The Ancient City of Phaselis is on a small peninsula stretching into the Mediterranean. It is approximately 58 km from Antalya and 12 km from Kemer. Founded by the Rhodesians in the 7th century BC, the city is very important due to its geographical location.
The ancient city of Phaselis has been the most important port of the eastern coast of Lycia for many years. It has 3 ports: the North Port, the Central Port, and the South Port. The most important of these is the South Harbor. The depictions of the city's ports, agoras and ships on the city coins reveal the identity of the commercial port and its power in those years.
Phaselis Ancient City is shown as the city of Lycia or Pamphylia Region. It is actually between the borders of both regions. The city hosted many civilizations. It came under the rule of the Romans in 43 BC and lived a period of prosperity for many years. In the city visited by Emperor Hadrian in 129, the single-arched Hadrian's Gate was built at the entrance of the magnificent main street, 20-24 meters wide, starting from the South Port, in memory of the emperor. The city was under the rule of the Byzantines in the 5th and 6th centuries. It was under the siege of the Seljuks in 1158. Since the 13th century, due to the loss of value and function of its ports, it gradually loses importance and is completely abandoned.
In the Ancient City of Phaselis, mostly Roman and Byzantine ruins can be seen. There are promenades and shops on both sides of the main street connecting the North and South Harbors. The main street widens between the theater and the bazaar, forming a small square. There is a theatre in the southeast of the square belonging to the Hellenistic Period. Three agoras is one opposite the theater and the other two on the right of the main street leading to the South Port, and the remains of two baths, one small and the other large, located in the city square are among other important works.
The most magnificent structure that has survived to the present day is the aqueducts. There are water channels between the city center and the settlement, which was built on a 70-meter-high plateau.
The points of the Ancient City of Phaselis, which shed light on history with its magnificent past and its ruins, are now used as beaches.
