GENERAL INFORMATION

Kas is a small town situated between Fethiye and Antalya near the Mediterranean. It offers a wide range of attractions from tracking through king tombs on high mountains to diving through deep blue sea. Kas is one of the most famous tourist resorts along the southern coast of Turkey. It is not only the crystal clear sea and the sunny weather that attracts people to KAS, but also its historical remainings of Lycian civilization in the region.. Today it is possible to find the remnants of Antiphellos (ancient Kas) embedded in the other charms of the town. The rock tombs of Lycia, sarcophagi, and the theather built during the 1st century B.C, on the top of the hill, with the view over the creeks and inlets are only a few examples. It is a pleasure to wander through the streets, stopping to examine souvenir shops that offer Turkish handicrafts, leather goods, copper and silver items and of course the inevitable handmade carpets while examining the architecture of the old houses. Kas also offers accomodation catering with its in-located hotels, cheap motels and pensions along with its renowned fish restaurants offering a variety of sea food and wines.

If you are interested in scuba diving Kas is just the right place with its beautiful bays and historical ship wrecks. Although diving is forbidden in Kekova region it is possible to rent boats or join daily boat trips to explore the area. Kekova, "home of the sun", is an island an hour from Dalyanagzi by sea, as well as the name of a whole ensemble of picturesque islands, numerous bays and ancient cities. These bays provide natural harbors in all seasons, and yachtsmen particularly enjoy exploring the unspoilt landscapes.

Along the northern shore of Kekova Island, at Apollonia, earthquakes have disturbed the land causing some of the ancient houses to sink under the clear water, creating a sunken city. It is possible to see the ruins with the glass bottom boats Kalekoy Castle (ancient Simena) offers a bird's-eye view of the bays, inlets, islands and colorful yachts sailing peacefully on the glassy water.The colors in a Van Gogh painting, blue skies, orange sunsets, starry nights, peace and tranquility, playful dolphins, mythological mysteries, and the sparkling sea - Kekova provides all this and more.

History of Kas
Ancient Kas, Antiphellos, was the harbour of the town of Phellos which stood just opposite of it, that is why it is called Anti-Phellos. Founded during the 6th century B.C., it soon become an important trading port. During the Hellenistic period, while Antiphellos grew rich on account of the ceddar and sponge trade, Phellos lost its importance.

One of the major trade goods was wood, supplied from the green forest that covered Lycia region. Antiphellos has shared the same history and fate with other Lycian cities as they together fought against the invaders of Anatolia and their homeland. They defended the region against Persians, Dores, Alexander the Great, Romans respectively. After the dispersal of Lycian league the region became the part Persian, Hellenic, Roman and Byzantium districts. After the 14th century Kas was occupied by Menteseogullari and subsequently by Ottoman Empire.