Bodrum, ancient Halicarnassus
Halikarnassós was an ancient Greek city, at the site of modern Bodrum, in Turkey.
It was located in southwest Caria, on a picturesque, advantageous site on the Ceramic Gulf. The city was famous for the tomb of Mausolus, the origin of the word, mausoleum, built between 353 BC and 350 BC, and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was part of the Persian Empire (Achaemenid Empire) until captured by Alexander the Great at the siege of Halicarnassus in 334 BC.
The site is now occupied, in part by the town of Bodrum, but the ancient walls can still be traced round nearly all their circuit, and the position of several of the temples, the theatre, and other public buildings can be fixed with certainty.
Things to do
Bodrum has so much to offer. Within hardly 1-2 hours, one can visit world famous archaelogical sites like Ephesus, Iassus, Labranda and Herakleia. Daily farmers markets, throughout the peninsula. Top notch nightlife and some of the best seafood restaurants in Turkey. The new Palmarina, the most luxurious marina in the world, is only 5 minutes away and boasts the best shopping, nightlife and cuisine in the area. Aegean beaches and beach clubs are everwhere. Local village breakfasts are another option and in winter, from November through March, there are the Sunday, medieval camel wresting matches. Winter also provides wild greens and mushrooms from the hills behing the property. Alas, perhaps a good book, comfortable chaise lounge and the birds singing in the cypress trees are all you need to relax and rejuvenate.