Turkey Villa. Holiday guide Datca

Translation

Datca

An area of outstanding natural beauty. The 80km long Datca peninsula is almost an island, at Balikasiran Isthmas (meaning where fish could skip) it is just 800m across. The famous geographer Strabon once said ‘God would send his beloved servant to Datca to live longer’. More recent studies have found that the air and water quality in this area are the third best quality in the world.
There are over 50 bays and coves around Datca with many only accessible by boat, some have been awarded blue flag status. Even in mid summer you can be alone on a beach or maybe share it with a few goats or ducks. For the beach comber there are many beaches with amazing finds. Around two thousand years ago Datca was a major wine producing region and now amphora litters the area.

Datca town with its buzzing harbour is situated mid way along the peninsula. This is where many Turks from Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara have holiday homes along with a handful of Europeans. Mass European tourism has not reached Datca, partly due to the difficult mountain road from Marmaris. However this has been improved to entice tourists and it is now possible to travel from Dalaman airport in just over 2 hours. The town consists of one long main street leading to the harbour. There are all kinds of shops including a large Migros supermarket. There are several banks and a post office, also a variety of hotels and pensions. Each Saturday people pile in for the famous market held in small streets that lead from the main one. The harbour reminds me of St Tropez many years ago. This is where the pretty bars and restaurants hung with grapes and Bouganvillea are. Each afternoon in the summer season gulets and yachts pull in for the night and the area comes alive. Turkish families promenade, the friendly waiters urge you to see their kitchens, you can browse in the shops without hassle and sip Raki by the water's edge while you listen to the call to prayer. There are no fast food or European restaurants just laid back Turkish fare. A magical place.

On the peninsula which in parts is mountainous, there are 9 villages, all with the feeling that time has passed them by. There are many farms in the area and a great many olive trees. Datca is famous for balik, bal and badem. The honey and almonds can be bought from the side of the road in or near these villages. Fish can be bought on the quay near the Teacher’s Hotel every day. At the far end of the peninsula where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean is the ancient site of Knidos. This is well worth a visit by mountain road or boat. It is a huge site that would take a day to see it all. Other places to visit are the Olive Farm, Eski Datca, the windmills, the water park and the nearby Greek Island of Symi. You can take a day trip to Bodrum in the summer season on the twice daily ferry. Marmaris is around an hour away by bus.
In Turkish literature, Datça is associated with the poet Can Yucel who spent the last decades of his life in Datça and is also buried there. He loved alcohol and wine bottles are often left on his tomb. In the morning they are always empty!

To read more about what others have to say visit the forum holidays section.

Article written by Jane Keevill

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