BODRUM (HALICARNASSUS)
A picturesque town at the junction of the Aegean and the Mediterranean is Bodrum, occupying a small but beautiful peninsula. It is one of the prettiest holiday resorts of Turkey, popular and famous for its vivacious, friendly and bohemian atmosphere.
Greeting its visitors with the marvelous castle built by the Knights of Rhodes, the town appears elegant, filled with sweet white houses, with colorful bougainvillea dotted about.
The clear, deep blue and warm sea is an inherent characteristic of the place, rather than being a specialty, and the numerous beaches of unspoiled bays adorned with interesting rock formations offer perfect days for swimmers, divers and nature-lovers. Octopuses, and sponges of various shapes and colors are also found here, complementing the aquatic beauty.
Part of the fascinating atmosphere of Bodrum is its history; remains of which are spread over this ancient city of ‘Halicarnassus’. The tomb of King Mausolus is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and dating back to the 4th century BC, stands on this land where Herodotus, the father of history, was born. A theatre (1300 seats) from the 2nd century BC is worth seeing, together with St. Peter’s Castle presenting the architectural style of the 15th century which is now The Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
A different spectacle in Bodrum is its marina, which is a busy place hosting elegant yachts that come from all parts of the world. Bodrum Cup Race is held every October in the boatyards, and it is an enjoyable event for those interested. Bodrum is the leading place for boat-building.
Dive into history & nightlife:
The most prominent feature of Bodrum is the prevailing activity, especially filling the nights. After the intensive action in the daytime, one may choose one of the discos here -some of which are the best in Europe- and spend an exciting night of fun under the gleaming lights.
Bodrum is the one of the starting points for an unforgettable ‘Blue Voyage’ along the turquoise coast of Turkey which offers the limitless pleasure of seeing the virgin bays of mythological legends; the beauties of Kekova where the light combines with turquoise; or sailing into the antique port of Phaselis where Alexander the Great loved to stay during the winter.