Location:Kalkan is only 27 km apart from Kaş and has developed into a modern town during the last couple of years. Shortly after kalkan a sign points to joint road which leads to Patara 10 km away.
History:Nothing is known about the establihment of Patara, one of the most important harbour cities of Lykia. Except for a mythological statement which tells us that the city was founded by Pataros who was the son of apollon and the nymph Lykia. Once it was called Patara. Patara was not only of importance because of its location,but it also had a considerable religious influence; it had an Apollonsanctuary which stil could not be located:it competed with the delphic oracles(The oracle of Patara was supposably only here during the winter months and at other times on the Island Delos).
In the 1 st century A.D the sanctuary lost its importance. After an exciting century it was supported economically by Rhodiapolis and had its prime time again. Patara did not put up resistance against Alexander the Great, but had tos hare its fate with all Lykian cities after the deccease of this hero.Thereby two historic events should be mentioned.ın the 3rd century B.C which was the Ptolemaian age, the city was named Arsione like the wife of Philadelphos II, for a short time. The second event was in 42 B.C after the heavy blow in Xanthos, whereupon the population of Patara offered Brutus valuable jewels to avoid the spilling of blood. Patara which had three voices in the Lykian league, experienced its golden age in the Roman era. Not only legal transactions of the Roman governor were proceeded, but also most of the federal assemblies took place here, so that the Lykian federal archives was transferred to Patara. Patara was also an important centre fort he Christians. Apostle paul changed his ship here during his excursion from Ephesos to Tyros; the birthplace of Saint nikolaos was also here.
Gate edifice:The gate edifice from the 1 st century A.D. with its three portals, is located directly at the entrance of Patara, amid some Lykian sarcophagae, was financed by the Lykian-Pamphylian governor Mattius Modestus and built by the natives. The bust of the governor and his family stood on corberls on the two sides of the gate.
Bath-Basilica-Temple:On the way from the gate to the sea,the ruins of a small bath and an East Roman basilica can be seen. In this part the temple has remained in quite good condition.It was built in the Korinthian style and stands on a 13x16 m large platform.
Thermal springs:Underneath the temple one sees ruin of a typically Roman bath with five rooms:the apodyterium,caldarium and sudatorium,which were all joined by doors: it was donated by Vespasian(69 to 79 A.D.). Some openings in the walls show that the bath had been decorated with marble which could have also been done at a later point in time.
Theatre:The first theatre was probably Hellenian.Due to an inscription from the year 147 A.D it was rebuilt by Velius titianus and his daughter velia procla after a heavy eartquake. The small alluvial land plain has already enclosed the largest part of the theatre and the city with sand dunes and mud so that one knows nothing about the seat rows. One has estimated that 34 rows had been there originally. The cavea of the theatre is located on the slope and was divided into two areas by a diazoma.
Grenary:This is set on the west bank of the ancient port installation and was constructed to the honour of Emperor Hadrian. Patara had the same importance as Andriake in the grain transport to Rome.