Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Marmaris

Marmaris Castle- Author; Stern1994- Wikimedia

Top 10 Remarkable Facts About Marmaris

When you hear the name, ‘Marmaris,’ what comes to mind is this port city and tourist resort that is located on the coast of the Mediterranean sea in Mugla province.  This is in Southwest Turkey, along the shorelines of the Turkish Rivera.

Marmaris is described as a paradise on earth and really, when you take a look at it, you can’t help but be fascinated.

It is a place you can visit anytime whether with friends, family or even on a solo trip. As most visitors conclude, Marmaris is definitely a place you should have on your bucket list as a place to visit.

1. The primary source of income for Marmaris is international tourism

Marmaris, Turkey- Author; Stern1994- Wikimedia

Thinking along the lines of economic stability and potential, Marmaris’ primary source of income is international tourism.

Given where it is located, between two intersecting sets of mountain by the sea, Mamari is quite popular among visitors.

However, following a construction boom in the 1980s, little is left of the sleepy fishing village that Marmaris was until the late 20th century.

In 2010, the city’s population was at 30,957 and usually peaks to around 300,000 to 400,000 people during the tourist season.

2. It is a centre for sailing and diving

Marmaris, Turkey- Author; Stern1994- Wikimedia

Marmaris is also a centre for sailing and diving. It possesses two major and several smaller docks, hence this popularity.

It is a popular wintering location for hundreds of cruising boaters, also being served by Dalaman Airport which is only an hour’s drive.

3. Marmaris is typically characterised by a hot summer climate

Beldibi/Marmaris/Muğla, Turkey- Author; Bir_Ege_Hikayesi- Wikimedia

Marmaris has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, typically characterised by hot dry summers and mild rainy winters.

Showers and rain are very unlikely between May and October but summers are hot and dry, and temperatures are especially high during the heatwaves in July and August.

October is usually still warm and bright, though with spells of rain, and many tourists prefer to visit in the early autumn, particularly in September. This is because the temperatures are not as hot during this time.

4. Marmaris was usually considered a sacred place for Leto in the 6th century BC

Leto, goddess of motherhood- Author; Sailko- Wikimedia

Although it is not certain when Marmaris was founded, in the 6th century BC the site was known as Physkos , in ancient Greek.

It was in a part of Caria (an ancient town in Southwestern Anatolia in Turkey) that belonged to Rhodes (an island in Greece).

During this era, Marmaris is believed to have contained a magnificent harbour and a grove that was sacred to Leto.

Leto was the goddess of motherhood and mother to Apollo, the god of music and Artemis, the goddess of the hunt. It is believed that a cultic movement that worshipped Leto was established at Marmaris.

5. It had a castle since 3000 BC

Marmaris Castle- Author; Constanze Cremer- Wikimedia

According to an ancient Greek historian known as Herodotus, there had been a castle on the site of Marmaris since 3000 BC.

In 334 BC, Caria, a town that was popular in Marmaris, was invaded by Alexander the Great and the castle of Physkos was besieged.

The 600 occupants who were inhabiting the town realised that they had no chance against the invading army and burned their valuables in the castle before escaping to the hills with their women and children.

The invaders, very aware of the strategic value of the castle, repaired the destroyed sections to house a few hundred soldiers before the main army returned home.

6. Became to be known as Marmaris during Beylik of Mentese period

The city became known as Marmaris during the period of the Beylik of Menteşe. This name derives from the Greek word màrmaron (meaning marble).

In Turkish, it basically refers to ‘mermer,’ referring to the rich deposits of marble in the region, and the prominent role of the city’s port in the marble trade.

A postcard declaring the Ottoman Empire’s resolve not to lose possession of Crete- Source; efrasyap.org- Wikimedia

In the mid-fifteenth century, Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror conquered and united the various tribes and kingdoms of Anatolia and the Balkans.

He ended up acquiring Constantinople. Constantinople was the capital of the Byzantine Empire and it is the present-day Istanbul.

At the same time, the Knights of St. John, based in Rhodes, fought the Ottoman Turks for many years.

Thus, when sultan Suleiman the Magnificent set out for the conquest of Rhodes, Marmaris served as a base for the Ottoman Navy and Marmaris Castle was actually rebuilt from scratch in 1522.

8. Was almost destroyed completely by the 1957 Fethiye earthquakes

San Francisco Earthquake in 1906- Author; Unknown- Wikimedia

The Fethiye earthquakes of 1957 almost completely destroyed the city. Only the Marmaris castle and the historic buildings surrounding the fortress were left undamaged.

9. Marmaris has had continuous renovations since 1979

Renivations- Photo by Milivoj Kuhar on Unsplash

Since 1979, renovation work has been constantly continuing at the castle. The castle was converted into a museum under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.

At the moment there are seven galleries and the largest one is used as an exhibition hall. In addition, the courtyard is decorated with seasonal flowers.

Built at the same time as the castle in the bazaar, there is also a small Ottoman roadside inn that was typically for caravans travelling in ancient times. It was built by Suleiman’s mother, Ayşe Hafsa Sultan.

10. A 2300 year old tomb was discovered at the place in 2018

An old tomb entrance- Author; Alistair- Wikimedia

In 2018, archaeologists discovered a 2300-year-old tomb of an ancient Greek boxer, known as Diagoras. He was a quite popular and well-known boxer from the 5th century BC.

It was announced that a pyramid-shaped structure was the mausoleum of the Greek boxer. The words, “I will be vigilant at the very top so as to ensure that no coward can come and destroy this grave,” were inscribed in Greek on the mausoleum.

Up until 1970, the structure was believed to be the grave of a saint and was visited by locals seeking answers to their prayers. However, upon discovery that it was not a holy site, the structure ended up being looted.