DATÇA

Datça is where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean. One side of the 70 kilometre long Datça Peninsula, which stretches to the west from Marmaris, is lapped by the waters of the Aegean and on the other by those of the Mediterranean. Those who go to the very end point of this peninsula, where the ancient city of Knidos is sited, can see that the inner port of the city is in the Mediterranean and the outer port in the Aegean. The Datça Peninsula is a large one, beginning at the narrowest point of the peninsula where the port of Bencik is and stretching all the way to Knidos.

At its narrowest point, the side facing the Gulf of Hisarönü where Bencik is and the side facing the Bördübet, it appears from looking at a map as if it could split from the mainland at anytime. The distance between the two sides is as little as 800 metres. There were even plans in the past to cut a channel across the peninsula, thus turning Datça into an island. According to the historian Herodotus, the locals of ancient Knidos thought of digging up the narrow strip of land in the Balıkaşıran region and turning the area into an island after the Persians invaded Ionia. They tried very hard according to history but the peninsula resisted being separated from the mainland. Those who worked to break the stones and dig through the soil began to suffer from injuries to their eyes, forcing them to give up their efforts.

The geographer Strabon said, "God would send his beloved servants to Datça to live longer". These words were not uttered in vain as a story told in the region confirms what Strabon wrote. Some 450 years ago, Spanish pirates sailing near the peninsula decided to throw members of their ship’s crew suffering from the plague off the vessel. The pulled in to Sarıgerme Cove and left their dying crewmates. However, those who were left to die recovered thanks to the oxygen rich air of Datça. Legend has it that they founded a village on the foothills of Emecik Mountain, becoming one of the many peoples of these lands. However, in Emecik no one remembers the story and moreover they do not like it. It is not known whether the story is true or not but the fact is that the air of Datça makes one feel healthy.

This may be why the Dorian peoples established more 50 settlements in the region. Some 2,700 years ago, the population of the peninsula surpassed 70,000.

If you consider that today the population is under 15,000 you can see that there must have been an extraordinary civilisation.

In recent years Datça has been discovered again. Those who try to escape crowds, noise and pollution are choosing Datça as a place to settle and see out their lives.

You should not think of Datça as a place for a one day visit. Around the peninsula you will find as many as 52 coves, some of which can only be reached by sea and which for one full day will be yours alone. You will not be able to forget the beautiful sea with the stillness of an aquarium in Datça’s coves and beaches.

You can find small and beautiful hotels, sail by boat into its coves, make discoveries in the impressive ruins of the ancient city of Knidos and treasure memories of the pleasant Datça evenings.

The City Tour

The liveliest part of Datça is the area around the port, with many boats arriving daily. All types of places providing services to these boats are scattered around the port. Both near the port area and on the major streets running to the centre will find good quality restaurants and colourful bars. In the İskele (Wharf) district you see a miniature lake whose waters comes from the sea.

Three kilometres away there is the former centre of the town, known as Reşadiye, and those who are interested can visit to look at traditional Turkish stone houses. You shall not soon forget the Seljuk era mosque and the village of Hızırşah seven kilometres away. On the way between Old Datça and Hızırşah you can see old ceramic workshops, which date from the 4th century BC and which are being excavated. The privately owned house called Eski Konak in Reşadiye is interesting for its internal decorations and ceiling ornamentation.

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