Patara

Photos: Ancient lighthouse foundation, Patara Beach, courtesy of Lycian Turkey



Today Patara Beach on the south coast of Turkey is a protected spawning area for sea turtles. When they lay their eggs at night in summer, the beach is closed daily after sunset to accommodate them. Patara is also one of Turkey's many Blue Flag beaches. The Blue Flag is an award given to clean beaches by the Foundation for Environmental Education, a non-government organization that promotes environmental sustainability and clean beaches.

In ancient times, Patara was part of the kingdom of Lycia. From the top of the nearby hill of Kursluntepe, a wide range of remains of the former city can be seen.

The ruins include a large Hellenistic style amphitheatre, a necropolis with stone sarcophagi, a granary named after the Roman emperor Hadrian, a variety of baths including the Vespasian bath and a 2000-year-old lighthouse. The former harbour is now a marsh.