Phaselis Ancient City

📍 General Information

• 🌍 Location: Situated near Tekirova in the Kemer district of Antalya, on the Mediterranean coast.

• 🏗️ Founded: Established in the 7th century BC by the people of Rhodes.

• ⚓ Significance: One of the most important port cities of ancient Lycia, known for trade and maritime power.

• 🌊 Geography: The city had three natural harbors — North, Central, and South — which made it a vital commercial hub in antiquity.

🕰️ Historical Background

• 🏺 Archaic & Classical Periods: Quickly developed into a major trading city after its foundation by the Rhodians.

• 🏛️ Hellenistic Period: Became part of the Lycian League and gained political and cultural prominence.

• 🏗️ Roman Period: Reached its golden age; most of the surviving structures such as roads, baths, and the theatre were built during this era.

• ✝️ Byzantine Period: Turned into a religious center, with the construction of several basilicas.

• ⚒️ Medieval Period: Lost importance due to harbor silting and shifts in trade routes.

🏗️ Architectural Highlights

• 🎭 Theatre: A Roman-style amphitheater with a capacity of around 1,500 spectators.

• 🏛️ Agora: Once the commercial heart of the city, surrounded by shops and public buildings.

• 🚿 Baths & Aqueducts: Masterpieces of Roman engineering that supplied fresh water throughout the city.

• ⚓ Three Harbors: Provided Phaselis with its economic power and maritime identity.

• ⛪ Byzantine Basilica: One of the key religious structures from the Christian era.

• 🏗️ Main Street: A well-preserved colonnaded road connecting the northern and southern parts of the city.

🌅 Natural and Touristic Features

• 🌊 The ruins are literally on the seashore, allowing visitors to swim beside ancient walls.

• 🏖️ Phaselis Beach is famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and peaceful atmosphere.

• 🌿 Located within the Beydağları Coastal National Park, combining history, nature, and sea.

• 🐢 Caretta Caretta sea turtles occasionally nest on the beach during the summer months.

• 📷 A perfect location for photography, swimming, and nature walks, offering both relaxation and exploration.

🕒 Visitor Information (2025)

🌟 Cultural Importance

Phaselis Ancient City is a unique fusion of history, sea, and nature.
Its three harbors once connected the Lycian world to the Mediterranean, serving as a vital maritime hub.
Today, it remains one of Antalya’s most picturesque and historically rich coastal sites, where visitors can walk among ruins, swim in the sea, and feel the echoes of ancient life.