Knidos

Knidos. Windswept Knidos sits on a headland at the very end of the Datça Peninsula, at the point where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean. A primitive archaeological site, its ruins are scattered amid olive groves and a few hints of modern civilization. The city was founded in the 7th century BC by Dorian Greeks and prospered because of its excellent location on shipping routes between Egypt, Rhodes, Ephesus, the Greek mainland, and other major ports. The center of the site is the large ancient agora or market place, down by the water and the ancient ports. If you continue up the hill on the ancient main street, with its views over the harbour and the modern lighthouse, you'll pass the temple of Apollo and then reach the circular temple of Aphrodite, which used to house a lifelike statue of Aphrodite, one of classical Greece's most famous statues.

Around the back of the site is the Corinthian temple with its ancient sundial; back by the harbor is a small odeon, or concert hall. On the promontory with the lighthouse is the rectangular, stone Lion Tomb. The sad-eyed lion is in remembrance of a victory over Sparta. The original is now on display in the British Museum with another famous relic from Knidos, a statue of the goddess Demeter. Her sanctuary, however, is up the original stairway that leads to the upper portion of the town. $6.

There is a small restaurant by the jetty where the tour boats arrive.

Southwest of Marmaris is a second peninsula, the Bozburun Peninsula. Most visitors don't make it past the beach at Turunç, but if you do, the village of Bozburn still makes its living by fishing and boatbuilding. Beyond are the little visited ruins of