On our planet there are a huge number of ghost towns, empty and creepy, frightening a traveler who accidentally wanders here with the empty eye sockets of the windows of rickety buildings...
In this rating, we will present the 10 most famous abandoned cities, abandoned by people for various reasons: some were abandoned due to bloody wars, others were abandoned under the onslaught of almighty nature.

1. Buried in the sands of the city of Kolmanskop (Namibia)

Kolmanskop

Kolmanskop is an abandoned town in southern Namibia, located a few kilometers from the port of Lüderitz.
In 1908, railway company employee Zakaris Leval discovered small diamonds in the sand. This discovery caused a real diamond rush and thousands of people flocked to the hot sands of the Namib Desert, hoping to make a fortune.

Kolmanskop was built in record time. It took people only two years to erect beautiful German-style residential buildings in the desert, build a school, a hospital, and even a casino. But the days of the city's existence were already numbered.

After the end of the First World War, the value of diamonds on the world market fell, and every year the extraction of precious stones in the Kolmanskop mines became worse. The lack of drinking water and the constant struggle with sand dunes made the life of the people of the mining town increasingly unbearable.

In the 1950s, the last inhabitants left Kolmanskop and it turned into another ghost town on the world map. Soon nature and the desert almost completely buried the town under sand dunes. Several other old houses and the theater building remained unburied, which is still in good condition.

2. The city of nuclear scientists Pripyat (Ukraine)

Pripyat is an abandoned city in the “exclusion zone” in northern Ukraine. Workers and scientists of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant lived here until the tragic day - April 26, 1986. On this day, the explosion of the 4th power unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant put an end to the further existence of the city.

On April 27, the evacuation of people from Pripyat began. Nuclear workers and their families were allowed to take with them only the most necessary things and documents; people left all the property acquired over the years in their abandoned apartments. Over time, Pripyat turned into a ghost town, visited only by extreme sports and thrill-seekers.

For those who want to see and appreciate the full scale of the disaster, the Pripyat-Tour company provides excursions to the abandoned city. Because of high level radiation, you can safely stay here for no more than a few hours, and most likely Pripyat will remain a dead city forever.

3. Futuristic resort city of San Zhi (Taiwan)

In the north of Taiwan, not far from the capital of the state, Taipei, there is the ghost town of San Zhi. According to the developers, very wealthy people should have bought these houses, because the architecture of the buildings, made in a futuristic style, was so unusual and revolutionary that it should have attracted a large number of wealthy customers.

But during the construction of the city, inexplicable accidents began to occur here and every week there were more and more of them, until the deaths of workers began to happen every day. Rumor quickly spread the news about the bad city, which had a very bad effect on the city's reputation for the rich.

The construction was finally completed and even a grand opening was held, but none of the potential clients bought a home here. Massive advertising campaigns and huge discounts did not help, San Zhi became a new ghost town. Now access here is prohibited, and local residents believe that the city is inhabited by the ghosts of people who died here.

4. Medieval city of Craco (Italy)

About forty kilometers from the Gulf of Taranto in Italy, there is an abandoned old City Krako. Situated on picturesque hills, it was the patrimony of farmers and plowmen; its inhabitants were engaged in agriculture, growing wheat and other grain crops.

The first mention of the city dates back to 1060, when all the land was owned by the Catholic Archbishop Arnaldo.
In 1981, the population of Craco was just over 2,000 people, and since 1982, due to poor harvests, landslides and constant collapses, the town's population began to decline rapidly. Between 1892 and 1922, more than 1,300 people left Craco. Some left to seek happiness in America, others settled in neighboring cities and villages.

The city was finally abandoned after a strong earthquake in 1963, only a few residents remained to while away their lives in a new ghost town. By the way, it was here that Mel Gibson filmed the scene of the execution of Judas for his masterpiece film “The Passion of the Christ.”

5. The village of Oradour-sur-Glane (France) - a memorial reminiscent of the horrors of fascism

The small ruined village of Oradour-sur-Glane in France stands as a reminder of the monstrous atrocities of the Nazis. During World War II, 642 village residents were brutally murdered by the Nazis as punishment for the capture of SS Sturmbannführer Helmut Kampf by French resistance fighters.

According to one version, the Nazis simply confused villages with similar names.
The high-ranking fascist was in captivity in the neighboring village of Oradour-sur-Vaires. The Germans did not spare anyone - neither the elderly, nor women, nor children... They drove the men to barns, where they targeted their legs with machine guns, then doused them with a flammable mixture and set them on fire.

