GENERAL INFORMATION

Marmaris is originally a Greek word meaning glittering and shining. The resort is multi-faceted and the atmosphere cosmopolitan and sophisticated. Situated in southwest Turkey, in the province of Mugla, Marmaris is one of Turkey's biggest tourist resorts. To the north lies the Gulf of Gokova, to the south the Mediterranean. On the west is Datca peninsula and to the east Koycegiz lake; all year round Marmaris is surrounded by a wonderful colour combination of blues and greens. The hills running in to the sea and the beautiful bays make Marmaris a very special place. The old part of town is a residential area around the castle. The old houses, all under preservation order and the narrow streets leading to them are a delight to explore: there are some classic examples of Mugla architecture on display. Marmaris later began to spread out around the castle hill and along the shore, but the growth of tourism resulted in housing
 

being prohibited along the shoreline and planning permission granted only to tourist hotels. Marmaris is a year-round home for many foreigners, a large number of whom have yachts in the modern 700-berth marina, the largest natural harbour in the world. Marmaris is 60 kilometres away from the provincial capital Mugla, and the mountainous landscape of the surrounding countryside shows that forestry plays an important part in the area's economy. The town boundaries enclose and area of

86 000 hectares, 65 000 of which are forested. The beauty of Marmaris stems from this just as much as from the natural harbour. The beautiful harbour water front hosts many restaurants and bars where you can relax and take in the spectacular view. Netsel Marina is an important yachting centre, home to many luxurious yachts and full of romantic restaurants, shops and boutiques. One look at the yachts in the harbour will tell you that Marmaris is a stylish and cosmopolitan resort. It has a sophisticated 'Riviera' feel to it, vaguely reminiscent of St.Tropez. Shopping in Marmaris is an experience in itself. Leather goods, gold, carpets and clothing are very reasonably priced. The bazaar is a must for visitors, a warren of shops of every description. The nightlife is one of the best in the region. A visit to the famous Bar Street with its bars, clubs and entertainment is truly a must. No visit to Marmaris is complete without a trip to Bar Street where most of the bars stay open until 4.00am!

History of Marmaris

It is not known when Marmaris was founded, but Physkos as Marmaris was previously known, was part of the Carian Empire in the 6th century B.C. when overrun by the Lydians. Another invasion by the Lydians in 334 B.C. led to the partition of the Roman Empire of Alexander the Great. According to the historian Herodotus, the Carians settled in what is now the province of Mugla after coming from Crete. They also took over the town of Physkos with its large natural
 

harbour, and used it as a military base for their campaigns against the Phoenicians in Rhodes and other Aegean islands.The Carian civilization entered a dark period after 300 B.C., coming under the rule of the Egyptians, Asstrians, Ionians and Dorians successively. The Dorians turned the Carian province into 9 colony cities, also including Halicarnassos and Knidos, which became an active trading centre for Anatolia and led to an increase in handicrafts and maritime trade. In 138 B.C. Attalos the 3rd, King of Bergama, whose predecessors had ruled Caria for 90 years, ceded Physkos to Rome and the city was ruled from Rhodes by Roman generals. The city became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1425,and the castle was built in 1521 AD for use in a planned assault on Rhodes.

The Ottoman Sultan at the time,Kanuni Sultan Suleyman, changed the name of the town to Mimaras,which then became Marmaris according to the historian Evlija Celebi. A local rumour has it that the reason for the change of name Mimaras was that Suleyman, on returning from his expedition to Rhodes, disliked the castle and exclaimed quote: “mimaras” which meant “hang the architect! Unfortunately there is no evidence to support this amusing story.