The history of civilization runs very deep in Turkey, and the country has a wealth of ancient monuments to show for it. Many travelers to Turkey make a point to see the most famous sites, such as Ephesus and Cappadocia; however, there are countless other vestiges of history that are far less visited.
One of the more obscure sites worth visiting is Kayakoy. Just a few kilometers south of Fethiye, and a moderate hike up from the sea, Kayakoy is a ghost town of about five hundred stone houses. It was a primarily Greek Christian village, which had a population of around 6,000 at its height. Kayakoy was completely abandoned by the end of the Greco-Turkish war in 1922. Inhabitants had started fleeing in 1914 as a result of persecution, and many more were forced into exile in 1917-18. An earthquake in 1957 demolished many buildings, and what was left standing remains today a stark reminder of a bleak period in history.
Whether the relics of human history give testimony to our achievements or our failures, they are worth our contemplation, and Kayakoy is certainly a sight to behold, and an experience to treasure. In the past few years more visitors have found their way to the village, and there is a fee to enter the part of town preserved as a museum. As the current Turkish government has, unfortunately, plans to develop the area in the future, our advice would be to go as soon as possible! Kayakoy is easily reachable from Blue Voyages that start or finish in Fethiye.
