Patara Ancient City is at the southwest end of the Xanthos Valley between Fethiye and Kalkan. It is within the borders of Gelemis Village. Among the finds belonging to the city, whose name is mentioned as 'Patar' in the Hittite texts of the 13th century BC, the stone ax from the pre-Iron Age, unearthed on the slopes of the eastern slope of Tepecik, proves that the history of the city dates back to ancient times.
Patara has always been important throughout history as it is the only place in the Xanthos Valley that opens to the sea. It also undertook the capital of the Lycian League. The city became a Roman province in 43, merged with Pamphylia in 74, but continues to be the capital. Patara served as a port where grains from Anatolia to Rome were stored and shipped. It was considered an important religious center for Christians as it was the birthplace of St.Nikolaos, known as Santa Claus. The city has preserved its reputation for many years. It loses its importance over time because the Patara Harbor is 400 meters wide and 1600 meters deep. It starts to fill with sand, and the boats have difficulties docking. The wind blows the sand also fills the harbor over time, and covers the city to a large extent. Some of the ruins seen today in the town were unearthed under the sands, in a well-preserved condition.
The ancient city of Patara has been excavated since 1988. It is entered from the magnificent Roman Triumphal Arch. It is understood from the inscriptions that this arch was built in the name of the regional governor for 100 years. To the west of the arch lies the necropolis area with Lycian sarcophagi. At the southern end of the city, they are leaning on Kurşunlu Tepe, where the general view of the city is best seen. The 6000-seat theater bears traces of Hellenistic and Roman Period architecture. Other ruins such as the Vespasian Bath, the Corinthian Temple, the main street, the port and the granary can be easily seen from Kurşunlu Tepe. To the north of the theater is the world's oldest democratic parliament building, where Patara, as the capital, hosts meetings. The waterways that bring water from a rock about 20 km from the city are striking ruins. 'Hole Arch' is the most monumental part of these waterways. The majestic Patara also has the world's oldest surviving ancient lighthouse. The lighthouse, about the height of a 5-storey apartment, is still standing.
The city is close to the Lycian Way route. You can explore Patara Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. With a length of approximately 18 km, after embarking on a historical journey dating back centuries. The coast will witness the wonderful landscapes created by the dunes that do not look like deserts. It is one of the rare regions where Caretta Carettas have laid eggs and hatched for millions of years.
