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   Turkey / Cities and Towns /
Fethiye
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Red roofs dominate.
Older buildings.
The yacht harbour.
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Town in southwestern Turkey with 60,000 inhabitants (2004 estimate), in a sheltered bay in the Gulf of Fethiye.
Today, tourism is becoming the most important activity in Fethiye. But the town's enlarged port is also an important outlet for minerals (especially chromium) and timber from the surrounding region.
Fethiye is somewhat isolated from the rest of Anatolia, but has good roads to other urban centres. Denizli is 210 km north, Mugla is 130 northwest and Antalya is 300 km northeast.
Despite become a tourist town, Fethiyes managed to retain its authentic Turkish appearance. It is built over the Lycian city of Telmessoyous. There are some remains of Telmessos; spectacular rock tombs and a sarcophagi from the 5th–4th century BCE. There is also a nice amphitheatre next to the sea, a ruined Byzantine fortress on the summit of a nearby hill. About 50 km southeast lies the notable Lycian site of Xanthos.
History
4th century BCE: Known as Telmessos, the town fights the Lycians, but would soon enter the Lycian federation, while keeping good relations with the island of Rhodes.
334: Conquered by the Macedonian king Alexander the Great.
8th century CE: As a Byzantine town, it is named Anastasiopolis.
9th century: Named Makri.
1857: Davastating earthquake leaves most of Fethiyein ruins.
1930's: Named Fethiye after the local war hero Fethi Bey.
1958: Heavy earthquake destroys most Fethiye.
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