The Ruins On UNESCO Heritage List: Xanthos-Letoon Ancient Cities

Nearly 50 km away from Fethiye, Xanthos-Letoon Ancient Cities are located within the borders of Antalya. The city was the largest administrative centre of Lycia in ancient times. It was independent until it came under the rule of the Persians in 545 BC. It was completely burned down to its ashes approximately a century later. the city was rebuilt upon the fire. It was the capital of the Lycian Union in the 2nd century BC. The Romans took the city under control. Later, Byzantine ruled the city until the Arab raids in the 7th century. It features the effects of Lycian traditions, and the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and which has traces of every civilization having inhabited it. UNESCO included the city in the World Heritage List in 1988.

Letoon is 4 km away from Xanthos and located in the border of Muğla. It was the religious centre of Lycia in ancient times. This sacred contains a monastery ruins, a fountain, a Roman theatre, along with the temples of Leto, Apollo and Artemis. The largest temple dedicated to Leto, the mother of Artemis and Apollo, is the Leto Temple. It is located in the west. The city was built in the type of a Peripteros. The Apollo temple was built in the Doric style to the east. It is less preserved than the Leto temple and is 27.90 by 15.07 m and with smaller dimensions. Located in the middle of both temples and being the smallest temple, the temple of Artemis is 18.20 by 8.70 m in size. Letoon is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (UNESCO Dünya Mirasları Listesi) along with Xanthos.