Map showing the Turkish Riviera

The Turkish Riviera (also known as "The Turquoise Coast") is a popular term used to define an area of southwest Turkey encompassing Antalya, Muğla and to a lesser extent Aydın and İzmir provinces. Turkey (Türkiye known officially as the Republic of Turkey ( is a Eurasian Country that stretches Antalya Province is located on the Mediterranean coast of south-west Turkey, between the Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean sea. Muğla is a province of Turkey, as the country's south-western corner on the Aegean Sea. Aydın is a province of southwestern Turkey, located in the Aegean Region. İzmir is a province of Turkey in western Anatolia on the Aegean coast whose capital is the city of Izmir. The combination of a favorable climate, warm sea, and abundant natural and archeological points of interest makes this stretch of Turkey’s coastline a popular tourist destination.

The region is known for pleasant climate conditions, including more than a thousand kilometers of shoreline along the Mediterranean Sea, and a host of archaeological and natural riches. The Turkish Riviera is strewn with ancient cities and harbors, memorial tombs and beaches and is laced with many small coves, lush forests and streams which make it frequent destination for Blue Voyages. Blue Cruise aka Blue Voyage ( "Mavi Yolculuk" in Turkish) is a term used for Recreational boating tours along

Throughout history, this unique landscape attracted numerous warriors, kings, and heroes. Mark Anthony of the Roman Empire chose Turkish Riviera as the most beautiful wedding gift for his beloved Cleopatra of Egypt. Mark Anthony may refer to Mark Antony ( Marcus Antonius) - statesman in Ancient Rome Marc Anthony - singer/songwriter and husband Cleopatra VII Philopator (in Greek, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ; January 69 BC &ndash 30 BC was a Hellenistic ruler of Egypt ^[1] Moreover, Turkish Riviera is the birth place of some of the most important figures of history. St. Nicholas, later known as Santa Claus, was born in Demre (ancient Myra), a small town close to Antalya. Saint Nicholas (Άγιος Νικόλαος, Agios Nikolaos, "victory of the people" is the common name for Nicholas of Myra, a Christian Saint Demre is a district of Antalya Province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Myra is an ancient town in Lycia, where the small town of Kale ( Demre) is situated today in present day Antalya Province of Turkey Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern ^[2] Herodotus, accepted as the father of history, was born in Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) in ca. Herodotus of Halicarnassus ( Greek: Hēródotos Halikarnāsseús) was a Greek Historian who lived in the 5th century BC ( 484 BC&ndash Bodrum (from Petronium; formerly Halicarnassus (Halikarnas Ancient Greek: Ἁλικαρνασσός) is a Turkish Halicarnassus (Άλικαρνᾱσσός &mdash Halikarnassós or Ἁλικαρνασσός &mdash Alikarnassós Halikarnas modern 484 BC. Events By place Persian Empire Xerxes I quells the Egyptian revolt against Persian rule ^[3] In the mountains to the west of Antalya is the Chimera the firebreathing monster that the hero Bellerophon slew. Behind Antalya are the bay trees of the gardens of Daphne where the nymph was turned into a bay tree by Zeus to escape the amorous advances of Apollo. ^[4]

It is said that Turkey has more Greek monuments than Greece and more Roman sites than Italy. Also two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World are located in the Turkish Riviera. The Seven Wonders of the World (or the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) is a well known list of seven remarkable constructions of Classical antiquity. The ruins of the Mausoleum of Maussollos in Halicarnassus and the columns of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus can still be seen today. The Tomb of Mausolus, Mausoleum of Mausolus or Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (in Greek,) was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus Halicarnassus (Άλικαρνᾱσσός &mdash Halikarnassós or Ἁλικαρνασσός &mdash Alikarnassós Halikarnas modern The Temple of Artemis ( Greek: Ἀρτεμίσιον Ephesus ( Hittite Apasa; Ancient Greek; Turkish Efes) was a city of ancient Anatolia. ^[5]

Communities

Many villages and towns in the area are internationally known, such as Antalya, Alanya, Bodrum, Fethiye and Marmaris. Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Alanya (ɑˈlɑnjɑ is a seaside resort city and district of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey, 120 km (75 miles from the city Bodrum (from Petronium; formerly Halicarnassus (Halikarnas Ancient Greek: Ἁλικαρνασσός) is a Turkish Fethiye is a City and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey with about 68000 Inhabitants Marmaris is a port city and a tourist destination on the Mediterranean coast located in southwest Turkey, in the Muğla Province.

