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Didyma
Today Didyma is a small village close to the sea and
praised by tourists and Turks on holiday for its golden
sandy beaches. The sea however is not the only attraction
for tourists, more so the ruins of the famous Temple
of Apollo, a superb example of architecture dating from
the Graeco-Roman period, and a sign of grandeur of this
area, outstanding for culture and art. Even before the
arrival of the Ionians, Difyma was a holy place and
its oracle was much feared and much attened. The Persian
King Xerxes destroyed the temple in 480 B.C. and looted
many of the statues and also removed its vast treasury
which owed its magnitude to the generosity of Croesus,
King of Lydia. Alexander the Great decided to rebuild
the temple after his victory over the Persians which
had never been completely finished and was still uncompleted
under the Romans, probably on account of its enormous
dimension ( one hundred and twenty meters long and twenty-four
meters wide) . Christianity put an end to pagan rites
and festivals and prevented the temple from being completed.
Indeed, in one atrium of the temple a basilica was built.
Traces remain of the temple's base and three Ionian
columns standing twenty-five meters high are still upright,
out of the original one hundred and twenty. There are
also stones from the sacrificial altar and an antique
fountain. The interior court, the pronaos and the steps
leading to sacrarium can be all be identified. All around
there are fragments of statuary such as the head of
the Medusa with snakes for hair and fangs for teeth
as she was transformed by Athena. Facing the temple
there are a few steps from a second-century B.C. stadium
where games were held on Apollo's feast days. A long
Sacred Way with colonnaded porticoes, lead from Miletus
to the sanctuary.
Today's Didim as rapidly growing holiday resort completely
different than what it used to be 10-15 years ago welcoming
large population of tourists with its beautiful beaches,
ancient towns, culture, climate from all over the world.
but comparing to the big tourist resorts like Bodrum,
Kusadasi it's not been spoiled we can say. most of the
infrastructure work have done by last winter which we
expect no more flooding of rain water in Altinkum and
better main roads have finished including pedestrian
walk paths by the beach.
Altinkum
Altinkum is a friendly resort and you will find the
locals 'laid back' and relaxed in their attitude towards
tourists. You will get to know them quickly and they
will enjoy nothing better than chatting over a glass
of Turkey's famous apple tea. Don't be surprised if
you return year after year to visit your newfound friends!
Didim is shaped as a peninsula surrounding Mugla on
the east coast with huge inlet of Akbuk town, Aegean
sea on the west and east coast, Lake Bafa and the Menderes
River on the northern coast. 106 km's to Aydin provenience,
53 km' to Söke town, 73 km's to Kusadasi, 110 km's
to Bodrum. Spread to 300 km2. of area.
About 15 years ago, the people from large cities around
Turkey such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir first came to
Altinkum ("altin: gold" + "kum:sand")
and started to build their own summer houses, holiday
homes. when Turkey's economy started to decline those
people found very hard to survive in the big cities
most of the summer house owners who were mainly retired
people have decided to move into the small resorts such
as Altinkum.
ALTINKUM means “golden sands” and with its
beaches which gently shelve into the inviting turquoise
blue Aegean, you will soon see how the resort got its
name. Excellent Beach life in Altinkum has also got
water sports or pedals for those who prefer the pace
of life a bit slower. Sun beds and umbrellas are available
for rent and once settled there will be no need for
you to move until sunset.
You can discover the beaches, natural coves and bays
by boat trips better, organised daily from the harbour
in summer season which starts beginning of May. water
sports, diving courses, fishing tours also available.
Didim itself very close to ancient towns and natural
wonders comparing to most of the holiday resorts of
Turkey.
Akbuk
Akbuk became a township in 1991 and is developing quite
nicely just as
planned. Most of the infrastructural work has been done.
Clean roads,
beautiful and very calm beaches welcome you to Akbuk
as it is an ideal
resort for those who love quiet times alongside water
sports. Many
people who come here from big cities decide to stay
here after their
retirement. It has been explored by tour operators in
recent years but
Akbuk is not very busy yet compared to such resorts
as Altinkum,
Kusadasi, etc.
The economy related tourism in recent years has made
available the local
fishermen's boats for boat trips along the coasts of
Akbuk for the
duration of the summer months. During your visit to
Akbuk, the chapel
on the coast line close to the town center is very well
preserved and
can be visited since it is open to the public.
There are big holiday resorts, 3 star hotels and also
one 4 star hotel,
along with one resort for French tour operators rated
at 5 stars; There
are also small pensions, motels available during the
summer season.
Restaurants by the sea, serve delicious fish and local
food that should
not be missed, which all can be had at very reasonable
prices. |
