The Emerald Coast - Beauty and History Together

The city of Antalya is the center of the chief resort area of Turkey. It is centered on the Mediterranean Sea's Emerald Coast, with wide expanses of sand beach and beautiful emerald -colored water.

Just a short drive up the Emerald Coast from Antalya is the old city of Phaselis, a great trading port. Not much has been excavated yet at the site which was built about 960 BC and overrun by the Persians in 6 BC.

On the way back from Phaselis to Antalya, you should pay a visit to Myra. Here you will see the tombs cut into the rocks above the city were the Lycians in the 4th Century BC.

Myra is known as the home of the original St. Nicholas. He was born in Patara and became the bishop of the Christian church in Myra. He had a reputation for generosity and compassion. Legend has it that he threw money down a chimney to keep a man from prostituting his daughters. Thus started the custom, then observed on December 6, of giving gifts. He then became known by other names around the world. This statue sets outside the Church of St. Nicholas today.

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Updated April 11, 2001