountains, town and country is a fascinating contrast to that of his peers looking for: the modern metropolis and a few hundred meters in the hinterland of the original country with the lovely small villages. And not far behind, isolated and pristine nature.
A stay of one week with bike program for each day is possible. Since alone the many attractions in the city itself and the many historical and ancient sites in the immediate surrounding area and other interested parties for a whole week already complete, it is entirely possible not only a week or only once on this wonderful city. You do not necessarily on Konyaalti beach district. Many small hotels offer, even in the midst of the old town Kaleici, cheap and very noble night opportunities. The expected particularly for guests to the beach without the urge of great interest.