In
the heart of Lycia Patara is best known for its beach, eighteen kilometers of
soft white sand, backed by majestic dunes and in recent years the winner of
a "best beach in the world" survey in the Sunday Times.
Evidence
of its former glories as the principal port for Lycia and an important Roman
town can be seen at the extensive site, still not fully excavated.
Here too stood the Hellenistic oracle of Apollo , thought to rival that at Delphi
and a further claim of Patara's fame is as the birthplace of the fourth century
St. Nicolas , the original Santa Claus.
Patara
beach should not be missed with its gorgeous landscape and great swimming. It
is a national park and home to many birds, also the breeding ground of the endangered
Loggerhead turtle.
The beach is an 18 kilometer-long strip of sand bordered on its ends by mountains
and along its length by sand dunes and the large marshy area which once was
the celebrated port of Patara.
