Simena - Kaleköy
Sunken Sarcophagus at
Simena
The small village of Kale (Kaleköy)
is a delightful place to visit. The village was established on top of the
ancient Lycian city of Simena and was named (Kale = Castle) after the
ruined crusader castle of the Knights of St. John perched above the pretty
hamlet. Kale is a lovely place, with a small harbor surrounded by
waterside
restaurants serving excellent locally caught fish. Aside is a
picturesque lone Lycian sarcophagus popping up from the cerulean
water waiting to take its photograph. The village of Kale is a protected
archeological zone with no permanent new buildings permitted. As a
consequence, it is kind of an exclusive holiday resort with only a few
pricey pensions.
From the small harbor with its sunken
Lycian tomb, it is a steep but short climb to the acropolis of ancient
Simena and the crusader fortress that was built on top of it. The climb to the acropolis
and castle offers a breathtaking view on the surroundings. Inside the
castle there is a fifteen-meter-wide charming Greek theatre carved in the
rock. The little theatre could hold up to 300 people.
More information on Simena is available
on the
Lycian Turkey site.
Click on the thumbnails to get a greater picture
