The district is known as an important tourism center today, which is due to the fact that Bodrum has some unique features. Bodrum is a district known not only in Turkey but also in the world in terms of tourism. In terms of population, it surpassed Muğla center and Fethiye throughout the province and became the largest district.
Etymology
The ancient name of Bodrum is Halicarnassus. It was read as Halikarnas in Turkish. Together with the castle called St. Peter’s Castle, the city was named Petrium after the city was dedicated to St. Peter. Over time, this name was pronounced as Petrum, then as Potrum and finally as Bodrum.
History
Mausoleum, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was built in the city of Halicarnassus. The marble stones of the mausoleum, which was destroyed over time by the effects of earthquakes and invasions, were used in the construction of Bodrum Castle. Christian Knights built the castle in the 15th century. The construction was completed in a period of 100 years. The Pope distributed indulgence papers to those working in the construction of the castle in order to finish the castle. Bodrum city is the last captured Christian land on Anatolian lands. Although the city was besieged during the reign of Mehmed II, it was only captured during the Rhodes Campaign of Süleyman I. Bodrum Castle today serves as the world’s 2nd largest Underwater Archeology Museum. It is the strongest surviving castle in the Eastern Mediterranean. The city of Bodrum hosts many cultural events.
Culture
The International Bodrum Ballet Festival has been held in Bodrum every summer since 2003. This festival is Turkey’s first and only ballet festival. In addition, the International Bodrum Biennial has been held since 2014. Bodrum Baroque Music Festival has been held in the city since 2010.
Location
Bodrum is located in the western corner of Muğla province. The majority of the district’s lands are located in a peninsula bearing its name, which is surrounded by the Aegean Sea from the north, west and south. It has no administrative border except Milas in the east.
Climate
In terms of climate, it has a feature consisting of the synthesis of Aegean and Mediterranean climates. As a peninsula, it shows the feature of a micro-climate area. There is almost no humidity in summer. In winter, the humidity is very low. Summer months are hot and dry, winter months are quite warm and rainy. From 1970 to the present, snowfall has been seen only in February 2004, and the snow thickness has reached an average of 5 cm.
The peninsula is clearly divided into two as vegetation. In the part to the west of the Bodrum-Milas highway, the vegetation is covered with bushes and heaths and thorny grasses, which are called “çeti” in the region. The part to the east of the highway is covered with coniferous red pine, wild strawberry, myrtle and sandalwood trees. 61.3% of the district’s land is in the forest areas. However, as a result of forest fires in recent years, a significant decrease in forest cover has been observed. There are no regular streams in the district. The Irrigation Pond in Mumcular Town is used for irrigation and drinking water purposes.
MİLAS
HERAKLEIA
1 hour 26 minutes (86.6 km) via D330 and Milas Söke Road/D525
The Ancient City of Herakleia is located in today’s Kapıkırı Village and is 39 kilometers from Milas. The city had Latmos Bay, which was an extension of the Aegean Sea in Antiquity. However, as a result of being filled with alluvium brought by the Menderes River, the bay turned into today’s Bafa Lake. Although the city is geographically located on the border of Ionia and Caria and even in the Ionian region, it has been accepted as a typical Carian city with its character and historical background.
( https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/mugla/gezilecekyer/herakleia)
IASSOS
1 hr 4 min (60.8 km) via D330
The Ancient City of Iassos is located within the borders of Kiyikislacik Neighborhood, Milas district of Muğla province, approximately 26 km west of Milas district. The earliest archaeological find in the ancient city dates back to 3,000 BC. The earliest architectural remains are the wall remains of a Bronze Age settlement dating back to 2,000 BC.( https://mugla.ktb.gov.tr/TR-177906/iassos.html
UZUNYUVA HEKATOMNOS MEMORIAL TOMB
54 min (53.2 km) via D330
It was built on a 3.5 m high podium on the hill to the east of Hisarbasi Neighborhood. It has a single column called Uzunyuva.
( https://www.milas.bel.tr/index.php?modul=2_99&lang=tr&ID=12&pID=1)
Hekatomnos Mausoleum is the mausoleum of Hekatomnos, the founding satrap of Caria, located in today’s Milas district of Muğla.
The tomb, located on the eastern slope of the Hisarbaşı hill, is dated to the 4th century BC. The tomb, discovered in 2010, is one of the most important tomb monuments of the ancient world.
( https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hekatomnos_An%C4%B1t_Mezar%C4%B1)
BECIN CASTLE
51 min (52.1 km) via D330
The castle is located 5 km south of Milas, on the Ören highway, on a hill overlooking the plain.
Its name is mentioned as Pezona in a medieval Italian document, as Berçin in Ibn Battuta, as Peçin in Menteşe and Ottoman sources. Although the human settlements on the hill where the castle is located started in the Bronze Age, the castle was built in the Byzantine period.
