Patara

Once a principle harbour of ancient Lycia, Patara was the birthplace of Apollo, according to Greek legend. This village covering a wide area on the eastern part of the harbour is 41km from Kas and has one of the best beaches in the area, a white goldenstretch around 20km long. Patara gained importance during the Byzantine period, because it was the birthplace of St Nicholas, the 4th century bishop better known as his other identity, Santa Claus. St Paul, one of Christ’s disciples, boarded a shipfrom Patara to Rome. The ruins lie 1km from the beach, and include several Lycian tombs, a basilica, Corinthian temple and a theatre. Access is possible by dolmus from most adjacent towns, although not at night. The Lycian Roman monuments can be seen when entering Patara. From the Vespasianus Hamam, constructed between 69 – 79 AD, the adjacent footpath reaches the main, marble-covered street of Patara. At the end of the street are the wide walls of theByzantine Castle, and east of that is the Corynth Temple. Patara Theatre, built in the 2nd century BC, is at the foot of the hill and had a capacity for around 10,000 people. It was filled with wind-swept sand but after cleaning revealed its structure, and archaeological excavations are still continuing. The beach is one of the longest in Turkey, with a width of up to 1500m. Declared a Special Environmental Preservation Region by the Ministry of the Environment, it is a major breeding area for the caretta-caretta sea turtles, and during thereproductive season there are strictly applied restrictions to preserve their habitat.
Ancient Mediterranean port of Lycia . It was a Dorian colony, and became the seat of the Lycian League (167 B.C.–A.D. 43). According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul visited Patara. Extensive excavation of the city's ruins only began in the late 20th cent. Apart from biblical references, Patara is also an old settlement on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. This region boasts thousands of years of history, breathtaking scenery and hundreds of miles of unspoiled coastline. 2000 years ago Patara was the largest and most important sea port of the Lycian civilisation. Mythology tells us Apollo was born here and it is also said to be the birthplace of Bishop Nicholas of Myra. Patara is also used as a name and it is thought this name has been used by people who set out from Patara in Lycian times to other parts of Asia. The name has also been found as far down as India, where it is thought these early migrants assimilated with the Indus Valley (most likely Aryan) inhabitants. In the northern province of Punjab, India, a village exists bearing the name Patara, mostly consists of residents with the last name Khun Khun. Residents who emmigrate from Patara normally take on the name of the village as their last name in memory of their beloved town. Today, Pataras can be found all over the world.