Places on the Turkish Riviera include:

Gallery

thumb|View of Ölüdeniz near Fethiye	thumb|Beaches and marina of Kemer near Antalya	Ancient Lycian tombs in Simena	View of Kekova
Beaches of Marmaris	Katrancı Bay near Fethiye	The historic marina of Antalya	Stone carving of Medusa in Didim
Exterior walls of the ancient theatre in Side	Roman theatre in Demre, where St. Nicholas lived	Olympos	Historic houses of Çeşme
Port of Foça, home of the Mediterranean Monk Seal	Kaputaş Beach between Kaş and Kalkan

Panoramic view of Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus, the city of Herodotus and the home of the Mausoleum of Maussollos, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Panoramic view of Alanya, inhabited since the Hittites and the medieval homeport of the Seljuk naval forces, famous today for its natural beauty and historic monuments

See also

• Blue Cruise
• Tourism in Turkey
• French Riviera
• Italian Riviera
• The article Riviera provides links to articles on the many coastal strips around the world which are known as Riviera. Akyaka is a township with own municipality in Ula district of Muğla Province in southwestern Turkey. Alaçatı (also known as Agrilia) is a unique Aegean town on the western coast of Turkey, which has been famous for its Architecture, Alanya (ɑˈlɑnjɑ is a seaside resort city and district of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey, 120 km (75 miles from the city Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern The Belbaşi culture and the succeeding Beldibi in southern Anatolia ’s Antalya plain formed part of the Natufian culture complex which stretched from Belek is a township with own municipality in Serik district in Turkey 's Antalya Province. Beycik is a village of Kemer District Antalya Province Turkey. Bodrum (from Petronium; formerly Halicarnassus (Halikarnas Ancient Greek: Ἁλικαρνασσός) is a Turkish Bozburun is a small seaside town with own municipality in Marmaris district in southwestern Turkey. Çamyuva (pronounced Chamyoova is a small town in Turkey, to the south of Kemer. Çeşme ( Greek: Κρήνη, transliteration Kríni or Krēnē) is a coastal town and the center-town of the district of the same Çıralı is an agricultural Village in the southwest of Turkey in Antalya Province. Çiftlik is a town and district of Niğde Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, 67 km from the town of Niğde, and 65 km from Dalaman is a district as well as the central town of that district situated on the southwestern coast of Turkey, in the Muğla Province. Dalyan is a town in Muğla Province located between the well-known districts of Marmaris and Fethiye on the south-west coast of Turkey. Datça is a district as well as the center town of that district in Muğla Province of Turkey. Demre is a district of Antalya Province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Didim, home of the antique city of Didyma with its ruined Temple of Apollo is a small town, popular seaside holiday resort and district of Aydın Fethiye is a City and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey with about 68000 Inhabitants Finike (ancient Phoenicus) is a district on the Mediterranean coast of Antalya Province of Turkey, 90 minutes west of the city of Antalya This article is about the modern city For the ancient Ionian Greek city see Phocaea Foça is a district as well as the center town of that Gazipaşa is a town and district of Antalya Province on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey, 180 km east of the city of Antalya. Göcek is a small town in Fethiye district in Muğla Province, Turkey. For the village in Azerbaijan see Göynük Azerbaijan. Göynük is a town and a district of Bolu Province in the Black Sea Gümüşlük, a seaside village and fishing port in Turkey, is situated on the remains of the ancient city of Myndos. Güzelçamlı ( locally also called Çamlı in short) is a sea-side town with own municipality in the district of Kuşadası in Turkey 's Ilıca is a large resort area near Çeşme in the extreme western tip of Turkey, in İzmir Province. İçmeler is a popular Turkish holiday resort situated 8 kilometres from Marmaris. Kalkan (Kalamaki is a town on the Turkish Mediterranean coast which averages of 300 days of sunshine a year Kaş is a small fishing yachting and tourist town and a district of Antalya Province of Turkey, 168km west of the city of Antalya. Kekova, also named Caravola ( Lycian: Dolichiste) is a small Turkish island near Kaş (ancient Antiphellos) Kemer is a Seaside resort and district of Antalya Province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, west of the city of Antalya Kızkumu is an area of 600 meter shallow water that divides this bay of Turkey into two and is part of Orhaniye District of the city Muğla in Turkey Kuşadası is a Resort town in Turkey 's Aegean coast and the center of the district of the same name in Aydın Province. Konyaaltı is a district of Antalya, Turkey. The name Konyaaltı (konjaaltɯ which mean "below Konya" stems from the fact the city of Antalya Köyceğiz is a town and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. Lara is a district of Antalya city Turkey. Its famous beach Lara beach, is one of the longest sand beaches in Turkey Manavgat is a town and district of the Antalya Province in Turkey, from the city of Antalya. Marmaris is a port city and a tourist destination on the Mediterranean coast located in southwest Turkey, in the Muğla Province. Milas (ancient Mylasa Μύλασα) is an ancient city in southwestern Turkey. Muğla is the seat of Muğla province, which stretches