DATCA TOURISM PORTAL

God created the earth first and after that he created the nature,water and people.He created affection at people’s hearts and faithfulness insides.Faithfulness to their family,to the nature and to the life…God created the love at people’s hearts and the meaning of the love for them.He created clear sea like water, deep blue nature, very green forests and very clean air.(datcalife.com)He created Datça ages and ages ago for his favourite human beings to live for long years.He created its very clean air,its very green nature and its deep blue sea for people to adore Datça and not to be able to do without Datça.God left men in Datça peninsula to live for long years and so His men lived for years and centuries.However, men, who have tasted its air, nature, water and meals, can’t abandon Datça as Datça can’t let them go off.Neither people can abandon Datça nor Datça can let them go off and stand alone.It’s one of the places covered with huge amount of oxygen.Datça has neither damp nor wetness.Whenever boreas blows, you can feel your breath; whenever southwest wind blows, you can feel the place you live.What a wonderful place it is! Many poems and songs were written for it.This small city became the master of poets, artists and so on.Also Datça is said to be lived rather than told, yes, right, Datça is a place where it is really worth to live.Datça is the place where happiness, cheer and comfort exist.It’s the place where sadness, sorrow and grief disappear.(datcalife.com)It is the city of people in love and it is the place where fishermen works for their living.Datça is a small district, but originally it is a town, our own town.The people of Datça speak differently and their meals are different also.It’s not a crowded place actually.Datça is rich in nature and also rich in historical constructions.All its wealth are its plants which is its own private assets.Its nature is its money, its gift is its air.As people said: “Datça is lived rather than told”..No matter how short and quite different living here is, Datça is sometimes depicted as we try to explain it.Loving Datça is quite different, adoring Datça is completely different.You can not forget and bury this love deep inside your heart…!Datça, which is founded on the peninsula standing where mediterranean and aegean region meet, is an allocation unite admired very much for so long years for both its scenic beauty and its sea.Datça, which was founded on historical and cultural wealth of Knidos, one of the most significant ports of its era, is one of the indispensible places where Anatolian civilisations lived.Doric people, Persians, people from Athens and Rome, people from “germiyanoğulları” and finally Otoman Empire contributed to Datça’s historical accumulation.Datça is at the Southwest of Anatolia and takes place between Gökova and Hisarönü bays.Also it is a paradise, where mediterranean and aegean region meet, with its beautiful coves and beaches, its sparkling clean sea, its old history, its unspoilt nature,its rich flora and fauna, its having abundant oxygen, its low damp and sunny weather throughout 300 days of one year.(datcalife.com) There are accounts, recorded in history, which reveals that the weather of Datça peninsula cure people.Today also cardiac patients, people having problems with their blood circulation and nevre and people ill with rheumatism prefer Datça to be rid of their illnesses.Besides you can come to Datça on expanded and repaired land route which is 70 km passing Marmaris and watching the scene, which consists of woderful green and blue colours, and beautiful coves of mediterranean and aegean seas; you can also make a sea journey by the ferryboats and seabuses which set sail from Bodrum or Rodos and Simi islands of Greece.If you happen to pass Datça, you should see the old Datça.Never mind that its name is the old Datça.Actually here there are the best organised and most liked places among Datça’s three districts.It is old due to the fact that it was the first place where people settled down and here there are many old ruined buildings.Now these ruined buildings are being reconstructed and they are presented to be sold for excessive amount of money.Datça houses, which consist of utmost two floor and are all artistic stone works dressed with begonviller, cause the narrow streets to gain visual beauty.You should see also “Canevi” where Can Yücel’s works.It is open to the visitors.The population of Datça is approximately 15.000 with 9 village which are attached to the center.In summer months the population become approximately 50.000 with the arrival of the local and foreigne tourists.Besides the peninsula is rich in historical places and constructions, it has also fascinating nature.In our country the almond flowers come into blossom firstly here and also the first green almonds of our country come into blossom here in february.Datça is also famous for its honey and fish.It is possible to swim in clean seas of beautiful coves and beaches throughout most parts of the year.Most of the suitable coves and beaches to swim are generally south parts of the city.These places are (from east to west) Kuruca, Bük, Aktur, Karaincir, Güllük, Gebekum, Burgaz, Kargı, Domuz bükü and Palamut bükü.It is possible to swim also at Hastanealtı, Kumluk, Taşlık and Azgandı beaches of the city center.Most of these beaches are rewarded with blue flag prize every year.In the city center, at the Southwest of Taşlık beach there is a lake whose water is warmer than the sea water and in which there are plenty of minerals that are beneficial to the health.This lake has a superb view.The peninsula is very suitable for the yacht tourism because of its natural beauties, adequate and best fit coves and also its cultural values.Especially the coves covered with pines and forest in Balıkaşıran and Knidos southern port are much-frequented places.There are many numbers of footpace courses for the people who love walking on the mountains, hills and so on.On Datça peninsula mediterranean climate is dominant and summers are hot and windy; winters are warm and