A day trip by boat to the Datca peninsula visiting the ancient city of Iasos. A stunning coastline, enjoy the boat ride and also discover this magnificent former island.
Iasos was formerly an island, the founders probably chose it for its protected natural harbour. Excavations of the Carian city Iasos by a team of Italian archaeologists have revealed that the earliest settlement dates back to the Early Bronze Age. Many artefacts and sculptures can be seen in Izmir, Milas and Bodrum museums, and there are some objects and inscriptions made of the local purple marble in a Roman mausoleum referred to locally as the Balik Pazari (Fish Market). Other buildings in the ancient city date from various periods.
The walls, which are the first structure to strike the eye, are thought to date from the Hellenistic period. As well as three temples of Zeus Megistos, Apollo and Artemis. There are numerous Roman buildings, including an agora, theatre aqueducts, cisterns, gymnasium, baths and a bouleuterion. In the sea is an ancient harbour wall and watch towers. One of the two watch towers or lighthouses has been restored and can be reached by walking along the stones of the harbour wall that rises above the sea's surface. When the city was still inhabited, a chain used to be stretched across the entrance to the harbour between the two towers to prevent attack by sea.
In recent years fish farming has become widespread in the area and like in ancient days the abundance of fresh fish in Kiyikislak is one of its main attractions. Every day people come here from the opposite shore just to by fish and a meal at one of the fish restaurants on the seashore here is delightful.
