Monuments to visit Aegean Coast

Ancient fortress of the Aegean Sea, a major beauty in Asia Minor, St. Peter's Castle is the main attraction of the city. This imposing fortress built of white stone overlooks the Aegean Sea and is located on the site of the ancient acropolis. The castle was built between 1404 and 1522 by the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem to protect the city from pirate attacks in the eastern Mediterranean. Its towers are guarded by representatives of different nationalities and its thick crenellated walls were once surrounded by a moat, filled with sea water and rainwater to prevent invaders from entering. Ten years after its completion, Suleiman the Magnificent expelled the Knights, and this huge fortress surrounded by the sea on three of its sides was turned into a jail. Over time, the castle has undergone many renovations and extensions, it will serve as a military garrison and Turkish baths. Particularly well preserved, it remains a remarkable example of Frankish military architecture of the late Middle Ages. Since 1962, St. Peter's Castle has been the official home of the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. It is one of the largest museums dedicated to underwater archaeology in the world. You will discover a unique collection of objects recovered by divers from wrecked ships such as gold jewelry, coins, ancient objects made of glass, bronze, clay and iron, sculptures and models of ancient ships. The exhibits are organized chronologically, from the Bronze Age to the Roman era. The most impressive room is the one devoted to the ancient stone sarcophagi found in the region, which date back to the Roman period. Visitors can admire detailed carvings and relief inscriptions that tell the story of the characters depicted.

Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, the Château Saint-Pierre is occasionally used as a venue for cultural events. Its interior courtyard is popular for weddings. Do not miss the beautiful Andalusian garden and the chapel. However, you will have to climb a few steps to reach the top of its towers. Your efforts will be rewarded: from the castle walls, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of Bodrum Bay and the Aegean Sea.

The impressive head of Medusa with its hair of snakes welcomes you. Originally, it decorated the frieze of the temple; its twin sister is in the basilica cistern in Istanbul. The sacred well is just below it. The pilgrims who wished to question the pythia, paid a sum varying according to the nature of the problem and sacrificed an animal to Apollo. Before the sacrifice, the priests sprinkled the animal with cold water from the well and, according to its reactions, decided whether the god wanted to answer the question asked. Then the pilgrim entered the sanctuary through a forest of 108 gigantic Ionic columns. Although only three of them have kept their original size, one can imagine the effect of this temple which was one of the three largest in the Hellenistic world - the other two being that of Artemis in Ephesus and that of Hera in Samos. Notice the rich decoration of the bases of the columns. After climbing a few steps, one descends to the pronaos, the vestibule of the sanctuary where the visitor formulated his question to the priest. The walls are preserved, but originally the vestibule was covered with an elaborate ceiling. The priest, after having crossed a room and a corridor, arrived at theadyton, interior court with a small room sheltering the statue of Apollo, and transmitted the message to the pythia. This one, after having tasted the water of the sacred source, chewed laurel leaves and entering in trance, was delirious in an often confused language.

Carved into the rock face, located at the northern end of the city on a hill, is a Hellenistic theater. Built in the 4th century BC, the monument has been restored. Originally, it could accommodate 13,000 people. Walking on the steps of the theater is the ideal walk to enjoy the sun setting over the bay of Bodrum and the castle. The view is splendid. In the summer, many concerts and shows are given in the enclosure, it is complicated to park but it is the promise of nice evenings.

If you have the courage, this is an idea for a nice walk from the agora. This is where the ancient acropolis of Smyrna was located, built by Lysimachus during the reign of Alexander. However, the current walls of the citadel come from the Byzantine period. The view from the fortress, on the gulf, is magnificent. The enclosure would however need a restoration by places. Small restaurant on the spot, with the splendid panorama.

It is the largest building in ancient Smyrna, and the residence of the governor. Located on the waterfront, and in front of the Belediye, stands Saat Kulesi, the Clock Tower, which dates from 1901. 25 meters high and with its elaborate decoration, it has become the emblem of Izmir. The clock was originally a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II. It was designed according to the architectural plans of a French foreman. The tower faces the former location of the customs house.

To the northwest, the Myndos Gate was part of the city walls, 7 km long at the time of Mausoleus, who ordered its construction in the 4th century B.C. It is the only remaining gate. You can also see the remains of a moat, as well as several ruins, a little further on. Also, some tombs and mosaics. The date of 334 B.C. remains famous because many soldiers of Alexander the Great died in the moat by drowning.

There is little left of the Ionian city of Phocaea. The five-gates castle (Beskapilar Kalesi), with the aqueduct, the ruins of the ancient theatre and those of the temple of Athena, is one of the only remains worthy of interest in Foça. It is a Genoese building, in fact a landing stage, restored by the Ottomans to which they added towers to the ramparts in the 16th century. The former boat shelter, partially and several times restored, is now used as an open-air theatre. You'll find it as you pass the sanctuary and the city walls.