rainy.The scorching heat of the summers is not felt because of the fact that the winds blowing from South and North pass completely from the sea.Datça’s weather whose moisture rate is close to zero is beneficial to people’s health.The factor of microclimate which is dominant in the peninsula is beneficial to especially asthma patients.Thanks to this climate the taste of vegetables and fruits cultivated in Datça is as if more delicious.Its honey, almond, grape, olive, squeezing olive, pomegranate, citrus fruits, tomato, pepper and plenty of hebs all taste different.The compassion, charity and friendliness of Datça people take root from its climate.Walkings among the pine forests, mersin, sage, thyme and like these such fragrant maquises and sounds of birds make you soothe.The peninsula also offers wide range of facilities for water sport fans.It is very suitable for wind surf and sailing thanks to the winds blowing throughout most parts of a year.And also it is possible that the scuba diving fans become fascinated with the charming world of the undersea in the permissible regions.For the campers there are good camp regions too.The famous geographer of the antique world said “God leaves His servant in Datça Peninsula if this person is to live long” for this region. In 7 B.C., Dorian people establish a city state named as ‘Knidos’ in Burgaz region. Knidos becomes a region of richness through wine and olive-oil trade. According to the famous historian, Herodotus, in 546 B.C., Knidos people tried to transform their peninsula into an island by making excavations in Balıkaşıran region in order to protect it against Persion attacks, but they did not achieve this. In 4 B.C., Knidos is transferred into Tekir Burnu (Tekir Foreland) for commercial purposes. In the city which is established in accordance with Hippodamus plan, beautiful temples, spiritual buildings, theatres and splendid buildings are built. Many scientists and artists are grown up in this region. The second biggest and most important medical school in the history is built in Knidos. Beauty of naked Aphrodite (goddess of beauty and love) Statue sculptured by Sculptor Praksiteles is told in the upcoming centuries. Visitors come to Knidos only to see this sculpture. Knidos becomes capital of other Dorian City States. Knidos becomes the centre for episcopacy in Byzantium period. This peninsula goes under the sovereignty of Byzantine People, Seljuk Empire and Ottoman Empire, respectively. Datça becomes a district affiliated to Muğla in 1928. Burgaz remnants, remnants in Sarı Liman region, mosque dating back to period of Seljuk Empire in Hızırşah village, mosque dating back to Ottoman Empire in Reşadiye quarter and Mehmet Ali Ağa Konağı (Mansion) which was used for tourism purposes after restoration, windmills in Kızlan village, stone buildings in Old Datça and Reşadiye Quarter, Byzantine churches on the peninsula and water cisterns and archs of several periods are important remnants in this region. This peninsula is rich for historical aspects and charming in terms of natural aspects.This story is told for climate of Datça. In Roman period, all the leprous people are sent to Egypt. These leprous people are disembarked in Emecik region for climatic purposes or the fact that they do not want to go to Egypt. Boats return to Rome. After a few years passed, Romans wonder what happens to these leprous people disembarked in Knidos. When Romans come to Knidos in order to see these leprous people, there is a surprise for them: all of these leprous people are healed. Another feature of Datça climate is that it is always windy. Datça is one of the best places for surfing with this feature. Surfers know that their sails are inflated in this region very well. Datça presents unbelievable opportunities for people who are interested in diving. In spite of depth of many meters, you can see the bottom of the sea with the naked eye and count all the water crafts one by one. You can visit Datça shore by shore or you can visit coves through a daily boat tour. You can go to- and return from Knidos in a boat tour you will participate. Before you choose your tour boat, you should take information from the captain about the route. You are in the cool water of very great regions and coves during this voyage and relax in water with different colours of turquoise in kargı, domuz çukuru, kızılkum, hayıtbükü, ovabükü, kurucabük, palamutbükü and knidos coves. If you want to go by the car, you should pass through mesudiye, hayıtbükü, ovabükü, kurucabük, palamutbükü and knidos.Findings in Datça peninsula date back to 2000 B.C. The first native people are Karlar. The brightest period was experienced in Dorian period. In 1000 B.C., they go to southern region through Thrace and come to this region through Greece. They established Knidos in Burgaz region which is situated in the north-eastern part of Datça district. Knidos becomes the capital city of Dorian civilization and in 546 B.C., goes under the sovereignty of Lydia State and Persians.In 4 B.C., Knidos is transferred to the end of this peninsula where splendid remnants are situated for commercial purposes. Dorian people and Romans build many temples in new Knidos. In the late Rome and Early Byzantium period, churches replace these temples. Population of the city reaches approximately 70 thousands. In the last periods of Byzantium Empire, the city which was weakened through earthquakes and pirate attacks was abandoned and population of the peninsula was reduced in thousands. Settlements in the peninsula were under control of Menteşoğulları Princedom in the 13^th century. In the 15^th century, this peninsula was conquered by Ottoman Empire and named as Datça. In the period of Sultan Reşat which is one of the last Sultans of Ottoman Empire, it was renamed as “Reşadiye”. In the republic period, it was renamed as “Datça”. In 1047, its centre was transferred to İskele Quarter.Aphrodite: Aprodite, which is goddess of love and beauty in the old Greece is named as Venus by Romans. According to a legend, Aphrodite comes into being through white foams coming