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Finike is a small port located at the end of a fertile plain where
fruit trees (oranges, lemons) and vegetables (tomatoes) are
extensively grown. A sand beach stretches over a few kilometers
between Kumluca and Finike. On the heights of Turunçova
spreads the ancient city of Lymira with its walls, theatre
and acropolis. There, stands the funerary monument of Pericles,
a Lymiran ruler who distinguished himself by his revolt against
the Persians. The monument, which dates back to the 4C BC, was
decorated with caryatids.
ARIKANDA
Arikanda is located north of Finike, in the middle of the
mountains. Overhung by a rock face, the site is gorgious: remains
of a basilica, a gymnasium, baths, a necropolis, an agora, a
bouleuterion, an odeon, a theatre and a stadium can be seen.
Findings made at Arikanda indicate that the place was inhabited
from the 5C BC although the suffix "anda" shows much older origins.
Alexander the Great and his army passed by Arikanda. In the 2C BC
the city joined the Lycian
League. The Romans ruled the region in the late 2C BC, and
Emperor Hadrian is said to have visited the city. In spite of
earthquakes and Arabic raids, Arikanda remained inhabited until
the 11th century. This ancient city is a privileged place off the
beaten tracks.
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