Women, children and the elderly were locked in the church, then a powerful incendiary device was detonated. People tried to get out of the burning building, but they were mercilessly shot by German machine gunners. Then the Nazis completely destroyed the village.

6. Forbidden Island Gankanjima (Japan)

Gankanjima Island is one of the 505 uninhabited islands in Nagasaki Prefecture, and is located just 15 km from Nagasaki itself. It is also called battleship island because of the walls that protect the city from the sea. The history of settlement of the island began in 1890, when coal was discovered here. The Mitsubishi company bought the entire territory and began implementing a project to extract coal from the bottom of the sea.

In 1916, the first large concrete building was built on the island, and then buildings began to grow like mushrooms after rain. And in 1959, the population of the island had grown so much that 835 people lived here on one hectare! This was a world record for population density.

In the early 1960s, oil in Japan increasingly began to replace coal in production, and its production became unprofitable. Coal mines began to close across the country, and the Gankandjima mines were no exception.

In 1974, Mitsubishi officially announced the closure of the mines and the cessation of all activities on the island. Gankanjima has become another abandoned ghost town. Currently, visiting the island is prohibited, and in 2003, the famous Japanese action film “Battle Royale” was filmed here.

7. Kadykchan - a village in the Magadan region

Kadykchan is an urban-type settlement, located in the Susumansky district of the Magadan region. One of the most famous abandoned northern villages on the Internet. In 1986, according to the census, 10,270 people lived here, and in 2002 - only 875. In Soviet time coal was mined here highest quality, which heated almost 2/3 of the Magadan region.

The population of Kadykchan began to rapidly decrease after a mine explosion in 1996. A few years later, the only boiler house heating the village defrosted, and it became simply impossible to live here.

Now it is just a ghost town, one of many in Russia. There are rusty cars in the garages, destroyed furniture, books and children's toys in the rooms. Finally, leaving the dying village, the residents shot the bust of V.I. Lenin installed in the square.

8. The walled city of Kowloon (Hong Kong) - a city of lawlessness and anarchy

One of the most incredible ghost towns, now no longer existing, is the city of Kowloon, which was located near the former Kai Tak Airport, a city where all the vices and base passions of humanity were embodied. In the 1980s, more than 50,000 people lived here.
There was probably no other place on the planet where prostitution, drug addiction, gambling and underground workshops were widespread.

It was practically impossible to take a step here without bumping into a drug addict pumped up on dope, or a prostitute offering her services for a pittance. Hong Kong authorities practically did not govern the city; it had the highest crime rate in the country.

Eventually, in 1993, Kowloon's entire population was evicted and it briefly became a ghost town. The incredible and creepy settlement was then demolished, and in its place a park of the same name was laid out.

9. Abandoned ghost town of Varosha (Cyprus)

Varosha is a district of Famagusta, a city in Northern Cyprus founded in the 3rd century AD. Until 1974, Varosha was a real “Mecca” for beach lovers. Thousands of tourists from all over the world flocked here to bask in the gentle rays of the Cypriot sun. They say that the Germans and British made reservations in luxury hotels 20 years in advance!

The resort flourished, with new hotels and villas built up, until everything changed in 1974. That year, the Turks invaded Varosha with NATO support to protect the Turkish minority Cypriot population from being persecuted by ethnic Greeks.

Since then, the Varosha quarter has become a ghost town, surrounded by barbed wire, where the Turkish military has not allowed anyone to enter for four decades. The houses are dilapidated, the windows are broken and the streets of the once lively quarter are in widespread devastation. The apartments and shops are empty and completely looted, first by the Turkish military and then by local looters.

10. Lost city of Agdam (Azerbaijan)

Agdam, a city once famous for its wine throughout the Soviet Union, is now dead and uninhabited... The war in Nagorno-Karabakh, which lasted from 1990 to 1994, did not give a chance to exist for the lowland city, where they used to brew excellent cheese and make the best port in the Union.
The collapse of the USSR led to the outbreak of hostilities in many former republics.

Azerbaijan did not escape this either, whose warriors were able to seize wagons with rockets located near Agdam. They turned out to be very convenient to bomb the Armenian Stepanakert. Such actions ultimately led to a sad ending.

