Phaselis Ancient City Popular Tourist Place With 3 Beaches
Antalya is one of the cities that attracts holidaymakers with its historical places and natural beauties apart from its beaches. For this reason, it hosts many tourists, both domestic and foreign, every year. Phaselis Ancient City, on the other hand, offers tourists both historical buildings to visit and more than one beach area to swim.
Phaselis Ancient City
B.C. The ancient city, which is thought to have been founded as a port city in the 7th century, is located on a peninsula stretching towards the Mediterranean. The main livelihood of the ancient city is maritime trade. Since it is the busiest port of the eastern part of Lycia, there are 3 different ports in the city, namely the North Port, the South Port and the Middle Port.
The ancient city, which has a great commercial importance, came under the rule of many different powers such as Persians, pirates, Byzantium and Roman Empire in time. At the beginning of the 13th century, it loses its commercial importance and is abandoned.
Artifacts from the Ancient City of Phaselis mostly belong to the Byzantine and Roman Periods. In addition to the buildings seen in the city, it is thought that the city is bigger than it is now and some buildings have not been reached yet.
Even walking down the street in the center of the ancient city, you can see many parts of the ancient city. This street connects the center of the city with the South Harbor, which serves as the main port. The street is paved with stones that are 25 meters wide and have a very smooth shape. It also has a sewer system along with a drainage system that allows the drainage of rain water.
On both sides of the street, there is a baths, one big and the other small. The smaller one of these baths offers clues about how the baths were heated in the Roman Period.
In addition to these structures, you can see the theater, monumental fountain and the gates built in Hadrian’s honor during Hadrian’s visit to the city. If you want to get detailed information about these doors, which have survived until today, you can take a look at our Hadrian’s Gate article.
Phaselis Beaches
As we mentioned at the beginning of our article, the historical city offers tourists both historical structures to visit and beach areas to swim in the sea. There are beaches for visitors to swim in the three harbors in the city. You can visit the city both to see historical buildings and to swim on its beaches. It is forbidden to camp in the ancient city. There are camping areas near the ancient city.
Phaselis north harbor beach:
It is the second largest beach of the ancient city and also vb the closest port to the entrance. The floor of the beach, which has a clear sea, consists of pebbles. There are no facilities such as toilets, umbrellas, sun loungers and showers on the beach. For toilet and shower you need to go to south beach.
Phaselis central harbor beach:
It is the smallest beach of the ancient city. The sea water is quite calm as the port is circular and covered with trees. In addition, the water of this beach is slightly warmer than the other two beach waters, as it is calm and away from the current.
The water and outer surface of the beach consists of both pebbles and fine sand. If you want to swim in calm, small and warm waters, you can choose this beach. You can relax here as well as swim and sunbathe, as there are many wooded areas around the port. You can also have a picnic provided that you do not light a fire. Since there are no facilities such as showers and toilets on this beach, you have to go to the south port to meet these needs.
In this place where you can both visit and have a comfortable sea holiday, you can meet your needs such as food and drink from a cafe located close to the central beach. In addition to this cafe, there is also a parking lot very close to this beach.
Phaselis south harbor beach:
It is the largest and most popular beach of the Ancient City of Phaselis. In addition to those who come to visit the city, families who want to swim or have a picnic come to this beach. The beach offers restrooms and showers for vacationers. If you wish, you can come to this beach with your private vehicle and park your vehicle in the parking area in the wooded area.
Phaselis Ancient City Visiting Hours
The ancient city, which sheds light on history, is open to visitors seven days a week. The visiting hours of the city are divided into two as summer and winter seasons.
- 1 April – 1 October: 08.00 – 19.00
- 1 October – 1 April: 08.00-18.00
