BODRUM
Bodrum is located on the southwest region of the Aegean Coast and is an international centre for tourism and yachting. In summer bars and clubs appear throughout Bodrum. However, Bodrum is best known for having the largest and loudest outdoor nightclub in the Mediterranean; Halikarnas. It has a capacity of 5000 people and internationally known DJ’s tour throughout summer.
The first settlers in Bodrum were the Carians, then the city was colonised by the Dorian Greeks, only to fall under the Persian rule.
SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS
CASTLE OF ST PETERIn 1402 the Ottoman Empire was thrown off balance, by the invasion of the Tamerlane. At this point Bodrum was captured by the Knights Hospitaller based in Rhodes. They built a castle of St Peter; this castle soon became a storage place for booty collected from underwater archaeology missions. It is now Bodrum’s Museum of Underwater Archaeology. It is now classified as the most important underwater museum in the world. There are also spectacular views from the Battalions.
The castle also hosts several festivals throughout the year.
MAUSOLEUMThe Mausoleum of Mausolus is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Mausolus ruled Caria for the Persians from 377 to 353 BC. When he passed away his wife undertook construction of a tomb and monument in his honour. It was a temple like structure, decorated with relics and statuary on a massive base. The Mausoleum consisted of a white marble tomb, topped with a stepped pyramid.
Unfortunately the Mausoleum was broken up by crusaders in 1522, with the pieces being used as building materials.
Today the site has pleasant gardens, with only a few pre-Mausoleum stairways, tomb chambers, the Mausoleum drainage system, the entry to the tomb chamber, small parts of the wall and some marble columns remain.