Villa Kohinoor is located in one of the most exclusive areas of Kalkan.
The neighbouring villa is owned by retired Senator Stephen J Solarz. He died in November 2010, and leaves a widow – Nina Solarz. He was proud of his connection with Kalkan and with the connection between the Lycian League at Patara and the formation of the American Constitution.
Links for Senator Solraz: Devex ; New York Times
Click on the Map to see the location of the Villa using Google Maps. Villa Kohinoor is on the slopes just above the town – this is where you want to be on a hot summers day or on a humid evening …You do not want a villa that is "only 5 minutes to the town"…or worse "in the town"… that would be like being in St Tropez, or in Nice, instead of on the slopes above it:-) Many people like to walk down to the town which is 15 or 20 mins depending on whether you stop to take pictures and marvel at the view every few steps. Coming back is a taxi or car ride – why waste energy!…
Things to do… The southern coast of Turkey is well known to any scholar of ancient history. It was in Miletus and elsewhere along this coast that the first Greek philosophers flourished in the early sixth century BC. A trip along the coast would include three of the Seven Wonders of the World (the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Colossus of Rhodes) and other sites associated with Homer, Alexander the Great.
There are many archeological wonders near Kalkan and you can easily visit them using the local bus system, organised tours or under your own steam…
- Letoon and Xanthos dating back to the 4th Century BC with the remains of Byzantine churches and other ancient relics
- The natural phenomenon of Saklikent and the hidden canyon where you can enjoy wading in the icy cold, fast-flowing river, rewarded by a lunch of extremely fresh trout at one of the little restaurants built on wooden platforms overhanging the water
- Patara birthplace of Saint Nicholas, there is an 18 kilometer beach of white sand, numerous ruins including a huge Roman arch, the remains of Hadrian’s Granary; an amphitheatre and the old village of Patara
- Elmali with its wealth of Ottoman houses and beautiful mosque
- The wonderful mountain site of Arykanda, once the home of the pleasure seeking Lycian people
- Tlos, a site set high in the mountains with its numerous rock and house tombs, remains of Roman baths and spectacular views with a small Greek / Roman amphitheatre set in spectacular surroundings
- Bezirgan Village known locally as ‘ The Land of Milk and Honey ‘ because it is so fertile, with old mountain village houses, the village green and giving the feeling of stepping back a century in time
- Islamlar, an old traditional village, with a mosque, flour mill, trout farms and restaurants hanging over the gorge
- Boat trips to Kekova Island to see the sunken city and to visit the medieval castle at Simena, which has a Lycian amphitheatre within its walls
This site is a mine of infomation about the Lycian region Kalkan lies on the Lycian Way, voted one of the world’s top-ten long distance walks by the Sunday Times. Running from Fethiye in the west to Antalya in the east, many of the nicest stretches of the path are within easy reach of Kalkan.
The best months of the year to walk are October, November, March, April and the first half of May. December to February often enjoy long spells of glorious weather, but there is generally more chance of rain during that period.
From the end of May until the end of September, the higher temperatures make it unsuitable for walking. Click here for a full run down on trekking the Lycian Way Starting in May 2009, an ultramarathon will be annually organized at the historical Lycian way with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