out of sexual organ thrown into the sea by Kronos, son of Uranus. A pearl coming out of these foams was blown ashore and Aphrodite and her son Eros came out of this pearl. Aphrodite is a goddess who takes place in many legends. Two of these legends are Adonis and Aphrodite legend which tells about emergence of spring and summer months and famous beauty contest which is claimed to paved the way for Trojan War. It is evident that Paris fell in love with Helena by choosing love commitment of Aphrodite and paved the way for Trojan war. Young son of one of the recognized families of the city starts visiting Aphrodite Temple continually and passing most of the day in this temple. He comes to this temple very early in the morning and unwillingly returns home after the sun declines. This young man falls in love with the goddess in the end.Therefore, he starts watching this goddess with passion of love and desire continually. This young man, on a day on which his desires and wills are eternal, hides in the temple in such a way that nobody can recognize him and stays alone with the goddess in the temple after the doors are closed by the employees. At night, the young man who stays alone with the goddess can not prevent his wills and desires from culminating and falls in a sensual love with the goddess. You should see Old Datça if you pass through Datça. Ignore that its name is Old Datça. It is a place where the most organized one of the three quarters of Datça is situated and it is one of the most popular places of last decades. Its old name comes from the fact that it is the first settlement place and there are many ruinous old buildings. Now, these ruinous buildings are being restored and sold with high prices. Old Datça houses with two storeys at most are masterpieces of stone building and visually enrich narrow streets full of bougainvilleas. You should visit Canevi in which works of Can Yücel are exhibited and which is available for visits due to Yücel family. Population of Datça is approximately 15.000 with 9 villages affiliated to the centre. This figure outnumbers 50.000 due to national and foreign tourists in summer months. No matter which cove you arrive, you want to throw yourself into the depth of the sea, the same things pass through your mind whenever you look at the sea journey ship which is lowered with the wine bottle a woman breaks into pieces, the trees with orange trunk, the soul of Can Yücel who lies for his eternal sleep and sails on the foamy verses, ın Knitos the lantern’s stucking like a shining reddish knife during sundown.Come on, jump, dive in the sea! The nature is so generous towards Datça and it gives Datça such a power that not only the soil but also the sea gets its share from this abundance.Besides the fishing boats and tour boats for the day at the small port of Datça, there the ships which set sail in aegean and mediterranean sea take place.This region is also the most lively center of the night-life.In Datça there are beaches very close to the center.The footpace course, which lies paralel to Atatürk avenue and continues along the coast, begins from Datça port and goes on for some kilometers to the east of the city.Along this route you can find various regions where you can swim.One of them is Kumluk beach among the teacher house and Cumhuriyet square.Here the inside of the beach and the sea is sand.This beach and its sea are generally preferred by the families who have children because of the fact that the sea is shallow.At the nightfall people go on a walk along the coast., they sit in the cafes and on the benches and talk with one another.The beach that is at the backside of the Devlet hospital is Hastane altı Beach and this beach is a mixture of sand and gravel.You can see Ilıca Lake covered with reedies on the way of Kargı cove, three kilometers away from the city center.This small lake, which is nourished by a spring coming out of the hillside that stands where the sea and the land meet, is popular because of its minerals.A small cascade is formed on the point that water pours itself into the sea.There is also a water mill at the coast of the lake beside Kent Park where there are eucalyptus trees.The spring water coming out of the rocks on the part of the port in Taşlık Beach among Ilıca and Datça ports is mixed with the sea.You arrive Azganlı Beach turning from the police houses junction on the left side on the way of Kargı Cove.The sea of this small and sandy beach is fairly calm due to the fact that it is hidden from the west and southwest wind.Kargı, one of the coves which overlooks mediterranean sea three kilometers away from the center has an athmosphere unique to itself especially when it is lonely.On the way of Datça-Marmaris two kilometers away from the center the Old Datça is a small town which identifies with Can Yücel who lived there and made it lively.It should be remembered that the house of Can Yücel who mentiones that “the biggest open air asylum throughout the world”, “can evi”, is not a museum, but it is only open to the visitors.If you love diving, there are private scubadiving schools to see unique undersea world of Datça closely and to experience it.The oppotunities for doing all water sports is waiting for you there.You can go to Knidos on a tour for the day with one of the wooden boats or you can join a sea voyage to see various beautiful coves of the peninsula and swim in this unique coves.Datça and its environment offer opportunities for the people who love walking sport too.You can go on a walk on the pathways among pine, thyme, daisy and almond trees and also among the coves.Trekking is very entertaining except from the summer seasons.It is another activity to discover endemic plants, flowers and cascades.The open air market of Datça is set on Saturdays in Postane Street.Most of the sellers learned greek thanks to the visitors and people doing shopping coming from Simi Island.There are so many things especially to take with you.It is possible to take honey, almond, olive oil, olive, thyme, sage, daphne leaf, carob molasses and french lavender herb and so on.