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Make every effort to
reach these fascinating sites. Olympos was one of the important Lycian
cities in the 2nd century BC but was abandoned after the Ottomans
took control it the 15th century.
The best part of
Olympos is its tranquil setting, abundant wildlife and superb beach. The
partially excavated ruins cover an extraordinary range of history.
The
surrounding mountains are part of the Beydağlar Olympos National Park, with
good hiking.
The Chimaera is best
seen at dusk. It is a natural phenomenon in which a series of flames sprout
out from the hillside. They are thought to be fed by natural methane has and
are named after the mythical monster that was said to inhabit these hills.
According to Homer she had the head of a lion, the body of a goat and the
tail of a serpent, and breathed fire.
This is a long journey so you may prefer to
take an organised trip. For the more adventurous, take the coast road to
Antalya for about 155km until you get to the turn-off for Kemer. The first
turning off the main road leads to
Chimaera, the
second to Olympos. |
