” When you reach the top of the hill, you will see Bodrum,
Don’t assume that you’ll leave as you came.
The other before you were the same too.
As they departed ,They all left their souls behind. “
Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı ( The Fisherman of Halicarnassus )
In fact, everywhere has its own story… Some of these places are known for their history, some for their natural beauties. Bodrum, on the other hand, is one of the best destination in Turkey that has all the beauties both historical and natural. Bodrum, also known as Halicarnassus, which was at the center of life throughout ancient times, has hosted countless civilizations throughout the ages, and with this feature, it has written its name with indelible traces in history. Famous for its white houses, narrow streets, unique bays where history meets nature, Bodrum is now known all over the world .
Here are some details which make Bodrum famous…
Castle of St Peter, Bodrum, Turkey
In the 15th century, Bodrum Castle, built by the Knights of St John, is the symbol of Bodrum today and which is one of the first structure that come to mind when Bodrum is mentioned. The castle also houses the largest Underwater Archeological Museum in Turkey. It was built between two harbors, on a rocky peninsula.
Ancient Theatre of Bodrum
This theater on the southern slope of a mountain in the middle of Bodrum is one of the oldest theaters in Anatolia. This theater, which was restored by a group of Turks in the 1960s (the last restoration was with the cooperation of Bodrum Municipality, Ericsson and Turkcell), hosts many festivals in Bodrum today.
Myndos Gate
The most important part of the city walls of Halicarnassos is the Myndos gate. There are also vaulted tombs belonging to the Hellenistic and Roman periods in the area. The Myndos Gate, which is rising near the graveyard of Gumbet today, was built for defence purposes and is known to be one of the two monumental gates that exist. It was called Myndos Gate as it was opened on the way leading to Gumuşluk. Unfortunately, the Mylasa Gate, which is the other one of the gates, has not survived today’s time.
Blue Cruise
The Blue Cruise, which is a must-do in Bodrum, was born from the works of once famous writers The fisherman of Halicarnassus, Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu, Sebahattin Eyüboğlu and Azra Erhat. Although it is operated almost everywhere on the Aegean coasts, we can say that the best coasts for this cruise is Bodrum where the sea and the blue are endless. The best way to feel the unique nature of Bodrum and to visit its virgin bays is the Blue Cruise.
Bodrum Gulets
Bodrum, which has been home to boat building since ancient times, is also famous for its unique gulets. The gulet, which is completely hand-made, is created with a perfect teamwork that lasts for at least a year, as a result of meticulous work. Gulets are now produced extremely modern and stylish. It is possible to find the comfort of a 5-star hotel in gulets with all kinds of technological equipment.
Sponges
One of the simplest living groups in underwater life and one of the oldest, sponges were collected and used by humans since ancient times. Bodrum, on the other hand, was a well-known town for its sponges. Locals used to sail in specially designed boats to collect sponges. In 1977, a Sponge Development-Processing Station and a training center were established in Bodrum and served for ten years. Due to a sponge disease that spread in the mid-1980s, the sponge was not collected.
While locals collecting sponges, they mediated our access to ancient shipwrecks waiting to be discovered under the sea for years. Almost all important shipwrecks were found by people who were collecting sponges. After this tradition, slowly people made a significant contribution to today’s Bodrum by making their boats suitable for diving and sightseeing tourism.
The Fisherman of Halicarnassus
The Fisherman of Halicarnassus is a Bodrum lover, whose real name is Cevat Şakir Kabaağaçlı, was born on April 17, 1890 in Crete. He is a famous writer especially known for his stories, novels and children’s books on the Aegean, the Mediterranean, Bodrum and maritime.
White Colored Houses
If you ask what is the most famous in Bodrum, probably you will get the answer ‘white colored houses’ from many people. We can say that white colored houses with indigo blue colored window and door edges are the first come to mind for Bodrum.
The Father of History ; Herodotus
Herodotus, the Greek historian and ancient writer who lived in the 5th century BC, is known as the father of history. He is known for his work known as the History of Herodotus, in which he describes the places and people he saw on his travels. Herodotus was born in Bodrum (Halicarnassus) Turkey, near the Western Anatolia today. He spent his years with travels to many parts of the known world at that times.
