The Story of the Land of Light
The Story of the Land of Light
Tucked away among kermes oak thickets at the northernmost tip of Lycia, Boubon Ancient City is a strategic fortress protecting the border lines. Having earned 3 voting rights in the Lycian League thanks to its resistance against bandit gangs, the city harbors one of the proudest stories of mountainous Lycia with its famous imperial bronze statues plundered and returned years later, its Sebasteion area, and its fascinating location on Dikmen Tepe.
Established at an altitude of 1,600 meters above sea level and bearing the title of the highest-elevation settlement in Lycia, Balboura Ancient City is an isolated heritage at the summit of the mountains. As part of the Tetrapolis alliance formed with Kibyra, the city is a mountain settlement awaiting discovery with its small theater set against the hillside, land inscriptions documenting the socio-economic past of noble landowners, and fascinating scenery.
Rising as an engineering marvel on the steep slopes of Şahinkaya, Arykanda Ancient City is one of the most unique cities in Lycia with its terraced architecture. Serving as a cedar trade hub in antiquity, the city resembles an eagle's nest in the mountains with its well-preserved theater, stadium, aqueducts carved into the rock face, and UNESCO tentative heritage status.
Situated at a strategic point in the Xanthos Valley, Arsada Ancient City is a hidden gem reflecting Lycia's rural defensive architecture. Rediscovered by Thomas Spratt, the city awaits discovery with its inscriptions documenting an advanced democratic honoring system, traces of the Apollo cult, fortification walls, and a commanding panoramic view of the valley.
Experience Arneai, Lycia's only official guest house! Discover the story of Arneai, the hidden treasure of Ernez Village, shaped by the generous donations of the noblewoman Lalla, featuring structures transformed from baths into guesthouses and inscriptions dedicated to the local god Tobaloas.
Discover Araxa, established at the source of the ancient Xanthos River, at the intersection of three regions. The story of this city, which means 'Shrine with an Altar,' mentioned in Plinius's notes, and which preserves its mystery today with its silent ruins...
Discover Apollonia, the hidden treasure of Kaş, named after the god Apollo. Explore the story of this cult center—home to the world-unique prismatic Heroon monument, early-period pillar tombs, and the only theater within its union.
Discover Aperlai, the hidden port between Kaş and Kekova. The fascinating story of a city that defies time, home to the production of the 'Imperial Purple'—the essential dye of Roman nobles—with its submerged streets and silent sarcophagi along the shore.
Discover the invisible heroes of Lycian nature. From the butterflies that are the architects of pollination to the ancient sponges in the depths of the Mediterranean, explore our detailed guide to the rich diversity of Lycian Invertebrates.
From endemic salamanders found nowhere else on Earth but Lycia to the majestic snakes of the Taurus Mountains, discover the mysterious world of the region. A species-based, in-depth guide to reptiles and amphibians.