along Turkey ´s Aegean coast in the southwest of the country Olympos is a common variation of Olympus. This article refers to a National Park in Turkey Ortaca is a town and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. Ölüdeniz is a small resort village in the Muğla Province on the South West coast of Turkey on the Aegean Sea to the south and the high steep sided Özdere is a Turkish town in Menderes districts of İzmir Province on the Aegean coast This article is about the ancient city named Patara in Lycia Turkey for the city named Patara in Cappadocia Turkey see Patara (Cappadocia, for the village named Patara the late seventh century BCE Greek settlers from Cyme built Side on a rocky promontory on the Pamphylian shore Side (ˈsiːdǝ is one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey, and was an ancient harbour whose name meant pomegranate Kaleköy (literally "Castle's village" in Turkish; ancient Lycian: Simena) is a village of the Demre district in the Söğüt is a town and district of Bilecik Province in the Marmara region of Turkey. Torba is a village near Bodrum in the Muğla Province, Turkey. Turgutreis is a town in Turkey about a 60 minute drive from Bodrum International Airport. Türkbükü is a Turkish town on the Turkish Riviera in Muğla Province on the opposite side of the Bodrum peninsula from the town of Bodrum. Ulupınar is a village situated 30 kilometres from the district centre of Kemer, in Turkey 's Antalya Province. Yalıkavak is a town near Bodrum in Muğla province, in the Aegean coast of Turkey. Ölüdeniz is a small resort village in the Muğla Province on the South West coast of Turkey on the Aegean Sea to the south and the high steep sided Fethiye is a City and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey with about 68000 Inhabitants Kemer is a Seaside resort and district of Antalya Province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, west of the city of Antalya Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern "Sidyma" redirects here For the Moth Genus named thus see Sidyma (moth. Kaleköy (literally "Castle's village" in Turkish; ancient Lycian: Simena) is a village of the Demre district in the Kekova, also named Caravola ( Lycian: Dolichiste) is a small Turkish island near Kaş (ancient Antiphellos) Marmaris is a port city and a tourist destination on the Mediterranean coast located in southwest Turkey, in the Muğla Province. Fethiye is a City and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey with about 68000 Inhabitants Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern In Greek mythology, Medusa ( Greek: Μέδουσα (Médousa "guardian protectress" was a monstrous Chthonic female character gazing upon Didim, home of the antique city of Didyma with its ruined Temple of Apollo is a small town, popular seaside holiday resort and district of Aydın Side (ˈsiːdǝ is one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey, and was an ancient harbour whose name meant pomegranate Myra is an ancient town in Lycia, where the small town of Kale ( Demre) is situated today in present day Antalya Province of Turkey Saint Nicholas (Άγιος Νικόλαος, Agios Nikolaos, "victory of the people" is the common name for Nicholas of Myra, a Christian Saint Olympos is a common variation of Olympus. This article refers to a National Park in Turkey Çeşme ( Greek: Κρήνη, transliteration Kríni or Krēnē) is a coastal town and the center-town of the district of the same This article is about the modern city For the ancient Ionian Greek city see Phocaea Foça is a district as well as the center town of that The Mediterranean Monk Seal ( Monachus monachus) is believed to be the world's rarest Pinniped and one of the most endangered Mammals of the world Kaputaş Beach is a long beach between Kaş and Kalkan in southwestern Turkey. Kaş is a small fishing yachting and tourist town and a district of Antalya Province of Turkey, 168km west of the city of Antalya. Kalkan (Kalamaki is a town on the Turkish Mediterranean coast which averages of 300 days of sunshine a year Bodrum (from Petronium; formerly Halicarnassus (Halikarnas Ancient Greek: Ἁλικαρνασσός) is a Turkish Halicarnassus (Άλικαρνᾱσσός &mdash Halikarnassós or Ἁλικαρνασσός &mdash Alikarnassós Halikarnas modern Herodotus of Halicarnassus ( Greek: Hēródotos Halikarnāsseús) was a Greek Historian who lived in the 5th century BC ( 484 BC&ndash The Tomb of Mausolus, Mausoleum of Mausolus or Mausoleum at Halicarnassus (in Greek,) was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus The Seven Wonders of the World (or the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) is a well known list of seven remarkable constructions of Classical antiquity. Alanya (ɑˈlɑnjɑ is a seaside resort city and district of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey, 120 km (75 miles from the city The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people who spoke a language of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family and established Blue Cruise aka Blue Voyage ( "Mavi Yolculuk" in Turkish) is a term used for Recreational boating tours along Tourism in Turkey is focused largely on a variety of archaeological and historical sites and on Seaside resorts along its Aegean and Mediterranean The French Riviera (Côte d'Azur Occitan: Còsta Azzura) is one of the most famous resort areas in the world extending along the Mediterranean Sea west The Italian Riviera is the narrow coastal strip which lies between the Ligurian Sea and the mountain chain formed by the Maritime Alps and the Apennines

Notes