In the summer of 1993, Agdam was surrounded by 6,000 soldiers of the Nagorno-Karabakh Liberation Army. With the support of helicopters and tanks, the Armenians practically wiped out the hated city from the face of the earth, and carefully mined the approaches to it. Therefore, to this day, visiting the ghost town of Agdam is unsafe for life.

In the history of human civilization there are many abandoned cities where residents never return. In these places everything is immobilized, the buildings live out their lives alone.

There can be many reasons for this - migration, wars, natural disasters. However, in any case, such places remain a bright, albeit turned over page in the history of mankind. After all, the spirit of the people who once lived, the age-old secrets, are kept here.

Cities seem to be waiting in the wings when they can tell their story to the whole world. Some of the cities will forever remain unexplored, while others are still just a legend.

Nevertheless, we will tell you about cities that are of interest to historians, tourists and archaeologists. We invite you to determine for yourself what is true and what is a myth.

Machu Picchu. This distant abandoned city can rightfully be considered the most unknown and mysterious city ever explored by people. Machu Picchu sits alone near the Urubamba Valley in Peru, undiscovered, explored or touched until 1911, when historian Giram Bingham visited it. It was then that the whole world learned about the abandoned city. It is now known that Machu Picchu was divided into districts, and there were more than 140 different stone buildings in it. According to rumors, the city arose here in the 15th century thanks to the Incas. However, a century later, Machu Picchu was abandoned, probably due to a terrible smallpox epidemic brought from Europe. Historians debate why the Incas built a city in such a strange place. Some claim that this is sacred land, while others claim that the buildings served as a giant prison. However, recent studies have shown that mysterious city was built here by order of the Inca emperor Pachacuti. Machu Picchu was built near the mountains on purpose, as it corresponded to the ancient astrological mythology of the Incas.

Atlantis. Everyone has heard the story of a sunken island with a city-country on it. Now the legend of Atlantis is considered to be a myth invented by Plato in 360 BC. The philosopher described an island with a developed civilization that had powerful sea power. Plato argued that Atlantis occupied most of the European territory until it sank under water due to natural disasters. Although Plato's story is considered fiction, his description of a powerful and ancient civilization it was so bright and impressive that many writers and travelers are still looking for the lost island. It is not even clear where to look for the lost country, because the thickness of the sea or ocean splashes above it. According to some sources, it was located just west of Gibraltar, and according to others, generally on the site of the present Mediterranean Sea.

Pompeii. The Roman city of Pompeii was destroyed in 79 AD. due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. At that time, about 20,000 people lived in the city. After the volcanic eruption, the townspeople hastily left their homes, leaving all their property in a panic. As a result, not only all the buildings, but also about 2,000 townspeople were buried under a layer of ash. The city remained hidden until 1748, when it was discovered by workers building a palace for the King of Naples. Since then, Pompeii has become the subject of archaeologists and historians from all over the world. And it’s not surprising, because thanks to the volcano, the city’s architecture remained intact. A huge number of sculptures and frescoes have been found on the territory of Pompeii, which make it possible modern people find out more about how he lived Ancient Rome. Today this place near Naples is very popular among tourists.

Angkor. In one of the regions of Cambodia is the area of ​​Angkor, which was the seat of rule of the Khmer Empire since 800 BC. to 1400 AD When the Thai army invaded in 1431, the city was on the verge of destruction. People left here, and the once powerful capital of the empire found itself abandoned and overgrown with jungle. The existence of Angkor was forgotten for a long time, until a group of French archaeologists found it in 1800. It was then that people began to study and restore the abandoned city. It turned out that the area around Angkor is not inferior to present-day Los Angeles. As a result, this ancient city became known as the largest ancient city in the world. The local temple of Angkor Wat is generally considered the largest architectural monument that has ever existed.

Memphis. The first mention of this city appeared 2500 years ago, although the city existed since 3100 BC. Memphis was once considered the capital Ancient Egypt. The city had a strategic location between Upper and Lower Egypt. For hundreds of years, civilization developed here, but with the advent of Alexandria, the city fell into decay. At its height, Memphis had a population of more than 30 thousand people, making it the most big city antiquity. Sand, silt and time hid the abandoned city. The city was discovered only in 1800 during the Napoleonic expedition. Over time, a detailed study of the sphinxes, statues and tombs located here began. Today Memphis is a museum under open air, excavations are proceeding slowly due to the high level of groundwater and private property in this area. As a result, some parts of the city remained unexplored by archaeologists and historians.

