Pınara, though often overlooked by tourists, is one of the many ancient sites around Fethiye you won’t want to miss. Because the site remains less popular than other historical settlements, it retains a special, mystical feel about it. In addition to its rich history, the natural beauty found all around the roads and ruins of Pınara give the abandoned town a very tranquil feeling.
Pınara, meaning “round” in the ancient Lycian language, gets its name from the rounded mountaintop on which it sat originally. Today, the city sprawls beneath the tomb-filled mountain, creating a stunning view of the ruins along the backdrop of the Xanthos valley. This untouched and often overlooked town is unlike any other you will see in the area with its numerous wildflowers, olive and fig trees, and the thyme-scented breeze.
Founded near the 5th century AD, Pınara supposedly began as a town to house the overflow from the overcrowded, nearby city of Xanthos. It eventually grew into one of the three major cities of Lycia and was one of six cities in the area with the most voting power.
Just like most ancient sites, you will find the regular temples, tombs, amphitheatres, and acropoli. Pınara once served as a religious site in addition to being a town and was dedicated to Apollo, Aphrodite, and Athena. Today, ruins of all three temples remain. Aphrodite’s temple still contains many of its unusual heart-shaped columns and unique carvings.
The mountain-top overlooking the city contains hundreds of ancient Lycian tombs. The Lycian people believed their dead would be carried away to heaven by winged creatures and would bury their dead high in the cliff-sides to ensure and easing passing for their dead. The sight of the numerous tombs carved into the cliff with the beautiful wildlife stretched beneath it creates a mystical and peaceful view. In addition to these tombs, sarcophagi can also be found throughout the ruins, including one of the largest sarcophagi in Lycia.
The Greek-style amphitheatre sits at the base of the town in good condition with most of its seating intact. Dating back to the 2nd century, it could have housed 3,200 people in its 27 rows. Not only is the amphitheatre itself a stunning ruin to admire, it sits with a beautiful view of the ruins and the wide scope of the Xanthos valley.
Leave a Reply