Marmaris is a port city on the Mediterranean coast that also stands as a tourist resort. Located in Muğla Province, southwest Turkey, along the shoreline of the Turkish Riviera. The city mainly thrives on tourism and due to the fact that it is located between two intersecting sets of mountains by the sea, it makes for great scenery.
Marmaris Webcam View from the Marmaris Beach
Following a construction boom in the 1980s, the fishing village that Marmaris was until the late 20th century has changed drastically. The city’s population is roughly around 30000, but it greatly increases and peaks at around 300,000 to 400,000 people during the tourist season.
It is also a center for sailing and diving, possessing two major and several smaller marinas as well as being a popular wintering location for hundreds of cruising boaters, being also served by the nearby Dalaman Airport.
The city has a rich history for a town its size. According to the historian Herodotus, there had been a castle in the area since around 3000 BC and in 334 BC around 600 people were living in the town when they were sieged by Alexander the Great.
This even showed the strength of the people living there at the time, as understanding their disadvantage they burned their valuables in the castle before escaping to the hills with their women and children, retreating from the threat.
The city became known as Marmaris during the period of the Beylik of Menteşe, as formerly, the area was known as Physkos. The current name derives from Greek màrmaron, or mermer in Turkish, in reference to the rich deposits of marble in the region, and the prominent role of the city’s port in the marble trade.
When it comes to the nature around Marmaris, the sights are just as filled with age as it’s history. The Nimara Cave is a cave on Heaven Island near the town of Marmaris. Since ancient times, the cave has been used as a place of worship.
According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, human presence in the cave, just like the castle previously mentioned, dates back to 3000 BC. However, excavations carried out in 2007 extended this period to almost 12,000 years back, making it a greatly fascinating location to visit.
The research conducted in the cave has revealed the existence of a cult devoted to the Mother Goddess Leto, believed to be the mother of God Apollo and Goddess Artemis, in the ancient city that is now known as Marmaris.
But the city has modern achievements to boast of as well, which mostly relate to sports. For example, the Final Four matches of the 2013 Men’s European Volleyball League were held at the Amiral Orhan Aydın Sports Hall in 2013.
When it comes to water sports, due to the perfect conditions of the surrounding area, every year in late October Marmaris hosts an annual regatta, attracting international as well as Turkish boats and crews. The entire list of activities you can partake in is just enormous, from jeep safari, quad & buggy safari and bike rides to sailing catamaran trips, jet-ski rides, canoeing, rafting, climbing, diving, more casual activities as paintball, horseback riding, mountain hikes, hang gliding, karting and much more.
Having such a varied list of activities, you are almost 100% guaranteed to find something you will enjoy doing.
If you are looking for a more standard getaway, rest assured. Being situated in Turkey, the city benefits from great weather conditions year-round. From pleasant winters of around 7 to 15 degrees Celsius (44 to 60 Fahrenheit) to tan-worthy summers, that reach around 23 to 34 degrees Celsius (68 to 94 Fahrenheit).
Combined together with great scenery, a long beach that spans almost the entirety of the town, an enormous selection of outdoor activities, wonderful architecture, and plenty of history to discover – you are bound to have a good time. But if your travels are yet to come, feel free to take a look by using one of the free webcams you can find on this site!
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