El Dorado. The basis of the legends about this place is the story of how King Zipa used to decorate his body with golden sand, then washing it off himself in the sacred Lake Guatavita. Such an ancient tradition existed in the ancient Muisca civilization South America. Despite its legendary status, the Eldorado Empire (or El Dorado) is most likely a myth. Rumors locate a mysterious rich city in the jungles of South America. The word itself means “golden” in Spanish. They say that the city was ruled by a king who possessed fabulous reserves of gold and diamonds. Precious metals lay underfoot here like cobblestones. Over time, the city was captured by neighboring hostile tribes, and it became depopulated, disappearing into the green sea of ​​the jungle. In their midst, several expeditions tried to find traces of the mysterious city, the most famous of which was carried out back in 1541 under the leadership of Gonzalo Pizarro. Traces of the legendary country were never found, nor were the jewelry. Adventurers have been actively interested in El Dorado for 250 years. Today this country remains only a symbol of unattainable wealth.

Petra. The most beautiful city This one is on our list. It is located in Jordan, near Dead Sea, in the narrow Siq canyon. It is believed that here was once the center of trade of the ancient Nabatian kingdom, because trade routes from the Red Sea to Damascus and from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea intersected here. Visitors to the city are most impressed by the exquisite stone architecture, which was carved out of the surrounding rocks long ago by local residents. This also served as a reliable fortification for ancient city. It is still unclear what technologies were used to create such a masterpiece. Petra flourished for several centuries until it was gradually destroyed by the Romans and nature. As a result, the area was swallowed up by desert for a long time. In 1812, the city was found by the Swiss Burkhard, and since then tourists from all over the world come here every year. Particular attention is drawn to the Treasury - a majestic building with a facade carved directly into the rock.

The Lost City of Z. The location of the legendary city is known only approximately - the very middle of the Brazilian jungle. It is believed that it was quite developed - there were bridges, temples and roads. The conversation about the mysterious city began with the document “Manuscript 512”, found by the Portuguese. Some researchers claimed that during surveys of gold mines they saw this place in 1753. It is stated that dead city had signs of Greco-Roman civilization. However, no subsequent expeditions yielded results. The lost area also became famous thanks to the disappearance of the famous English traveler Percy Fawcett, who disappeared in 1925 while trying to find lost city Z. A book has been written about the legendary place, a movie has been made, and even a computer game has been created.

Troy. This Greek city became famous thanks to the epics of Homer. It was Troy that became the first legendary city located in what is now Turkey. In general, people have lived in this place since 3000 BC. Scientists have discovered 9 layers of an ancient city that either died or was resurrected. According to legend, the famous Trojan War once thundered here; these events belong to the 7th layer. In those days, Troy was a perfectly fortified and protected place; the city was located on a hill near the Scamander River. A short distance from the sea made it possible to avoid naval attacks, and the nearby plains contributed to the development of agriculture. Excavations have shown that in the Homeric era the population of the city was 6-10 thousand, which was quite large for that time. For a long time, the very existence of Troy was considered a myth, but in 1870, German archaeologist Henry Schliemann discovered traces of the settlement. Now the area has become unattractive - excavations are constantly being carried out here, and tourists are being robbed. Most of Schliemann's finds from different layers are today in Russia, in the Pushkin Museum and the Hermitage.

City of the Caesars. And this city is just a myth. The City of the Caesars, also nicknamed the Wandering City or the City of Patagonia, was once located in the southernmost part of South America. The abandoned city in Patagonia was found, which is why it is considered a legend. According to rumors, the city was once found by the Spaniards, who were shipwrecked nearby. A huge amount of diamonds and gold were discovered in the City of Caesars. Adventurers were not deterred by the legend that 10-meter tall giants and ghosts lived in the city. But the researchers, having found no traces of the city, did a lot to study these hitherto unexplored places.

Teotihuacan. 50 kilometers from Mexico City there is an abandoned ancient city, the first of the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Teotihuacan is almost 2 thousand years old, but it became a major center only in the 2nd century. After 5 centuries, the city was abandoned, although more than 150 thousand people lived in the city during its heyday. The Aztecs came here much later, finding only ruins. The city was built according to a clear plan - the streets intersected at right angles. All houses were one-story, without windows. There was a clear structure in the city; the tough rulers were helped by priests who knew astronomy well and monitored social life. It is not known for certain what destroyed this ancient metropolis during the period of its greatest prosperity. According to one version, this happened due to the invasion of warlike neighbors, and according to another, there was an uprising of slaves who destroyed Teotihuacan almost to the ground. But no traces of violence were found, which adds even more mystery to this city.

