Bodrum is the site of the ancient city of Halikarnassus, the location of the famous Mausoleum of Halikarnassus (built after 353 BC) – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Bodrum is a fascinating place as it has a pleasing contrast between the Ancient city – where there are discernable fragments everywhere in the town -and a playground for visitors from all over the world. It is one of the centers of the Turkish tourism industry and is the market town for the Bodrum Peninsula which consists of a number of towns and villages nestling on the edge of the Coast.
Until the 1960′s the town was a fishing village which changed when a number of Turkish intellectuals gathered and wrote about Bodrum. Most notable of the these was Cevat Sakir ‘The Fisherman of Hallikarnassus’, an Oxford Educated Turkish writer who is deeply associated with Bodrum. He is largely credited for bringing the fishing and sponge-diving town, to attention and for paving the way towards the formation of an international tourist destination.
Bodrum has grown as a sailing destination and thanks to its warm but not humid climate has become a top location for visitors who enjoy the combination of the ancient past together with all the usual tourist attractions.
The area offers beautiful beaches as well as bars, restaurants, and night clubs that are typical of Mediterranean resort towns. The Marina and Yacht Club are located on the west side of the town. Here life is a little more sedate with upscale dining and shopping options.
Bodrum hosts many cultural events – notably the Ballet Festival in August, a wide range of pop concerts at the Castle or in the 2,000 year old Amphitheatre which has been restored in the last few years.
