Fethiye is one the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey. Fethiye/Kayaköy has been home to many civilizations in the past, including Phrygians, Lydians, Persians, Hellenistic Kingdoms, Romans, and Byzantines. According to the findings obtained around Kayaköy, it was used as a settlement in ancient times, too. Rock tomb structures prove that this region also existed in the Phrygian period.
Kayaköy, known as Lebesois in ancient times, is 8 kilometers away from Fethiye. After the Greek migration, the Turks left the region because they could not adapt to its conditions. The ghost town is now an open-air museum, with thousands of abandoned but still standing churches and houses. With about five thousand years of history, Kayaköy embraced the Greeks in the 1800s. After the exchange of Greeks for Turks, and vice versa, in the years, the region managed to survive to today with remnants of the Greek houses intact. The number of Greek houses is estimated at about 3,500. They are desolate and located on the rocky side. At that time, they preferred to build houses in rocky areas because they used the fields instead for planting areas. Not only Greek, but also Turkish houses are lined up there like pieces of art.
Kayaköy in Fethiye has a very impressive atmosphere with its narrow streets, historical architecture, churches, and natural beauty. The area is surrounded by pine forests, and you can visit the turquoise-colored bays of the Mediterranean within a 20 to 25-minute walk. Stone and other products of artistic activities have begun in Kayaköy, which has so much history. Kayaköy is known as a “Ghost City.” The old city, with its unique beauty, is located between the forest and the sea. Kayaköy’s stone houses draw interest, starting from the Taurus Mountains and lining to the foothills of the mountains. You can also take a walk in the city and can trek on pathways, where you can better breathe in the history. You can visit many beaches on these route. At the center of Fethiye you will find many activities such as diving, bay sightseeing, and more.
Kayaköy in Fethiye has a very impressive atmosphere with its narrow streets, historical architecture, churches, and natural beauty. (Photo: Yeşim Özbirinci / www.wearethehippies.com)
You can make plan with a map of Kayaköy. The church offers a very different atmosphere. After leaving there, you can climb the hill and observe the village with a bird’s-eye view. It is a good angle to take a wide-framed photo. The silence and perceived loneliness of the historical ruins’ can thrill you. This is a deserted area because no one builds new structures anymore. The houses’ timber roofs and some other parts have eroded over time so that most are now devastated.
Most of the people in Kayaköy have been craftsmen since ancient times. Handcrafts are among the traditions that have continued in unbroken tradition. The Kayaköy Art Camp has a wonderful program which puts on many arts events, introduce handcrafts to the public. In the summer months in particular, this is the perfect camping spot for you, filled with lush plants and trees, as well as stone rooms and bungalows where workshops are located. There is also a swimming pool, library, some hammocks, a bar, a kitchen, and a chat corner.
You can make plan with a map of Kayaköy. The church offers a very different atmosphere. (Photo: Yeşim Özbirinci / www.wearethehippies.com)
The art camp in Kayaköy is open to international participants. When you join the camp, you can choose to start the day with yoga. After a wonderful village breakfast, workshops will be waiting to keep you busy for approximately 2.5 hours.
You can learn a photographer’s skills regarding basic information such as light and composition then take many wonderful photos during your hikes. You can also join in painting workshops, ceramic studies, pumpkin painting, stone painting, wood painting, rug weaving, and mosaic workshops.