No one knows exactly how many lost cities there are on our planet. But those that archaeologists manage to discover invariably arouse great interest both among historians and ordinary lovers of everything unusual. Here are some of the largest lost cities.

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1. Tikal, Guatemala

Tikal is one of the largest city-states of the Mayan Indians. It was built back in the 7th century BC, and during its heyday its population reached 200 thousand people. The history of Tikal was full of dramatic moments, and after numerous wars and uprisings, people finally abandoned it. This happened at the end of the 10th century, and since then Tikal has remained a ghost town.

2. Ctesiphon, Iraq

In the period from the 2nd to the 7th centuries, Ctesiphon was the capital of first the Parthian kingdom and then the Sasanian one. The brick buildings of Ctesiphon that have survived to this day amaze the imagination with their splendor and size.

3. Great Zimbabwe

Big or Great Zimbabwe is the name given to the ruins of an ancient city located on the territory of the South African state of Zimbabwe. According to archaeologists, this city appeared in 1130 and for three centuries was considered the main shrine of the Shona people. About 18,000 people could simultaneously live behind the high stone walls of the city. Today the city walls represent one of the most amazing monuments of Great Zimbabwe. They are built without the use of any mortar, and their height reaches five meters.

4. Mohenjo-daro, Pakistan

A city belonging to the Indus civilization with the gloomy name of Mohenjo-Daro (which translates as “Hill of the Dead”) appeared in the Indus Valley in the territory of modern Pakistan more than four and a half thousand years ago. He is a contemporary Egyptian pyramids and one of the first cities in South Asia. The city flourished for almost a thousand years, but eventually its inhabitants abandoned it. Archaeologists suggest that the Aryan invasion was to blame.

5. Bagerhat, Bangladesh

This city, located at the confluence of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, was built in the 15th century. During its heyday, there were 360 ​​mosques here. But after the death of the founder, Bagerhat fell into decay, and it was almost completely swallowed up by the jungle. Today, part of the city has been cleared, and excursions are held here for tourists.

6. National Park Mesa Verde, USA

IN national park Mesa Verde (Colorado) has many ruins of ancient cities that were built by the Anasazi Indians in the 6th-13th centuries. The largest building in the park is considered to be the magnificent “Rock Palace”, which attracts more than 700 thousand tourists every year. The city was abandoned by its inhabitants around 1300. The reasons why people abandoned their homes are still unclear, but it has been suggested that the prolonged drought is to blame.

7. Vijayanagar, India

Vijayanagar was once the capital of a powerful empire that occupied the entire south of the Indian subcontinent. Today, on the site of the City of Victory (as the name Vijayanagar is translated) is the village of Hampi. True, here today, in addition to the majestic ruins, there are also many active Hindu temples, including famous temple Pampapathi, which is even older than Vijayanagara itself.

8. Ani city, Türkiye

Ani is the capital of the ancient Armenian kingdom, located on the territory of modern Turkey. Once the population of this ancient city exceeded 100 thousand people, and due to the abundance of temples it was known as the city of 1001 churches. The ruins of many Armenian churches of the 11th-13th centuries and the Seljuk palace have survived to this day. But all these monuments are in terrible condition - homeless people live in them, and careless tourists have picnics on their territory. The authorities do not show due attention to the protection of this historical monument.

9. Thebes, Egypt

The first human settlements in the territory of this city date back to 3200 BC. In 2000 B.C. Thebes had a population of about 40,000, making it the largest city of its time. The status of big city Thebes retained control of the world until 1000 BC. Even today, the ruins remaining from its former splendor are amazing. The most famous monuments of Thebes are the Temple of Luxor, the Temple of Karnak (which is the largest temple complex of Ancient Egypt) and the tomb of Tutankhamun.

10. Carthage, Tunisia

Throughout its long history, Carthage was the capital different states. At first it was a Phoenician state, which was also called Carthage. In 146 BC. both the state and the city were completely destroyed by the Romans, but pretty soon the Romans themselves rebuilt Carthage. After the fall of Rome, Carthage became the capital of the Vandal kingdom. The final fall of the great city occurred in the 7th century, when the city was destroyed by the Arabs. But still, many ruins, mainly from the Roman period, have survived to this day.

