PATARA FLOWER PENSION - PATARA FLOWER HOTEL - PATARA FLOWER APART- PATARA BEACH - KALKAN - KAŢ - ANTALYA TURKEY
Patara
PATARA
- Patara Beach
18 km of golden sands backed by the dunes and the Taurus mountains and regularly featured as one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful and un spoilt beaches. Due to the strict conversation laws there is not a building to be seen, which is what makes this beach so special, endless golden sands, surrounded by nature.The beach is one of the few remaining beaches in the world, where the Loggerhead turtles still come to lay their eggs between May and October, so measures are in place to ensure that it can be enjoyed by holiday makers and still remain protected for the turtles.The small café on the beach is run by the local village of Patara (Gelemis), giving employment to local young people. Sun beds and umbrellas are available for hire. Other facilities include shower, toilets and an attractive café area, all designed to be in keeping with the local surroundings.When you arrive on the beach, you can either choose to hire a sun bed and umbrella and stay close to all the beach facilities, or alternatively head off to find your own little part of the stunning 18km stretch of golden sands. The beach of Patara is so large that it never feels crowded.
- Patara History
Patara is in the heart of the Lycian region, a region boasting thousands of years of history, breathtaking scenery and hundreds of kilometres of unspoiled coastline. 2000 years ago Patara was the largest and most important sea port of the Lycian civilization. According to Mythology Apollo was born here and it is also recorded as the birthplace of St. Nicholas. As the principle port on the coast of Lycia, Patara has a long history. Excavations are slowly bringing the city’s ancient history to light. The finding of coins and ceramic fragments, during excavations, date the city to at least 7th century BC. Patara had a three vote right in the Lycian league, as did the cities of Xanthos, Tlos, Olympos and Myra. The league generally held its league conferences in Patara, which was its harbour as well,Patara, which didn’t lose its importance during the Roman Empire, was also the seat of the Roman provincial governor, who turned it into a port from which the Roman fleet maintained contact with the eastern provinces. In the meantime Patara was the harbour where crops harvested in Anatolia were stored and kept for shipment to Rome. The large grain stores built during the reign of Emperor Hadrian are still standing.During the Roman period, Patara became the capital of both the Lycian and Pamphylian provinces, it also became famous as one of Apollo’s soothsaying centres. Patara’s oracle at the renowned temple of Apollo was said to rival that at Delphi and the temple equalled the reputation of the famous temple on the island of Delos. It was believed that omens were interpreted during the winter in Patara and the summer in Delos. A large bust of Apollo, discovered on the hillside, beyond the city gate, indicates the existence of an Apollo temple, which is yet to be found.
- Patara Village
In Patara (also known as Gelemis), life slows to a different pace- where time can be forgotten and where visitors can quickly feel at home. It is an informal place, where friendships between the locals and visitors are easily formed resulting in visitors returning year after year to see old friends.This small village, untouched by mass tourism is set in the foothills of the mountains, next to a wonderful 18km sandy beach, regularly featured as one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful and un spoilt beaches.Much of life here is geared around agriculture. Most of the locals have olive groves and fruit orchards, green houses filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines and peppers and small plots of land on which they grow seasonal vegetables including beans, chillis, sweet corn, and sesame. Clusters of traditional beehives can be found in the hills around the village, used for the production of delicious local honey.A stay in Patara will give you chance to meet local people, listen to their stories and learn about their customs. You are encouraged to celebrate local culture and traditions, including weddings, engagements and festivals You will learn a little about the way of life as it has been in rural Turkey for many years.In the centre of the village is the ‘cay’ (tea) garden where the locals meet to put the world to rights. There is the mosque, from which the evocative sound of the call to prayer can be heard several times a day. There are a few small shops, a post office, a couple of barbers and a handful of restaurants and lokantas in which to enjoy simple, but delicious meals. Visitors will delight in the variety of fresh local produce. Fresh herbs, such as wild thyme, oregano, fennel and sage, flourish in the mountains. The traditional local cuisine makes full use of the abundant fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs grown locally.
