Andriake opens partially to visits

DEMRE – Doğan News Agency

Andriake was the harbor of another city of Myra and is located in what is now the Demre district of Antalya. DHA Photos

In the southern province of Antalya, one of the most important cities of the Lycian Union, the ancient city of Andriake, has been partially opened to visits. Andriake was the harbor of another ancient city of Myra and is located in what is now the Demre district of Antalya.

Work was first started in the ancient city by the Akdeniz University Department of Classical Archaeology Professor Nevzat Çevik in 2009. Excavations were carried out in the plakoma (trade areas), harbor structures, city bath, eastern and western monuments, synagogues and churches of the city. By the end of four-year excavation and restoration, the ancient city was redesigned as a museum by the Culture and Tourism Ministry. 

The Roman-era Hadrian granary (grain storage), which was built in 129 A.D., was turned into the Museum of Lycian Civilizations. The granary has seven rooms and measures 56 meters long and 32 meters wide. 

Artifacts found during the excavations in the Lycian Union were placed in the museum. The structures in the Harbor Bazaar as well as the agora, synagogue and a six-meter deep, 24-meter long and 12-meter wide cistern were restored. 

A 16-meter long Roman-era boat, a crane and a cargo car were placed in front of the museum. 

Following the establishment of the city’s walking routes, terraces and bird-observation terraces, Andriake’s restoration and museum arrangement were finished. 

Now, the ancient city is partly open to tourist groups and individuals, and the entrance is free. The arrangement of artworks continues at the museum. The area apart from the museum can also be visited. 

A city unearthed 

The ancient city of Andriake is five kilometers away from Demre. 

Archaeology teams have always worked in the eastern part of the ancient city while the western part was previously unreachable due to its remote location, surrounded by trees and bush. It was finally unearthed and excavated at the end of 2013. 

The 30-day excavation unearthed the never-before-seen part of the ancient city. 

By the end of the excavation, arched structures, a church and city walls from the Roman and Byzantine period were found.