Tastes of BodrumThis full day excursion allows you to explore the major highlights of Bodrum. The port town of Bodrum, known as Halicarnassos in ancient times, was home to one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”, the Mausoleum (377-352 B.C.). Today, it is acknowledged to be one of the best cruising areas in Europe and has become a popular resort area due to its rich history, crystal clear waters and friendly people. Bodrum is situated on a peninsula facing the island of Kos, and is the hometown of Heredotus. Some know Heredotus as the “Father of History”, but to others he is known as the “Father of Lies” because of his fanciful travel accounts.
Your day will begin with the exploration of the Castle of St.Peter, the most prominent feature of Bodrum. Occupying over 30.000 square feet at its base, construction of this castle took years to complete. The castle was built partly from the left remains of the mausoleum of Mausolus which had collapsed as the result of an earthquake. The mausoleum of Mausolus was so large that it was included among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The castle’s huge exterior walls were designed in the early 15th century and were strengthened by five towers known usually as the English Tower, the Italian Tower, the German Tower, the French Tower and the Snake Tower. One of the exclusive halls visited on your trip to the castle will be the Carian Princess Hall, which houses the remains of Princess Ada, the sister of King Mausolos which is included in your tour. Today the castle’s rooms are used as a museum where samples from the Bronze Age, Mycenaean, Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine period are exhibited.
The castle also houses the largest Underwater Archeological Museum in Turkey. It is one of the few of its kind in the world. It has a vast collection of artifacts, but the most popular attractions are the underwater section, Amphora exhibition and late Roman ship wreck. Next in agenda is Myndos Gate, which faced to the city of Myndos was built during the reign of Mausolos. It was the scene for one of the greatest and bloodiest battles during the siege of Alexander the Great. Recently restored to its former glory, the Myndos Gate is one of the original witnesses for the great history of Halicarnassos. The Mausoleum, was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassos for King Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire. The structure was designed by the Greek architects Satyrus and Pythius. It stood approximately 45 meters (135 ft) in height. The finished structure was considered to be such an aesthetic triumph that Antipater of Sidon identified it as one of his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The Mausoleum was destroyed between AD 1000 and AD 1400, probably by an earthquake.The Castle of St. Peter was built with blocks from the Mausoleum and the lime mortar was made out of burnt marble from some of the statues and columns. Today, that castle still exists, but only parts of the Mausoleum are still visible. Fragments from the original Mausoleum are being exhibited in British Museum, London. You will see the ancient theatre as being the last venue of the tour. The Great Theater of Ancient Halicarnassos is situated in the hillside over looking Bodrum. Its capacity is around 13.000 and was built during te Carian reign in the Hellenistic age (330 – 30 BC.). The theatre consists of three different sections: a place for the audience, a place for an orchestra and the stage. It became an open-air museum after the excavations in 1973 and is one of the most ancient theatres in Anatolia. Conclude your day with an opportunity to join a fashion show in a leather outlet where you will have the chance to see the latest and extensive quality while enjoying your refreshments for a brief period.

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