Patara today is more visited for the wide sandy beach, visitors bypassing the remains of the Lycian city. Patara beach is 18 kilometres long and up to 300 meters wide. The fine white sand and shallow waters make for safe swimming. With some fairly strong winds from time to time conditions being ideal for windsurfing. Patara beach has been listed as a nature reserve where sea turtles lay their eggs. Other activities associated with the beach include horse riding with escorted tours through the countryside.

Patara is an old established Lycian city being also held by Alexander the Great in 334 B.C. It’s earlier fame was based on it being where the oracle of Apollo was situated. It retained its influence during the Hellenistic period as a commercial and naval base. When it came under Egyptian dominance the name was changed to Arsinoe, but that name not being very popular it soon reverted to its former name.
When Brutus ravaged this area of Lycia, and after destroying Xanthos, the citizens of Patara refused to surrender at once but eventually they did, no one being killed on the surrender of their gold to Brutus. Under Roman domination Patara became one of the leading ports in the region and continued to be so into Byzantine times. The movement of sand into the harbour hastened the closure of the harbour and also covered the remains of the city where they are now being excavated by Professor Dr. Fahri Isik, the Ministry of Culture and members of the Akdeniz University archaeological department. A book, Patara , published by the university, ISBN 975-7094-04-8 is a valuable source for understanding the site and it’s remains.

The necropolis just outside of the arch which probably denoted the city limits as there is no other triumphal arch. This was used from the Classic period to that of the Byzantines.

Sarcophagi being excavated by the side of the road into the city.

The triumphal arch was erected by the people of Patara in the name of C. Trebonius Proculus Mettius Modestus, the Roman governor of Lycia-Pamphylia around 100 A.D. Busts of the governor and his family were supported on the blocks, six on either side of the triple arched gate.

That the gate was at the entrance to the city is indicated by the remains of the city walls to either side of the arch. However no trace of a road has been found at the arch, so perhaps there may have been another entrance to the city, but that does not mean that the road would have been paved and easily found.

The distance between the arches being 3.6 meters in the middle and 2.60 meters on the sides, large enough for wheeled traffic to proceed through the gates.

Of the many buildings that are identified within the site, one of the most interesting is that known as the Harbour Baths. There were four bath complexes identified within Patara, this being the most complete and interesting. It is surrounded by paved roads or perhaps waterways. Water in abundance being a necessary prerequisite for any bathing complex. The present water level indicates that perhaps the “paved roads” could have been canals to bring water to the complex. All the different rooms associated with a bathing complex are to be found, the caldarium, the frigidarium, and the tepidarium. There is also evidence that a palaestra was located at the eastern end of the complex. There are indications, see below, that the building was subject to additions during it’s lifetime.

Removal of much of the vegetation has revealed that there were shops on the side of the streets and post holes indicate that awnings were put in place during the hot summers.

The Harbour Baths.

The steps leading up into the baths from a paved street, or possible a paved water course with on the stone below a depiction of a harbour symbol. 

The Theatre, this very impressive building the subject of much excavation work, mainly removal of sand, being undertaken by the Turkish Archaeological service.

Bouleuterion. This sand filled building near the theatre was the parliament for Patara.

Investigation required to establish the Curia or meeting place.

The Agora. This very large area of cultivated field may well be the Agora of the city, situated as it is near the theatre and council offices. Further excavation is required to determine the extent of the Agora. Stones piled around the edge may have come from the buildings and been cleared by farmers to enable them to cultivate their crops.

The Street, the water logged other end being a haven for frogs!

Shops aligned the street on either side.

An example of how a door was fixed into a doorway.

Byzantine city.

Roman Temple of which urgent restoration work is currently being undertaken.

The Harbour, now of course heavily silted up with the advancing sand dunes. However the large granary buildings still stand as evidence of their importance.