BODRUM

The Walking Tour of Ancient Halicarnassus

Harbor and Zephirion Island

we start discovering the ancient city in the Bodrum castle where Mausolos built his palace and a temple for God APOLLO. Visitors can also see the remains of Mausolos’s Palace and Apollon Temple, located in the castle area. 

Then, we walk to the Harbor of Halicarnassos and talk about the famous secret harbor of the city. Hidden behind the walls, the city’s Secret Harbor kept Satrap Mausolos’s fleet, part of the influential city defense system. During a foreign attack, Halicarnasians led their fleet to the big harbor using the canal and attacked the enemy in the small harbor. 

Demeter Shrine

Then, we walk through the area where Newton discovered the sacred ground of goddess Demeter and found many terra cotta statues in the 19th century. 

Hospital Mosaics

 Our next location is the American hospital area where archaeologists discovered some late Roman. Mosaics. Today, these mosaics are displayed in 9 glass pools. Visitors enjoy these late Roman Period mosaics with geometric, animal, and plant figures. 

Doric Stoa and Mars Temple 

In the same area, We can also discover the remains of the Doric Stoa and Terrace Wall of the Mars Temple. 

Mausoleum Museum 

 Then, we will continue our tour by visiting the Mausoleum Museum. The Mausoleum of Halikarnassos was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The monumental tomb was situated in the city center, about 45 meters high and rising on a vast terrace measuring 250*100 meters.

The monument had a three-stage podium, a section resembling an Ionic temple with 36 columns, and a 24-step pyramid on the top. At the monument’s summit was a chariot drawn by four horses.

From the Mausoleum, a short walk leads us to the well-preserved ancient theater in Halicarnassos. This well-preserved horseshoe-shaped theater was built in the 4. Century BC by satrap Mausolos. 

Ancient theater

The ancient theater had a capacity for 10,000 spectators and was built on the hill’s site. Visitors enjoy the theater’s well-preserved altar, reserved seats for important guests, and remains of the stage building.

Ancient theater 

From the site of the Mausoleum, we climb to the ancient theater of Halicarnassus, built by Mausolos in the fourth century before Christ. This horse-shoe-shaped theater built on the hillside could accommodate 10,000 people.  

the Roman VİLLA 

Then, we will walk to an excavation site where, in the 19th century, English archaeologist Charles Newton discovered the remains of a vast Roman villa with stunning mosaics and took them to England. 

Myndos Gate 

We end our walking tour at the Myndos Gate — an essential gate of the ancient city where Alexander the Great and his army had a fierce battle with Persians. This gate is one of the significant locations where Alexander the Great’s famous siege of Halicarnassos took part. We will also see the Late Roman Period cemetery next to it.

Note: The tour is entirely on foot, and we walk primarily on busy and narrow Bodrum Streets