Bodrum & Halicarnassus

Modern Bodrum or former Galikarnas is one of the most popular resorts in Turkey. The symbol of the city is the Castle of St. Peter, the city was called "Petrium" after the city of the Knights Hospitaller dedicated St. Peter. Over time, it became known as “Petrum”, then “Potrum” and finally received the name “Bodrum”.

The world-famous Bodrum peninsula, which has been around for more than 3,500 years, is famous for its history, culture and art, inherited from ancient civilizations, natural beauties, original architecture, agricultural riches, climate, sea and magnificent bays, is one of the paradises of Turkey.

Bodrum preserves traces of various cultures and civilizations, such as the Leleg, Kariyo, Persian, Dorian, Yelin, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman eras.

Dubbed by the famous historian Homer “the paradise of the eternal wind”, Halicarnassus was founded on lands that are the intersection point of the Greek and Anatolian civilizations. Archaeological finds from different civilizations show that the history of the region and its surroundings dates back seven thousand years.

Halicarnassos, one of the most important port cities of the Caria region in ancient times, raised many famous people such as Herodotus, who was known as the father of history, and Artemisia I, the first female admiral in history. The Karians were under the rule of the Lydians and then under the Persians in the 6th century BC. The Persians divided Anatolia into satrapies. It was owned by the Hecatomic family in the Karia region. Mausolus moved the capital of the Carian satrapate from Milasa to Halicarnassus and rebuilt the city. Halicarnassus experienced his brightest times during this period.

During his 24-year reign, Mausolus began building a tomb monument known as the Mausoleum, which later became famous as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. After his death, his wife, as well as his sister Artemisia II, continued and completed the construction of the monument, at that time it was the most unique structure in the world. In 334 BC Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia, conquered lands under Persian rule in Anatolia.

The city could not recover after Alexander burned and destroyed it during the conquests. After Alexander's death, the region was for a time under the rule of his generals, then it came under the sovereignty of the Ptolemaic dynasty and rulers from Rhodes, but Halicarnassus retained its independence, like other coastal cities. The Romans founded the province of Asia in Anatolia, the city was incorporated into the province of Caria in 133 BC by the inheritance of Attalus III king Pergamon.

After Rome broke up into two parts in 324 AD, it became the bishopric of Metropolitan Aphrodisius until the eleventh century. The Turks defeated Byzantium in the thirteenth century, and the city was added to the territory of the Principality of Menteshe until the 16th century. With the conquest of Rhodes Suleiman the Magnificent, Bodrum joined the Ottoman Empire. It was occupied by the Italians at the end of the First World War (May 11, 1919), and the Italian occupation ended after the War of Independence - 05.07. 1921. Bodrum, whose population in the early years of the Republic was about 5,000, was known as a small port town whose inhabitants earned a living by fishing, sponge fishing and farming.

Since 1965, with the development of tourism and population growth, Bodrum has become a developing tourist center.

Today Bodrum is a tourist resort that attracts attention with its rich culture and history and these features increase its popularity.

• Comfortable transport with driver
• Service of a professional guide with a license.

Price per group from 1 to 6 people.