Almost all of what you see today is post 1957, the year in which an earthquake flattened much of the town. The opportunity for rebuilding presented by this natural disaster has resulted in the town's broad promenade and relatively uncluttered appearance but you wont find much of age in the 'old town'. The double 'ss' in the town's ancient name is a sign of probable pre-greek origin but the early history of Telmessus is pretty much unknown. Although located in ancient Lycia Telmessus was not originally part of the Lycian federation and had to be 'persuaded' to join in the 4th century BC. It was an important city for the next 1000 years or so, passing through the hands of Alexander, the kingdom of Pergamon and the Roman Empire until Arab raiders had pillaged sufficiently to make it a minor city within the Byzantine Empire.

Very few structures of any interest remain within the town. The rock tombs have survived (as they tend to) but the theatre which was evident up to the mid 19th century has been recycled and you'll find more of it in Istanbul than you will here.

For the last millenium the town was known as Makri, only changing it's name at the time of the exchange of populations between Turkey and Greece, a visit to nearby Kaya Koyu may give you an idea as to the nature of the town before the '57 earthquake.

Features:

• Acropolis - A steep road up from the yacht marina will dwindle into a path and then a rough track leading to the summit, here you'll find a medieval castle (not that much left of it) and a pair of small rock tombs on the Eastern face.

• Amyntas' Tomb - Most interesting of the group of tombs on the Eastern side of the town. The unknown Amyntas was laid to rest in the 4th Century BC and his fame rests on the accessibility and visibility of his monument as well as it's quality.

• Museum - The Trilingual, an inscription from the Letoon heads a collection pottery, statuary and architectural fragments.
  

  Fethiye | Beaches