Hisarönü Gulf

Situated in the NE extension of Datca Peninsula, the Gulf of Hisarönü extends from Deveboynu Burnu at the tip of Datca Peninsula to the lighthouse on Atabol Burnu to the SE.

The ancient city of Knidos is situated at the extreme end of the Datca Peninsula. There are harbors on both sides of Deveboynu Burnu. The smaller one on the N side is silted in and for that reason is not suitable as an anchorage, whereby your best bet would be to anchor in the larger harbor on the S side. So, while visiting Knidos, the city of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, gather your crew for a feast of freshly caught seafood and raise your wine goblets to the victory of love. From here, you can unfurl sails and set a course for Datca. The ancient geographer and historian Strabon, who was from Amasya, in central Anatolia, had summed up the meaning of life when he wrote down the following about Datca Peninsula, which measures 80 km. long and encompasses 459 square km. “If God wanted to make man live a long and meaningful life, he would have brought him into existence on Datca Peninsula’ Well, the first stop on the Datca Peninsula after Knidos is Palamut Bükü. Rounding Divan Burnu, you will enter the harbor of Palamut Buku, just in front of the island of Palamut. You will find electrical current and water hookups for your vessel at this harbor, which is convenient for overnighting. In addition, ruins of the Dorian sanctuary, the Triopium are located nearby. After departing Palamut Limani, and sailing past Adatepe Burnu, you will enter the well-protected Adatepe Koyu, which should be approached while navigating clear of the rocks at the end of the E cape and as well as the cliffs that divide the beach. There is a shelter here that is used by fishing boats and you may anchor in front of the beach. If we leave this lovely bay and continue on our way, we pass Kargili Burnu and Parmak Burnu and arrive at the forest encircled Magara Koyu whose name is derived from the sea cave at the E entrance. Passing Inceburun, we enter Kargi Koyu just before Datca. One approaches Datça Jetty from here through the channel passing Toparca Adasi.

Datca is a country seat, whereas the name was given to the entire peninsula. You may replenish on board stocks here. The original site of the ancient city Knidos was located on a hill 1.5 km. N of modern Datca, where ruins of an acropolis can be seen. This was the site of Knidos when the Persians swept through the region in 540 B.C. Knidos later moved to a site 14 km. W of Datca, to the W point of the peninsula. After Datca, we come to the wide çiftlik Koyu, which is situated between Adatepe Peninsula and çift]ik Adasi. Leaving Çiftlik Koyu, where the Aktur Holiday Village is situated, you will come around Adatepe Burnu, which is safer than Çiftlik Koyu, to arrive at Kuruca Bükü. From here, you will cruise by Kurucaada and Bozan Burnu, following Hurmali Bük, Gönlücek and Lyndos Koyu. to finally end up in Bencik Limani, which is at the narrowest part of the peninsula. Bencik stretches inland 1.5 nautical miles, almost as if attempting to pierce the peninsula through to the other side. It is a great pleasure to fully experience these bays and inlets and all their lovely blues and greens.
The history of the Gulf of Hisarönü is truly captivating. The cities here were all under the control of Rhodes. While the Dorians were migrating to Asia, their largest settlement was made on Rhodes. The cities of Lyndos, Ialysos and Kamiros, which were all founded on Rhodes, were at first independent, however, in 408 B.C. they all gathered under a single Rhodian state flag. Prior to the merging of these three cities, they had spread out to some extent along the Anatolian shores, across from Rhodes. When these cities merged to become a single state, the shoreline communities also became a part of the Rhodian state. These communities were designated ‘Rhodes Peraia’ and all those living here were considered to be Rhodian citizens. At first, the Rhodian state extended to Loryma (Bozukkale) Peninsula and then later on to the Gulf of Keramos. Rhodes paid the Egyptian King Ptolemy 200 talents for Caunos in 190 B.C. The following year, Rhodes assisted Rome in their war against the Syrian King Antiochus III at the Battle of Magnesia and was subsequently awarded with the Lycian and Carian coastal regions. Nevertheless, this led to complaints to Rome from these cities concerning the tyrannical administration of the Rhodians. In turn, Rome recovered these regions and placed them under its own control in 167 B.C.

Rhodes was not very active in Caria, and were only able to rule the Loryma Peninsula, which is covered with steep mountains. One of the ancient cities situated inside the Gulf of Hisarönü is that of Bybassos, which is found between the village of HisarOnO and the sea. The ruins of Bybassos are on top of the hill between the sea and the road. In addition, a medieval fort is on the hill as well. However, it can only be reached via the forest track.

The ruins of Kastabos are found at Pazarlik on Eren these ruins is the Temple of the Goddess of Health, Hemitheia. The most important bay in the Gulf of Hisarönü is that of Keçi Bükü, which is sealed off from all prevailing winds allowing for trouble-free mooring. Marti Marina is located adjacent to the entrance of the bay.

Once you enter Marti Marina, one thing sure to catch your attention are the sturdy erect walls that belong to a church from the 5th century A.D. The walls on the island situated inside the bay indicates that this is an historical bay. According to our information, this bay was the location of the settlement of Hygassus. The cooling effect during the summer of the waterfall in the village of Turgut, which is located between Orhaniye and Selimiye, is a reason why this is such a popular spot.

The other suitable anchorage in the Gulf of Hisarönü is Selimiye Koyu, which is situated three nautical miles away from Keci Bükü, just in front of Selimiye Village. There is a small islet inside this bay, which was known in ancient times as ‘Sinos Skoenoes’ (Kamisli Koyu). On the islet is a structure that could have been a tower or lighthouse as well as a castle on the mountain behind the bay.
Documents indicate that this site was the ancient town of Hyda. Here, you will come across some wall remnants and next to these is a square-plan monument tomb. Leaving Selimiye Koyu, you will reach Dirsek Bükü, which is one nautical mile prior to Bozburun Limani. From Dirsek Bükü, you shall sail past Atabol Burnu, where the Gulf of Hisarönü ends and the Gulf of Yesilova (Sömbeki) begins. You will need to pay extreme caution to the reefs situated in front of Atabol Burnu.