Information about Cirali and Olimpos, Turkey

Cirali is located off the Antalya-Kumluca road 80 km west of Antalya and near Olimpos, which was originally a port city established in the 2nd century. Olimpos was one of the most eastern of the Lycian cities and takes its name from Mount Olympus of Lycia, which is now known as Tahtali Mountain. The city was dedicated to Hephaestos, the god of fire because of the eternal flames in Cirali (called the Chimaera) and known by the local inhabitants as the "burning mountain" (Yanartas). The flames are a result of escaping natural gas, which has been ignited. Homer' s Iliad tells the tale of Bellerophon, who had been exiled from Argos, and was sent to Lycia riding on Pegasus. After coming to Olympos, he killed the lion-headed, goat-torsoed, and snake-tailed Chimaera with his arrow. Bellerophon then threw the monster into the mouth of Mount Olympos.

Both Cirali and Olimpos are located in the Bey Mountains National Park, which is one of the most beautiful areas that Turkey has to offer. Lush green forests, oleander shrubs, mountain streams and ancient ruins all combine here. The Cirali-Olimpos beach is a clean pebble beach with multi-colored stones and is a breeding ground for the Caretta Caretta sea turtles. You can see ruins of a Roman theater, Byzantine basilica, a Roman temple, bridge, defense walls and ancient tombs, but most of the ruins are thickly overgrown with vegetation. There is accommodation in Cirali in the form of hotels and pansiyons, and tree-houses in Olimpos, mostly frequented by the backpacker crowd.