11. Persepolis, Iran

The founder of the magnificent city of Persepolis was the Persian king Cyrus the Great. The city was founded around 560 BC. Over the centuries, the city changed hands, while maintaining its status as a capital and great city. But during the Arab conquest, Persepolis was completely reduced to ruins. The most famous monument of the city is the huge Apadana Palace.

12. Ephesus, Türkiye

It was in this city in the 6th century BC. The legendary Temple of Artemis was built, one of the seven wonders of the world. The city flourished as long as the sea was nearby. But when it retreated far from the city walls, trade gradually died out, and with it the magnificent city, leaving behind only ruins.

13. Palenque, Mexico

In the III-VIII centuries, Palenque had great political and cultural significance for the Mayan civilization. Many magnificent stone buildings dating back to 600-800 have survived to this day, including the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Cross and the Temple of the Inscriptions. The city fell into disrepair long before Columbus arrived, probably as a result of tribal wars.

14. Pompeii and Herculaneum, Italy

The two died as a result of the volcanic eruption. the cities are probably some of the most famous disappeared cities. When on August 24, 79 AD. A catastrophic eruption of Vesuvius began, most of the inhabitants of Pompeii died suddenly, and then the city was completely buried under a multi-meter layer of volcanic ash. The residents of Herculaneum were luckier - many of them managed to leave the city before it disappeared under the hot ash.

15. Petra, Jordan

In ancient times, the city of Petra stood at the crossroads of important trade routes, which brought it untold wealth. But over time, the Romans mastered waterway, which greatly weakened overland trade. Gradually, the inhabitants abandoned the city, and it was swallowed up by the sands of the Arabian Desert. Today you can see perfectly preserved magnificent ancient buildings here.

16. Angkor, Cambodia

Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries. Today it is one of the largest historical landmarks in the world. The area of ​​this temple city exceeds 400 sq. km, and the magnificence of the sculptures of its Hindu temples is absolutely stunning.

17. Ciudad Perdida, Colombia

The name Ciudad Perdida translates from Spanish as “lost city.” This city is almost 700 years older than the famous Machu Picchu. In 1972, Ciudad Perdida was discovered by chance by local tomb robbers. When the trade in archaeological treasures from this city became widespread, the Colombian authorities finally became interested, and the city was discovered after a full-scale exploration. In this area there is constant fighting between government troops and various armed groups, so tourists take quite a risk when going even along the officially proposed routes, which are guarded by the Colombian military. The road to Ciudad Perdida itself is also quite difficult and requires good physical preparation.

18. Machu Picchu, Peru

The ancient city of Machu Picchu received the title of New Wonder of the World in 2007. The city appeared around 1440 and flourished until the mysterious and sudden disappearance of all its inhabitants in 1532. The city escaped the attack of the conquistadors and destruction, but for some reason the inhabitants abandoned it.

19. Chichen Itza, Mexico

Chichen Itza is one of the largest cities of the Mayan civilization. It was founded in the 7th century, and in 1194 the inhabitants left it for unknown reasons. The Spanish conquerors destroyed a huge number of Mayan manuscripts, so archaeologists are unable to find out the real reason for the decline of the great city.
Today, crowds of tourists are drawn to the beautifully preserved pyramids and temples of Chichen Itza.

20. Xanadu, Mongolia

Xanadu is the summer residence of the legendary Mongol Khan Kublai Khan, better known in the West as Kubla Khan. In 1275, Marco Polo described this place as a magnificent marble palace decorated with gold. But only ruins have survived to this day.

Excursion Demre - Myra - Kekova, immersion in the Lycian Worlds. Kekova and Simena - frozen eternity.

A trip on a yacht to the sunken cities of the island of Kekova is the brightest and most picturesque part of the tour historical places ancient Lycia, called Demre - Mira - Kekova. In addition to the island of Kekova, the excursion includes a visit to the Necropolis and the ancient city of Myra Lycian. You can also visit the island on your own; in Turkey, the sphere of delivering tourists to attractions is very well developed.

Located in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the island of Kekova attracts a large number of tourists. Kekova is an island that, with great trepidation, preserves under the water column the ruins of 4 ancient cities: Teimussa, Dolihiste, Aperlai and Simena. They went under water in the 2nd century BC. as a result of an earthquake.

