The name of Amos first came to my notice during one of my cross-border trips from Rhodes to Marmaris by ferry, when I saw this huge poster on the wall of the otherwise boring arrivals hall of the port of Marmaris depicting a very scenic ancient ruin on a headlane overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Marmaris. It turns out this is the promotional campaign by local authorities to attract visitors to Amos, an ancient city founded in the 2nd century BC about 2km from the modern town of Turunc.
The ruins of Amos are on top of a hill overlooking the village of Kumlubuk on one side, and the pictureque bays of the Gulf of Marmaris on the other side. Inside the runis one can find a relatively intact amphitheatre, remains of some ramparts and some temples.
Visit to Amos is free of charge, as the site is actually not being fully excavated. At the entrance to the ruins one finds a simple signage with some explanatory notes containing brief details of the history of Amos, as well as the layout of the ruins already excavated. Just follow the steps and the footpath up along the hills, and soon enough one will arrive at the ruins of the ancient ramparts, which are clearly visible from the road as one approaches Amos from Turunc.
The amphitheatreof Amos can be reached after climbing some rather steep steps. Facing the Gulf of Marmaris, the half-circular amphitheatre of Amos is in a fairly good condition, with several rows of seats still clearly visible.
The views from the top of the ruins of Amos can only be described as stunningly breathtaking. This is Aegean at its very best, with its pure blue sea, the eternal blue sky, the lush greenery in the hills and the surrounding countryside, the soft, white sandy beaches, and the picture-perfect views of the Gulf of Marmaris and its neighbouring coves and bays. No big hotels, no unsightly concrete buildings,poorly designed houses or holiday homes. I hope this place would stay like this forever.
The sandy beaches and crystal waters of the small village of Kumlumbuk look so idyllic and inviting, one is so tempted to jump into the water and enjoy that wonderful sensation of swimming in the waters of the Aegean.
As I moved along the marked path to explore the ruins of Amos, the views become more and more spectacular and unforgettable. This is one of the very few venues on earth where I feel I would be very happy to have my wedding photos taken. I could spend hours sitting on the ancient stones of Amos, enjoying the views of the Aegean over some coca-cola or ice tea.
In the summer, it is relatively straight forward to get to Amos from Marmaris: first take a minibus to Turunc, then change onto a minibus that shuttles between Turunc and Kumlumbuk. Tell the driver you want to visit the ruins of Amos and they will notify you and drop you off at the entrance to Amos, right in front of the signage.
In the summer it may get really hot during the mid-day and the afternoon, so better take some water and non-alcholic refreshments with you, as there are neither shops nor snack bars at Amos or on the road between Turunc and Amos. For those who are not afraid of the sun and are looking for a beauty spot to have a great picnic in the nature, pack a lunch box with some snacks and drinks, find a nice spot under one of the olive trees in the ruins of Amos, and enjoy your cheese and ham sandwich accompanied by the one of the most splendid views of the Aegean Sea.
Copyrights@2012. All text and photos by YC Cheng. All Rights Reserved.
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