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East of Fethiye lies the heartland of ancient Lycia, home to a number of archeological sites, all within easy reach of Fethiye. The closest is the LETOON , accessible by taking a dolmus from Fethiye to Kumluova , the site lying 4km off the main highway. The Letoon was the official sanctuary of the Lycian Federation, and the extensive ruins bear witness to its importance (admission $1.50 when warden present). The low ruins of three temples occupy the centre of the site, the westernmost of which bears a dedication to Leto. The central temple, dating from the fourth century BC, is identified by a dedication to Artemis, while the easternmost temple has a floor mosaic of a lyre, bow and quiver, suggesting a dedication to Artemis and Apollo, who were apparently the region's most revered deities. Beyond the temple to the southwest is a nymphaeum with statue niches, though it's now permanently flooded. There is also a large, well-preserved theatre on the right, entered through a vaulted passage. On the other side of the valley, the remains of the hilltop city of XANTHOS are perhaps the most fascinating of the Lycian sites, though sadly the most important relic discovered at the site, the fourth-century Nereid Monument, is now in the British Museum in London. However, there is still enough to see here to reward a lengthy visit. Buses between Fethiye and Patara drop you off in Kanak, from where it's a ten-minute walk up to the ruins (daily 7am-7.30pm; $2). West of the car park are the acropolis and agora and a Roman theatre, beside which are two Lycian tombs - the so-called Harpy Tomb , a cement cast of the original decorated with pairs of bird-woman figures carrying children in their arms, and a Lycian-type sarcophagus standing on a pillar tomb, thought to date from the third century BC. Northeast of the agora looms a structure known popularly as the Xanthian obelisk - in fact the remains of a pillar tomb covered on all four sides by the longest-known Lycian inscription, running to 250 lines and including twelve lines of Greek verse. The nearby Roman theatre is pretty complete, only missing the upper seats which were incorporated into the Byzantine city wall.
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