Only from aboard a yacht can you see the remains of these great cities. Peering into the depths, through the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, you can see the remains of streets that were paved with cobblestones, ruins of temples and arches, even some houses with stone stairs and an embankment have been preserved.

Kekova Island is a narrow strip of land 7 km long, washed by Aegean Sea. Its greatest depth in the island’s waters is 92 m. high point- 188 m. Its entire coastal strip is dotted with ancient exhibits preserved after earthquakes.

Since 1990, swimming and diving have been prohibited in the island's waters. The ban was later lifted, but in the area in the immediate vicinity of the ruins it remains in force. Oddly enough, the island of Kekova in Turkey has not yet been adequately explored by archaeologists. In coastal waters, the famous explorer J.-I. Cousteau conducted underwater research, during which a ship was discovered that sailed back in 1300 BC!

And how much more unknown is hidden under the ruins of the island...

Sasha Mitrakhovich 30.08.2015 20:00

The shores of the island of Kekova, here 3 thousand years ago one of the Lycian cities of Simena was located. The capital of Lycia was the city of Myra Lycia. Imagine that 3 thousand years ago people lived here, built houses, gave birth and died, raised children, got food...

It was a well-equipped city, founded by the Lycians and quite densely populated before the first earthquake. During the Lycian period, the name of the city sounded like Dolikhiste. Now this destroyed city is called, like the island, Kekova.

Kekova Island on this moment Considered one of the most popular attractions in Turkey, it is located in the Mediterranean Sea, on its territory there are the ruins of the ancient partially submerged cities of Dolihiste, Aperlai, Teimussa and Simena. Tourists from all over the world come here every year not only to enjoy the beauty of the local nature, but also to become better acquainted with the history of the Ancient World.

Although it actually belongs to Turkey, the island of Kekova is almost Greece, as confirmed by multiple finds of objects from the period of antiquity. It is worth noting that Kekova was historically under the rule of Byzantium, then it became the possession of the Arabs, and for some time after the First World War the island belonged to Italy.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 30.08.2015 20:00

Kekova is perhaps one of the most beautiful and unusual points of all yacht routes in Turkey. On the northern side of the island you can see the ruins of an ancient ancient city Dolikhist, destroyed by an earthquake in the 2nd century AD, as a result of which part of the land, splitting, went under water.

The ruins of the ancient city - the remains of walls, cobbled streets, dilapidated arches, foundations and stairs, covering the island, go into the depths of the azure sea and are perfectly visible through the thickness of crystal clear water.

It is believed that the island in some places sank under water from 9 to 12 meters, taking with it part of the city's population, its inhabitants abandoned these lands.

The Lycians, according to some sources, came from the island of Crete, but were distinguished by their unique culture, writing and sculpture. Lycia was successively conquered by the Persians, Macedonians, Romans, Greeks, and Turks, which also left its mark on the development of culture.

According to their vocation, the Lycian inhabitants worked well with hard rocks of stone. This is evidenced by the structure of ancient dwellings, carved directly into the rock of the island of Kekova. Internal and side walls were knocked out by residents directly into the rock, and the outer wall and roof were completed. Instead of streets, ancient Simene used numerous staircases.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 31.08.2015 20:14

On specially equipped yachts, in which part of the bottom is replaced with transparent material, Simen can be seen through the crystal clear water of the Aegean Sea.

The stone stairs, remains of streets, dilapidated walls, and the embankment are perfectly preserved. The depth of the sea not far from the shore is about 7 m, but the water here is so clear that at the bottom you can see broken amphorae and jugs in which wine and olive oil were stored. The central street of the city and the ruins of an ancient Christian church are clearly defined on the hillside.

The ruins of the city can be seen not only on the island itself, but also in the water column, where flooded paved streets, arches and a small area that once served as a pier are clearly visible. The yacht approaches the island close enough to see carved crosses on the walls of the dwellings, which appeared at the beginning of our era, and this confirms that the Lycians were Christians.

Destroyed walls of houses, stairs, a central canal through which water drained, and even small bathhouses - all this can be captured on the island of Kekova.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 31.08.2015 20:44

It was a fairly developed civilization. Already at that time, 2- and 3-story residential buildings were being built in the city. The Roman baths with washing facilities are well preserved.

