The Surreal Sunken Paradise of Kekova

Words alone can’t describe the surreal beauty of Kekova. The time-warped historical remnants bridge the past and the present. Fond childhood memories are attached to Kekova. Being so close to Istanbul, Kekova is an easy day-trip. I last visited Kekova in the summer of 2014. Kekova is one of the top places to visit before you die.

Occupied by the Italians for several years, Kekova was finally handed over to Turkey in 1932. Kekova is a postcard-perfect rocky island near the Demre province of Antalya. In the north, lies the sunken remnants of the ancient city of Dolkisthe that was destroyed by earthquakes in the 2^ndcentury. These remnants can be seen from glass-bottomed boats or canoes. Swimming and diving are strictly prohibited. No archaeological research or excavation adds a layer of mystery to the sunken city.

The attempts to revamp the city during the Byzantine period were devastated by Arabian and Persian invasions. These invasions gave birth to many legends and stories that can inspire movies and books. The one that is close to my heart is that of the women and children jumped into the fire in the town square to avoid getting raped by the Arabs.

Kalekoy, the heart of Kekova, is only accessible by sea. It can be easily explored in a day. You can visit Kalekoy via boat or yacht tours departing from Ucagiz. We drove to Ucagiz and it took us about 3-3.5 hours from Antalya. Boat tours can be arranged at the Ucagiz Port. Different boats offer different facilities hence choose the one you like the most. Try to get one with some sort of sun-protection and probably no music. Check out the lunch menu, ambience and number of tourists as well.

These tour boats usually depart from the port around 10-10:30 AM and bring you back to Ucagiz between 5-6 PM. Since the islands are close to each other, you will find yourself in at the other bay before even a drop of water touches you. The clarity and brightness of the bays’ water changes depending on the course of the wind and the sunlight.

During the trip, you will see amphorae of the Rodos type from the 3rd century BC, located 13-20 meters in the water. The glass-bottom boats aren’t glass-bottomed but have a glass area little bigger than spectacle lens. You will also see a tower, a port, three churches, two chapels, several dwellings, a cistern and remnants of the city belonging to the Hellenistic period. Additionally, the stairways that run from the beach to the houses will make you wonder “How they built these during that time.”

Your journey, starting from the Tersane bay, will end in Kalekoy (of course you will return to Ucagiz after that). You will feel like moving to Kalekoy as soon as you will arrive there. However, these thoughts will not last long as you climb the medieval Byzantine Fortress.  The fortress has the world’s smallest amphitheatre and the seats are all carved out of natural stones. The view from the top of the castle will induce nirvana. You will forget about everything thanks to the mesmerising views.

Be wary of the organic and village-style “home-made ice cream”. It is a scam and not worth trying. Instead, try the Yanik (burnt/smoked) ice cream at Akdeniz Pastry in Antalya. I was so lost in the jaw-dropping beauty of the surroundings that I forgot to click photos. You can still witness Kekova through the few photos I took.