The city is established upon a peninsula with three small bays. The maquis, Mediterranean flowers, eucalyptus and oleander trees are noticeable in the ancient city covered with pine forests all around. The beach of the northern port of the city is a natural egg-laying site of caretta caretta turtles and is under protection. It is reckoned that the name of the city was â?oPhasala/Paassalaâ? meaning â?oSea Urbanismâ? in the Luwian language. As a matter of fact, the Phoenicians who were engaged in maritime trade defined the city as a â?oseaside city spared by Godâ?. It is said that liquid products such as wine and olive oil flowed in the canals carved into rocky slopes along the mountain sides of which the traces are still distinguishable to Phasala from Termessos established at an elevation of 900 m on the mountains. The liquid products were poured into amphoras and pitchers and shipped to the Mediterranean countries. Moreover, the fame of the numerous Mediterranean flowers growing in the area where the city lay spread throughout the ancient world.
The city, which produced and exported perfumes and flower oil, matched the Paris city of today. The myth says that Phaselis was purchased by the Rhodian colonists from a shepherd against dried fish. Phaselisians were historically notorious for their stinginess. In fact it was an important trade center in the antiquity The famous Phaselisian thinker of the ancient times is the philosopher Teodectes. Alexander the Great spent the winter of 233 BC here. Phaselis which was later seen within the Lycian Union, was exposed to the pirates attacts during the 1st century B.C. until the protection of the Roman Empire. It was abandoned when the area turned into a swamp and was occupied with mosquitoes and wasps. There are three natural bays on the north, south and east of the peninsula which were used as ports. The Colonnaded Street links the northern and southern ports. The circular agora was in the middle and the Bouleterion, thought to have been a two-story building was at the western end. To the east end of the square are the remains of the Roman Bath with cold and hot water pools. The theatre on the acropolis from the 4th century B.C. with a seating capacity of 3 thousand people, has a total of 3 actorsâ?T doors, one of which is small. The theatre, was transformed into an arena during the late Roman era, cages were built in the lower chambers of the stage building in order to protect the spectators from wild animals. On the hillside east of the acropolis the remains of two temples belonging to Athena, the chief god of Phaselis, and Hermes, God of Trade, are visible. The gate, in the form of a triumphal arch, was built to commemorate the Roman Emperor Hadrianâ?Ts visit to the city. The water canals immediately adjacent to this door carried water to the city from Mount Tahtali at a distance of 25 km. Various sarcophagi, sarcophagus covers and the figures of eros and lions worked on them are striking. The remains unearthed objects are on display in the Antalya Museum.

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