Datca, Turkey
Datca is where the Aegean Sea meets the Mediterranean, on the 70 kilometer long Datca peninsula. One side of this peninsula is lapped by the waters of the Aegean Sea, and the other by the Mediterranean Sea.
At its narrowest point, the peninsula appears as if it is ready to break from the mainland and become an island, since the distance between the two sides is as little as 800 meters. In fact, there were efforts to make it an island, according to the ancient historian Herodotus, as the locals thought of digging a canal there to protect themselves from the Persian invasion of Ionia. As much as they tried, they were unable to "make the cut," so it remains a peninsula today.
You shouldn't think of Datca as a place for a one day visit. Around the peninsula you will find as many as 52 coves, some of which can only be reached by sea and which for one full day will be yours alone. You will not be able to forget the beautiful sea with the stillness of an aquarium in Datca's coves and beaches. You can find small and beautiful hotels, sail by boat into its coves, make discoveries in the impressive ruins of the ancient city of Knidos and treasure memories of the pleasant Datca evenings.
The City Tour
The liveliest part of Datca is the area around the port, with many boats arriving daily. All types of places providing services to these boats are scattered around the port. Both near the port area and on the major streets running to the centre will find good quality restaurants and colourful bars. In the Iskele (Wharf) district you see a miniature lake whose waters comes from the sea.
Three kilometres away is the former centre of the town, known as Resadiye, and those who are interested can visit to look at traditional Turkish stone houses. You shall not soon forget the Seljuk-era mosque and the village of Hizirsah seven kilometres away. On the way between Old Datca and Hizirsah you can see old ceramic workshops, which date from the 4th century BC and which are being excavated. The privately owned house called Eski Konak, in Resadiye, is interesting for its internal decorations and ceiling ornamentation.
History
The finds on the Datca Peninsula show that settlement there goes as far back as 2,000 BC. The first known local inhabitants were the Carians, while the peninsula enjoyed its most prosperous times during the Doric era. The Dorians came from Thrace to Greece and from Greece to the peninsula in 1,000 BC. They founded Knidos in the Burgaz region, 1.5 kilometres to the north east of the present centre. Knidos was the centre of the Doric civilisation. In 546 BC, with the Lydian state falling under Persian rule, Knidos also came under Persian control. In the 4th century BC, for commercial reasons, the site of Knidos was moved to the current location on the end of the peninsula where you see the impressive ruins of the city. The Dorians and the Romans built many temples in Knidos, with the city becoming famed for its statutes of Aphrodite. In the late Roman and Early Byzantine eras, the temples were replaced by churches. In the late Byzantine era, the population reached 70,000. Bbut after a series of earthquakes and pirate attacks, the city was abandoned, and the population of the peninsula shrank to one thousand.
In the 13th century, the settlements on the peninsula were linked to the Turkish kingdom of Menteseogullari. Datca became a part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. In the late Ottoman era, Datca was known as Resadiye, after Sultan Resad, but was renamed Datca after the Turkish Republic was founded. In 1928, Datca became a township, with the first central district called Resadiye. In 1947 it was moved to its current centre near the quay.
The Datca Region
If you are having a holiday in Datca, be sure to see some of the sites around the town. There are wonderful sandy beaches to be enjoyed, and more. Mini buses run from Datca to nearby coves and the ancient city of Knidos, or you can reach these destinations by driving yourself or by taking one of the daily boat trips. There is also good fishing in the waters off Datca, and you'll find lots of suitable places from which to cast your line. Datca is also ideal for wind surfing and diving.
If you have a local guide with you, can get to the Datca Hurmasi (date trees) after a rigorous trip over the valleys and hills. These trees are of a species 65 million years old, situated in one of the most remote parts of the peninsula. But do not try to find it on your own as you will have little chance of finding it, and there are animals such as bear and boar that can be dangerous.
Kizlan Village
If you want to see the typical windmills of the region, you should go to the village of Kizlan, eight kilometres
from Datca. The region is the windiest part of the peninsula.
Gebekum
To get to Gebekum Beach, turn off the road from Datca to Yeldegirmeni once you see the signpost for Perili Kosk, and follow the dirt road for one kilometre. The road leads you to the beach. The seven-kilometre long beach of Gebekum is suitable for swimming. With the help of the wind the sandy beach changes in width over time. The moving sand has resulted in the area having shallow waters a long way out in to the sea, allowing you to be able to walk to the island opposite.
The Perili Kosk Hotel at Gebekum provides good accommodation facilities, with services provided to yachting tourists. There is equipment for diving and wind surfing available, since the hotel caters to those interested in water sports. There is good fishing in the area but no other fish restaurant other than that at the hotel.
The Boat Trip
There are many boats that sail from the port of Datca for half day or full day tours to the coves and surrounding areas. The half day tours go to the coves near the village of Mesudiye and then return. The target point of the full day tour is Knidos. On the way there and back you have numerous breaks for meals and swimming. Among the most interesting stopping points are the coves of Kargi, Hayit, Kizilbuk and Palamut.