Letoon

foundations of a temple in LetoonLetoon is located to the west of Antalya, between Fethiye - Kas road, at about 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Fethiye. To reach Letoon, you turn west one kilometer beyond the road from Kinik to Fethiye and continue 5 kilometers (3 miles).

The site was first discovered in 1841 by a British navy officer, but the official and legal excavations have started in 1962. Today, due to the rising water level, archaeological digs have been suspended. The history of Letoon is closely linked with that of Xanthos. It is known to have been one of the most important religious centers of the Lycian region in Anatolia, in the southern Turkey. The remains unearthed indicate they belong to the period between the 7th century BC and the 6th century AD.

The most important building in the site is the Greek style theater which has been preserved until our day. You can also see the foundations of Hellenistic temples of Leto, as well as Artemis and Apollo. Some of the inscriptions discovered at the site were written in three languages (Lycian, Greek and Aramaic) and indicate that also Alexander the Great visited the city in the 4th century BC. These inscriptions are in Fethiye museum today. Some other ruins at the site include a Nymphaeum (monumental fountain), porticoes, tombs, and a Byzantine basilica too.

The site is on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list since 1988.