DISCOVERING UZUMLU’S RURAL CHARM
A pleasant walk from Oasis Villa to the small picturesque Uzumlu village. The name of the village translates as “place with grapes”, and the village even has a wine bar where you can try the local wine, recommended for food as well. Although Uzumlu’s beauty attracts a number of tourists, the village remains a traditional Turkish working village, retaining the original charm of Turkish rural lifestyle. The locals are known for their hospitality, and many women will gladly show you their cotton weaving as they sit and work in front of their homes. Uzumlu is surrounded by fields of cotton, barley, sesame, wheat and seasonal vegetables. Almonds, apples, pears and olives are grown higher in the mountains. You can easily get a taste of Uzumlu’s organic agriculture – the village has a lively weekly market full of fresh fruit, spices and other goods. The central village square is a place where you’ll find a mosque, tea-houses, shops, a post office, and a regular minibus service that can take you to Fethiye and Calis Beach.
GEMS OF A TURQUOISE COAST
Calis Beach is closest to Uzumlu if you’re looking for a beautiful beach to relax on. With a pedestrian promenade, this is a lovely place not only for swimming and water sports, but also for the evening walks by the sea. The most famous spot on the Turquoise Coast is undoubtedly Blue Lagoon beach area at Olu Deniz. A major tourist attraction, this breathtaking beach is often chosen as one of the top 5 beaches in the whole world. Butterfly Valley is a secluded beach area under a canyon. It is reachable by boat only, and until two decades ago, this place has been untouched by humans. As a result it has a magnificent flora and fauna: apart for the large number of butterflies, here you can also see eagles, rabbits, goats and other animals. If you wish to escape beaches that are swarming with tourists, Patara is a good choice. 50 minute drive from Uzumlu will take you to this 10 miles long sandy beach, where you can enjoy the peace and beauty of the sea. Available boat tours provide a great opportunity to explore islands of Fethiye bay, as well as other various locations along the coast. With a great captain and a guide, such tour can be a fantastic and memorable trip.
NOTABLE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Long history of this region, most renowned for the ancient Lycian culture, left numerous historic sitesand archaeological treasures that can be seen in many places. One such location is Pinara, set in the hills southeast of Fethiye. Here you can see a well preserved Lycian necropolis with more than 900 rock tombs. Particularly interesting is the monolithic Royal Tomb. Xanthos, 80 km southeast of Fethiye, was an administrative centre in ancient Lycia, and the UNESCO declared it to be a World Heritage site observe monuments from various time periods: the Lycian Acropolis, a Roman theatre, a Christian church and the remains of the Hellenistic gate. Ruins of the ancient city of Patara, along with the nearby beach, are a National Park area. Recent excavations have uncovered monuments from the time when Patara was an important Lycian port. Among many things, here you can see the remains of what is believed to be the oldest lighthouse in the world. There are many more Lycian sites to explore, some of which are Tlos, Letoon, Sidyma and Cadianda. We will especially mention Cadianda, since it lies at only 15 minute drive distance from Uzumlu. This ancient city holds ruins of a stadium, temple, baths and a theatre. Located 900 meters above sea level, the site also provides spectacular views of the countryside. If you’re interested in hiking and the modern history, you can visit Kayakoy village, a Greek settlement that was abandoned in 1923 as a result of a population exchange between Turkey and Greece. The town of Fethiye is interesting for the ancient sarcophagi that can be found across the town. Fethiye’s Archaeological Museum displays exhibits from the Bronze, Archaic, Hellenistic and Roman ages, as well as Byzantine times.
