Bodrum and its attractions. Turkey

Many tourists, who traditionally come to rest on the Anatolian coast, are sure that they have chosen one of the best places for a beach vacation. But this is not entirely true, since Turkey is ready to surprise guests with its beauty in a new way every time.

It is worth driving just 300 kilometers west of Antalya, to the northern part of Gokova Bay, in the Aegean Sea, and your eyes will see a fabulous place – Bodrum.

According to the reviews of tourists who have already visited Bodrum, this picturesque corner and the already popular resort will be appreciated by various categories of tourists who prefer to relax to their liking.

Fans of not only sunbathing, but also getting acquainted with the history and architecture of the new country will be delighted with the snow-white buildings of Bodrum, which are especially mesmerizing at sunset, when the sun slowly recedes over the horizon, painting the white city with fabulous shining rays. Tourists note that in Bodrum, you can take beautiful photos of sunsets and enjoy the magic of the day.

It offers a wide range of excursion programs.

Natures seeking solitude with nature, couples in love and simply dreamers will love the picturesque lagoons surrounded by lush greenery.

Merry people, outdoor enthusiasts and tourists who come to Bodrum in large companies will appreciate the full range of entertainment offered by this large resort town with a well-developed infrastructure.

The visiting card of Bodrum is the yacht center, which the locals are very proud of and loved by tourists. Here you can rent a yacht or book excursion boat trips that will allow you to explore various sights, and on the way make a stop on the high seas to swim in the purest water, go fishing or unforgettable diving.

Bodrum Bay is perhaps the place that all divers in the world dream of. From the first minutes of the dive, you will be enchanted by the magic of the underwater world, colored with some mystery. The depths of the Aegean Sea will allow you to touch sunken ships, explore the underwater labyrinths of caves, admire the extraordinary beauty of coral reefs and swim surrounded by a variety of marine life. The fish here are full of their exclusive colors and elegantly swim in small flocks – an amazingly mesmerizing sight! But sometimes you can meet with more rare and formidable representatives of the sea kingdom – giant octopuses and stingrays. This is truly an opportunity to tickle your nerves and feel the adrenaline rush.

Tourists who like not only to travel actively, but also to get acquainted with the history of the country, to learn interesting facts, as they say, first-hand, will be interested in such sights of the country as the Gate of Myndos, the Castle of St. Peter, the legendary cities of Ephesus, Troy, Minos and, of course, one of the wonders of the world inherited from antiquity, the ruins of the Mausoleum at Helikarnassus.

St. Peter's Castle

This historical monument from the time of the knights-crusaders was erected in the 15th century and is considered one of the main attractions of Bodrum. Currently, it houses the Museum of Underwater Archeology, and earlier, during the Ottoman Empire, this castle-fortress was a prison.

The exposition of the museum is very interesting – here you will see numerous objects raised from the bottom of the sea – graceful Greek amphorae and jugs containing the remains of paintings, ceramics and utensils – everything that was found in the surrounding sea depths, where more than a hundred ships sank.

The castle of St. Peter, like many buildings of those times, has a courtyard, where a monument to Emperor Tiberius used to stand. Now tourists can see only the preserved pedestal that served as the basis for this monument.

Helikarnassus mausoleum

One of the seven wonders of the world, which, probably, many have heard of, but only those who make an excursion to the Helikarnassus mausoleum will be lucky enough to see it – the main attraction of modern Bodrum, located on the site of the former Helikarnassus. This magnificent tombstone was erected to Mavsol, the Carian ruler, at the behest of his wife Artemisia. Once it was a pompous building, which was decorated with graceful friezes and luxurious sculptures. Today, only ruins have survived from it, exciting the imagination of sightseers: after all, it was here that a great history was created. During the siege of Helicarnassus, the Mausoleum was destroyed by the troops of Alexander the Great, and later the crusaders stole separate fragments for the construction of their castle.

By the way, to this day, scientists from all over the world cannot come to a consensus about who the authorship of the project of this Mausoleum belongs to. But by miraculously preserved ancient copies, the masters managed to restore this structure and create a unique model that adorns the museum exposition. Looking at it, you will have the opportunity to imagine all the gigantism of this building and estimate the real dimensions, because the Mausoleum was carved into the rock, on a terrace-like ledge. As the basis for the tomb, a rectangular pedestal measuring thirty-three by thirty-nine meters was provided, and the pyramid-shaped stairs leading to it were propped up by thirty-six tall columns.

This is how monumental the memory of her wife Artemisia immortalized.

Myndos Gate

This historical monument, too, unfortunately, has not been completely preserved to this day. All that remains of the city gates is one of the three defensive towers. But in the VIII century, the heroic gates were a key figure in the defensive walls that surrounded Helikarnassus, on the site of which modern Bodrum now stretches, and they were directed towards another city – Myndos, for which they received such a name.

In modern Bodrum, you will find many more interesting historical monuments, which Russian-speaking guides will gladly tell you about and answer all questions of curious tourists. There is definitely something to see here.