Holiday on the Turkish Riviera

Detailed information about the ancient Melanippe cannot be found because, as can be read on the homepages of the towns of Kumluca and Mavikent, there are no ancient sources about this town. As it seems, the history of Melanippe is closely connected with the nearby ancient city of Gagai.
It is assumed that the site is of Hellenistic origin and was used as a shelter for Cilician pirates in the 1st century BC, as were Phaselis and Olympos. After they were defeated by the Romans in 77/76 B.C. the city fell into oblivion.

Melanippe had an ideal position for pirates. From the offshore peninsula one has an excellent view of the sea and could spot approaching ships from far away. The ships of the pirates were hidden in a small, hardly visible bay.
The peninsula falls down to the bay, so that the houses and other buildings of the pirates were not visible from the sea side.

Today the bay of Melanippe is a popular bathing and picnic spot for the population of the surrounding villages on Sundays and holidays.

On weekdays, the small bay is quiet. During the day, fishermen from the nearby Karaöz often seek shelter from the scorching sun in the shade of the small bay.

Of the city's fortifications and the pirates' residential buildings, only foundations and a few remnants of walls remain. Visible traces of excavations are not to be found.

The special attraction of this small bay is undoubtedly its seclusion and the tangible peace and quiet .... if one leaves aside the already described Sunday bustle during the barbecue and bathing season.

The way to Melanippe, called Korsan Koyu (Pirate's Bay) by the locals, is signposted in Karaöz. It is a part of the Lycian hiking trail that leads from Karaöz to the Gelidonya lighthouse. To the bay of Melanippe, after about 3.5 km, a path branches off to the right towards the sea.