Holes dug into the rocks served as tanks for collecting fresh water. The water could be stored for quite a long time, because... the loose rocky structure of the island served as a natural filter. The city had a wastewater and sewerage system built, which is very clearly visible among the ruins.

At a shallow depth near the island, a preserved breakwater-pier in the shape of the Latin letter L is visible. This indicates that the city was a port and shopping center. Good climate contributed to the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, and the production of wines and olive oil was established.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 31.08.2015 20:44

After a devastating earthquake, the surviving residents of Kekova moved to the opposite island in the ancient city of Simena. Modern name Simeny - Kale.

The modern city of Simena can hardly be called a city - it is a small village with a population of about 90 people. Residents, as in ancient times, grow vegetables and fruits and fish. Now another profitable activity has appeared - the tourism business, which brings in a good income. This secluded corner of Turkey attracts more and more attention from tourists every year.

It can be argued that the descendants of those same Lycians live in Simena, in the foundations of whose houses there are the ruins of the ancient city. It is believed that it is almost impossible to buy land in Simena; only the wealthiest people can afford to live here, enjoying the silence and spirit of antiquity.

Rumor has it that the Queen of Spain comes to the island of Simena every year to relax. In search of beauty and complete solitude, the picturesque island and Hollywood stars do not fail to pay attention, among whom Demi Moore has been spotted more than once.

In ancient times, only men lived in Simena, because... it served as an outpost to protect the territory, and women and children were on the opposite island.

During the period of the conquest of lands by Alexander the Great, he, having occupied the island, did not fight with the Lycians. He concluded a peace agreement with them, and they, in gratitude, accompanied him on his campaign to Syria. On their way back, the Lycians brought the culture of mosaic decoration. Therefore, among the ruins you can find many mosaic fragments.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 31.08.2015 20:55

The main attraction of the city of Simena is a hill with the ruins of a fortress built in the 4th century BC, a theater built of rough stone (the smallest of the theaters of the Lycian era), Lycian tombs and the remains of ancient baths located near the seashore.

The rest of the ancient city is also flooded.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 01.09.2015 15:02

Not far into the sea, right in front of the city of Simena, you can see an ancient Lycian sarcophagus, the lid of which is made in the shape of an inverted boat - one of the main attractions of Kekov.

Looking at it, as well as at the dilapidated walls, stairs, doorways, sidewalks and other Lycian sarcophagi resting at the bottom, once installed on the tops of the hills, which are still accessible today for a wide view, you feel like a seeker of the legendary Atlantis.

There was a belief among the Lycians that after death the soul would be able to return to doing what it loved, and this was usually fishing and sailing, which is why the sarcophagi were made in the form of boats.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 01.09.2015 15:39

In order to preserve the tourist attractiveness of the city of Simena, its residents are prohibited from painting or in any way reconstructing the facades of their houses using modern building materials.

And although there is no road to Simena by land, and you can only get there by sea, the fame of the unusual island has long spread throughout the world, attracting lovers of unusual holidays.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 01.09.2015 15:44

The purity and beauty of the underwater world of the island of Kekova and the city of Simena so impressed the legendary captain Cousteau that they were reflected in his famous “Odyssey”. Jacques-Yves Cousteau filmed one of the parts of his famous Odyssey here, and he knew a lot about beautiful nature and an interesting underwater world.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 01.09.2015 15:47

Amphitheaters are Turkey's most famous attraction.

Greco-Roman amphitheater in Demre (Mira) Türkiye built in the 2nd century AD. a certain Lisinus Lanfus with a budget of 10,000 silver denarii. Its diameter is about 110 meters and it could accommodate up to 10 thousand people (according to some sources, up to 15 thousand people). In total, the Myra Amphitheater has 35 rows - 29 lower and 6 upper, separated by a diazoma (a semicircular passage between the rows of the ancient theater).

The bus schedule can be found here:
http://www.batiantalyatur.net/?pnum=21&pt=Antalya-Fethiye%20(Sahilden)

The fare is here:
http://www.batiantalyatur.net/?pnum=18&pt=Fiyat%20Listesi

If you are traveling to Demre from Belek, Side, Alanya (i.e. from cities located east of Antalya), you must first get to the Antalya bus station and there change to a bus going to Demre.

Location of Demre on the map of Turkey:

Sasha Mitrakhovich 06.07.2016 17:57