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Jutting
out into the Aegean Sea like an extended index finger pointing at the Greek
island of Kos, the long, rugged Datca Peninsula boasts some of the most
unspoilt scenery along Turkey’s southwest coast, and the charming little town
that has given the peninsula its name offers the perfect conditions for guests
seeking beautiful landscapes, good swimming beaches and a generous dose of
local character. Datca stands on the southern shore of the peninsula, gazing back across the sea to the equally
mountainous Loryma Peninsula, and to the Greek island of Symi.
Those
simply seeking a relaxing seaside break will find that Datca is just large
enough to be self-contained, yet small enough to retain a pleasantly laid-back
pace. The harbour attracts its fair
share of visiting gulets and yachts, so naturally there is a decent choice of
pavement cafés and restaurants as well as a handful of low-key music bars for
those who like to like to let the evenings linger a little longer.During the day, the main lure is the town’s
two beaches; Kumluk to the east and Taslik to the west, which are a mixture of
coarse sand and pebbles. Just in from the western bay there is also a shallow lake fed by warm mineral springs – an
appealing option for a swim especially in early season when the sea is still
warming up.
Famed for its almonds and its honey, the countryside around
Datca offers access to some excellent walking terrain, with nearby
mountainsides covered in pine forests, oak, carob and citrus trees. Approximately 2 km from modern Datca, the
crumbling village of Eskidatca (“Old Datca”) is definitely worth a visit, with
its romantic maze of cobbled alleyways. A little further afield, there are a number of hidden coves, which can
be explored by car or on boat trips, whilst in the peak season a daily ferry
links the nearby harbour of Kormen Limani on the north shore of the peninsula
with the lively and cosmopolitan town of Bodrum across the majestic Gulf of
Gokova about two hours away.
The
peninsula’s most famous site stands right at its western tip, and is best
visited by boat, as the road leading here is partially unsurfaced. Ancient Knidos was one of the most advanced
and prosperous cities in Dorian times, although today the site’s dramatic setting
is arguably more impressive than the extent of the actual excavations. Sadly, the city’s chief attraction, a large
marble statue of the goddess of love, Aphrodite, was destroyed by Byzantine
Christians, who objected to the cult following inspired by the statue’s overtly
erotic nature.
Heading back in the opposite direction, at the head of the
bay that is enclosed by the Datca and Loryma peninsulas, the sleepy seaside
village of Orhaniye has its own legend: the long, submerged sandbank out in the
bay, known as “Maiden’s Sand” is said to have been created by a local girl
trying to escape either pirate attack or an arranged marriage, depending on
which version you believe. Unfortunately, she ran out of sand halfway across the bay and chose to
drown herself rather than to surrender. Today, Orhaniye’s natural setting and restful atmosphere make it a place
to escape to, rather than escape from.
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