Muğla
is a city located in southwestern Türkiye, in the southern part of the Aegean
Region. Surrounded by the Aegean and the Mediterranean, the city is famous for
its rich natural beauties, historical and cultural heritage. Today, the region
known as Muğla province was known as Caria in ancient times. Muğla, which
carries the marks of humanity since the 6th millennium BC, covers a wide
geography named after the Carian and Lycian civilisations of ancient times. The
borders of today’s Muğla province consists of a large part of Caria and some
settlements of the Lycian civilisation.
Throughout
history, the region has been under the rule of such great civilisations such as
the Lydian Kingdom, the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great and the Roman
Empire. After being under the sovereignty of the Turks, the geography in the
region began to be known as Menteşe. This name has its origin from the Menteşâ
Principality, which was founded in 1261 and took control over the region in a
short time. In 1424, the Menteşe lands, where the Ottoman Empire became the
sovereign power, were administered as a sanjak. This region, known as Menteşe
Sancak during the Ottoman Empire Period, became a province under the name of
Muğla after the announcement of the Republic. The surface area of Muğla
province is 12.654 km² and its coastline is 1.589 km.
Muğla
is a region that attracs attention with its historical and natural richness.
The region is a major centre of attraction in terms of both cultural and
touristic aspects with ancient ruins, old cities and glamorous beaches.
Especially districts such as Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye and Datça stand out as
holiday destinations known worldwide. Muğla’s unique cuisine, traditional
handcrafts and various festivals offer visitors a rich cultural experience. The
region is full of beautiful trekking paths and natural parks, making Muğla the
perfect place to explore both its historical and natural beauties.