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Kayaköy (Rocky Village) (Fethiye)

“The city of peace and friendship”, Kayaköy, is
waiting for you to bring its forgotton streets to life.
“Karya”, the only newspaper of
Here is Kayaköy, formerly Levissi. It is not an ancient city; Southern Aegean Region, used
it is a twentieth century village. This place has a form of a to be published in Kayaköy and
sad story, in fact a “neverland” where approximately 500 distributed to the entire region
abandoned houses rowed. However, it is fact that Chris- before population exchange
tian population had existed in these lands for centuries. between two countries. It is
Thousands of Greek origin people were living in this village a nice coincidence that Yunus
at the beginning of 20th century; however, they had to Nadi Abalıoğlu (Yunus Nadi
migrate to Greece after population exchange of Abalızade), the founder
of Abalızade), the founder
agreement concluded between Turkey and
agreement concluded between Turkey and of Cumhuriyet (Republic)
of Cumhuriyet (Republic)
Greece after First World War. Kayaköy is Newspaper and a close colleague
Greece after First World War. Kayaköy is
Newspaper and a close colleague
not the only village exposed to this fate
not the only village exposed to this fate
of Atatürk, was born in Kayaköy
neither in Turkey nor in Greece; howev- of Atatürk, was born in Kayaköy
neither in Turkey nor in Greece; howev-
in 1880 after his parents’
er, Kayaköy is the biggest and the most in 1880 after his parents’
er, Kayaköy is the biggest and the most
immigration to Kayaköy.
abandoned one among them.
abandoned one among them. immigration to Kayaköy.
Greeks living in Anatolia gave great
Greeks living in Anatolia gave great
importance to agriculture and archi-
importance to agriculture and archi-
tecture, so that they designed their
tecture, so that they designed their
houses accordingly. Houses in Kayaköy
houses accordingly. Houses in Kayaköy
were aligned in a manner not to block
were aligned in a manner not to block
each other’s view and light. Approx-
each other’s view and light. Approx-
imately 500 two-storey masonry
imately 500 two-storey masonry
houses, which were not larger
houses, which were not larger
than 50 m2 each and numerous
than 50 m2 each and numerous
chapels and two large churches
chapels and two large churches
scattered among the houses, has
scattered among the houses, has
turned Kayaköy into a worth-see-
turned Kayaköy into a worth-see-
ing open air museum. Having a
ing open air museum. Having a
contemporary city identity
contemporary city identity
with its handicraft work-
shops, hospital, phar-
macy, library, schools
macy, library, schools
and bazaar, Kayaköy
“the City of Peace
and Friendship” waits
you cherishing its
forgotten streets.
42 A Journey to Muğla