Andriake Ancient City, Ancient port complex in Demre, Turkey.
Andriake is an ancient port complex near Demre on Turkey's Mediterranean coast with Roman-era storage buildings, baths, and places of worship scattered across the site. The ground shows layers of seashells mixed into the earth from centuries of port activity where river and sea waters met.
The port developed during the Hellenistic period but became most important under Roman rule, when Emperor Hadrian built major harbor facilities around 119 AD. Over time the harbor lost its significance as the coastline shifted from river deposits and new trade routes developed elsewhere.
This place reveals how different peoples shared a bustling port where trade and everyday life connected distant regions. The remains of religious buildings show how various communities coexisted and worshipped within the same harbor town.
The site is best explored on foot with sturdy shoes recommended since the ground is uneven with shells and stones scattered throughout. Visitors should bring water and sun protection as there is little shade and summer sun can be intense in this coastal location.
The on-site museum displays items that tell stories of shipwrecks and items that sank into the harbor over centuries, recovered only in modern times. These pieces show what traders and travelers brought to this port before they were lost to the sea.
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