GUMUDKESEN MEMORIAL TOMB
57 min (53.9 km) via D330
Gümüşkesen mausoleum was built of gray-white marble and has a total height of 8.45 m. The tomb monument, whose superstructure looks like a stepped pyramid, is dated to the 2nd century AD. It is thought to be a small copy of the Mausoleum in Halicarnassus, one of the seven wonders of the world.
BALTALI GATE
55 min (53.3 km) via D330
The Baltalı Kapı, which is considered one of the most important symbols after the Hekatomnos Mausoleum of Milas and the Gümüşkesen Mausoleum, is located in the borders of Hacıapdi District today. The Baltalı Gate takes its name from the double-faced ax relief on the keystone, called “Labrys” in ancient times. It is dated to the 2nd century AD. (http://www.milas.gov.tr/baltali-kapii)
LABRANDA
1 hr 14 min (68.1 km) via D330
It is understood from the notes of the documentary director Tekin Gün, who visited the ruins in 2017, that the first foundation stones of Labranda, the most important ancient settlement of Caria, were built at the earliest, pointing to the Bronze Age between 3000 BC and 2500 BC, and that it was inhabited until the 13th century AD. . The ancient city of Labraunda, which is thought to be the first important sanctuary for the Carians, was discovered in the archaeological research and scientific excavations that have continued since 1948, when the Caria region was an important cult center. ( https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labranda)
COLLUOGLU INN
55 min (53.3 km) via D330
It is at a central point of the city, just near the Belen Mosque. Although it was built by Abdülaziz Ağa in 1719-1920 as a foundation foundation for the madrasa built in 1737-1738 near the Ağa Mosque, today it is in private ownership and has been largely demolished.
(https://www.milas.bel.tr/index.php?modul=2_99&lang=tr&ID=7&pID=1)
HACI ALI AĞA MANSION
54 min (53.2 km) via D330
Located in Misarbaşı Neighborhood, Hacı Ali Ağa Mansion was built in 1868 by Hacı Ali Ağa, one of the notables of Milas. The first floor of the mansion, which was restored in accordance with its original form by the Municipality of Milas in 2005, has started to serve as the Turhan Selçuk cartoon house in memory of the great master of Turkish cartoons, Turhan SELÇUK, born in Milas.
( https://www.milas.bel.tr/index.php?modul=2_99&lang=tr&ID=6&pID=1)
ARASTA
55 min. (53.3 km) via D330
In Hisarbaşı Neighborhood, the area surrounding the historical Çöllüoğlu Inn is Milas Arasta. It is estimated that the Çöllüoğlu Inn began to be established after its construction in 1719. (https://www.milas.bel.tr/index.php?modul=2_99&lang=tr&ID=5&pID=1)
GOKCELER CANYON INCIRLIIN CAVE
51 min. (47.7 km) via D330
Gökçeler Canyon, located in Gökçeler District, has a unique natural environment with a length of approximately 8 km, starting from Suçıkan location in Karacahisar District and extending to Gökçeler District.
It is located on the northern slope of Manastır Mountain, southwest of Milas, overlooking Gökçeler Canyon. Incirliin Cave, one of the most beautiful caves in our country, is an exemplary cave with its geological formations, historical ruins, natural environment and sensitive studies to open it to tourism.( http://www.milas.gov.tr/incirliin-magarasi)
SLEEP VALLEY
48 min. (46.3 km) via D330
Sleep valley is located on the west of Bodrum airport (11km), 800 meters from Gökçeler Village, the nearest residential area, on the shore of Hamza Bey Stream. There are 40 caves inside. (https://www.uykuvadisi.com.tr/tr/ana-sayfa/)
YATAĞAN
STRATONIKEIA
1 h. 11 min. (77.4 km) via D330 and Muğla Bodrum Road/D330
Stratonikeia, known as the city of immortal loves and gladiators, is located within the borders of Eskihisar District, 7 km west of Yatağan District of Muğla Province. The city, which has witnessed an uninterrupted settlement since the Late Bronze Age, was named after his wife Stratonike by the Seleucid king Antiochus I in the first quarter of the 3rd century BC.( https://www.yatagan.bel.tr/index.php?modul=10_3&ID=8&CatIDx=5)
LAGINA ANCIENT CITY
1 h. 20 min. (91.9 km) via D330
The city, which has historical and touristic importance, is located on the highway between Muğla and Bodrum, near the Turgut District, which is 8 km inside the highway and connected to the Yatağan district. The town where the ancient city is located is called Leyne in Muğla.( https://www.yatagan.bel.tr/index.php?modul=10_3&ID=13&CatIDx=5)
