A look inside Datca, the popular tourist destination in Turkey where the $400 million yacht rumored to be owned by Jeff Bezos was spotted
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Aug 5, 2019, 23:13 IST
Datça is a remote port town in southwestern Turkey, located on a peninsula of the same name. It reaches out between the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas — if driving out from inland, you can either sea to either side.
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The 50-mile long peninsula is full of natural features — green hills, rocky boulders, olive groves, unspoiled beaches, and ravines.
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Poor road access and distance from airports have left much of the peninsula pristine. Most tourists visit via cruise ship, and Turks living in inland cities own second homes there.
Datça town is the main settlement on the southern side of the peninsula. Not built for tourists, it's been described as peaceful with quaint villages and unspoiled land.
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İskele Mahallesi (Pier Neighborhood) is the city center, comprised of a dozen different neighborhoods. Here, there are plenty of cafés, restaurants, and shops by local artists.
The city center is also home to Datça's port, which boasts endless views of the mountains and the sea.
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Datça has access to many beaches. One of the most well-known is Palamubükü, a 1.5 mile cove with turquoise waters, trees, and family-run restaurants.
Above the town in the hills is Old Datça. While essentially abandoned nearly 40 years ago, it's recently seen a revival.
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It's known for its many stone houses laden with bougainvillea bushes, particularly because Turkish poet Can Yücel previously lived there. Some of the houses are now boutique hotels for visitors.
At the end of the peninsula is the Ancient Greek settlement of Knidos. The harbor was a shipping center in 4th century BC; today, it's rife with beautiful ruins.
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Ultimately, Datça is Turkey's version of paradise.