Cadianda, an early Byzantine settlement, located 25 kilometres from Fethiye on a hilltop outside Uzumlu, has suffered in numerous ways through the centuries but there is still plenty to see. Nowadays, the ruins lie hidden among the trees, but this was once a sizeable city complete with an ampitheatre, an agora, a necropolis, many tombs in a variety of styles, a Hellenistic theatre and a stadium and racetrack. Most of the ruins are from the Roman period although the earlier name suggests the original settlement, Kadawanti, dates to 3000 B.C. I prefer to wander the circular path clockwise when the site unfolds with a succession of surprises and spectacular views of Fethiye during the climb to the top. There is an element of danger here as the summit area is pocketed with the remains of 4 interconnecting deep cisterns into which the careless could fall. Water shortages and earthquakes were a problem up here and Cadianda was ultimately abandoned by the 7th Century.
Cadianda
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