Aperlae

These are the ruins of an ancient Lycian city on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, near Kas. The city lived for about 1,300 years and never got involved in big politics - it just existed quietly until it was abandoned in the 7th century.

Pirates and Arab corsairs are to blame: during the Muslim conquests around the 7th century, the raids became so annoying that the inhabitants withdrew and left. No one has returned.

The most convenient way is by sea. Aperlai lies on the coast near Kekova, so boat is the main transport here. Part of the ruins has completely gone under water, so you can even look through the thickness of the sea.

Sarcophagi and tombstones, the remains of the harbor and the old bridge, the odeon cut into the rock, the remains of the church and defensive walls. Plus submerged coastal structures for those who like to look under the water.

Purple paint from murex snails. Archaeologists found whole mountains of their shells on an area of ​​about 1,600 square meters - they were even mixed into building materials. The paint itself was once valued twenty times more than its weight in gold.