Patara - Lycian City and Roman Provincial Capital
Patara was an ancient Lycian port and naval base, and an important member of the Lycian Union, known to have existed before the 5th century BC. It was conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 BC and again in 190 BC by Antiokhos. Most of the ruins from this time have been covered by sand and in some cases such as the legendary Temple of Apollo lost entirely.
In Roman times Patara became the seat of the governor and capital of the region. Emperor Vespasian visited Patara, as did Emperor Hadrian and his wife Sabina.
Those ruins visible today date mainly from the Roman period. The most prominent of which is the Roman Gate or Arch of Victory built by governor Mettius Modestus around 100 AD. Both visiting emperors also added monuments and public buildings to Patara.
The Arch of Modestus, Patara
Patara was the birthplace of St. Nicholas or Santa Claus, Bishop of Myra, around 270 AD, and one site of St. Paul’s missionary work before he boarded a ship from here to Rome.
Patara is close to your base of Kalkan. In fact in 192 BC, Lycians from Patara were involved in a battle at neighbouring Phoenicus (ancient Kalkan) during the Syrian war against the combined forces of Rome and Rhodes.
The Roman Amphitheatre at Patara
Although much of the ancient remains are still covered by sands, there is a lot to see including a Roman amphitheatre, Hadrian’s Granarium (Granary), The Vespasian Bath, Basilica, Bouleuterion (Lycian Parliament Building), and what could be the worlds oldest lighthouse structure. Near Vespasian Bath is Patara's marble street. The street leads to the wide walls of a Byzantine Castle, with a Corinthian Temple east of the castle and a Byzantine church to the west.
The sands also mean Patara has an excellent beach, one of the longest and widest in Turkey, and a major breeding area for the caretta-caretta sea turtles. One end of the beach is the site of the ancient Lycian naval base.
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