Milas the ancient Mylasa at Bodrum
On your way to Bodrum, you can take a break in Milas, a place of coming and going, and visit this important city in ancient times. With its city center, ancient ruins, historic Milas houses and regular layout, Milas is a beautiful county seat. Its surroundings are also rich in historical treasures, and in the history of this area 27 large and small towns were founded. In addition to the 19th century houses, Milas is also famous for its carpet weaving.
City tour
The tour should begin in the Hisarbasi, where the Zeus Karios temple is located above a podium in the east of Mount Hisarbasi. The only pillar of the temple, which has a Corinthian capital, is well preserved. The only ruin of the old city wall that has survived to this day is a round archway, known in the region as the “Baltali” (Ax) Gate. The gate is on the first century BC. dated. Because an ax is depicted on both sides of the gate’s gate, the gate in the area is known as the Ax Gate. The Gümüskesen Monument was built in the 2nd century BC. It is a well-preserved tomb that could be described as a smaller model of the mausoleum in Bodrum. The tomb can be found in the district of Gümüslük at the foothills of Mount Sodra. It stands on a high pedestal and its roof is stepped. An aqueduct with two arches extends in a valley to the east of Milas and dates from the Byzantine period. The construction of the square also used cut stone from the ancient period. In the city center, however, stands the Firuz Aga Mosque, the most important work from the time of the county of Menteseogullari. Buildings from the Ottoman period are as follows: Çöllüoglu Han Commercial Building, built between 1719-20, is located in the Hisarbasi district; the Ulu Mosque is the largest mosque in Milas, built in 1378 and located in the Hocabedrettin district; the walls of the Belen Mosque consist of a mixture of bricks and stone, although parts of ancient buildings were also used. The Belen Mosque, which dates back to the 14th century, is located on the Hisarbasi mountain; The Aga Mosque can be found in the Haciapti district and the Kursunlu (Firuzbey) mosque in the Firuzpasa district. In addition, two Ottoman-era bridges lead across the Balovça River, which flows through the city center of Milas. Another historic bridge over the river Sariçay on the road to Izmir is on the decline. In Selimiye, Ottoman times include the Abdülfettah Mosque, a commercial building (Han) and a hammam.
To eat and drink
The plant wealth of the Aegean region also finds its echo in the regional cuisine of Milas. The focus is on dishes with olive oil.
Vegetable dishes: Çiçek kizartma, Börülce çullama, Börüle sallama, Ebegümeci kavurmasi, Kenker, Karnabahar tatari, Patlican eksemesi, Yogurtlama, Hardal salatasi, Tilkisen kavurmasi, Palandiz salatasi, Bakla yapragi salatasi, Kuru beaver salatasi, Sogan depmesi, Acur salatasi, Semizotu salatasi.
Pasta: Çaykama böregi, Tepsi böregi, Vekilharç, Bulgur böregi, Piriçleme dökmesi, Katmerli böregi.
Meat, chicken and fish dishes: Kanli kavurma, Mumbar dolmasi, Et kavurmasi, Etli pirasa, Kabak çiçegi dolmasi, Eksili köfte and Keskek.
Desserts: Zerde
Where to eat
In the district of Milas, both in the center of the city and in the individual villages, there are bars offering regional dishes. In the restaurant Beypinar, 17 km to Milas on the highway towards Mugla, you can eat between pine and poplar Kanli kavurma, which is prepared with chicken, and trout, which were bred in spring water. Also breakfast is offered there, which is served with the bread from the area. In the area around Lake Bafa, and especially in the village of Kapikiri, there are special fish, including eel and perch. In the Kaptan restaurant in Çökertme, 9 km from Ören, the menu consists of fish stewed in a wood-fired oven and served with Orduevi salad. In the village of Bogaziçi on the Milas-Bodrum highway, 29 km from Milas, local specialties include buttered or braised crabs and a dinner accompanied by sour, spicy green olives.
Markets
The market, which takes place every Tuesday in Milas and stretches from the center of the city to the outer districts, looks like a colorful fair that surrounds the city like a net. Both domestic and foreign tourists flock to this market, where women in traditional clothing offer the fruits of their gardens and local people their homemade yoghurt. Furthermore, you can find there any variety of olives from our own production, freshly picked fruits and vegetables, pine fragrant honey and finely worked fabrics of the region.
Crafts
Hand and sewing work includes blankets such as those made by young girls for their dowries, cross stitch and needle work, various types of lace, carpets and fabrics. In the village of Kizilagaç-Çomakdag near Milas, pure silk is made of pure silk called “Yanis”. From these handicrafts with their bright and colorful colors bags and other articles are made.
Carvings: There are beautiful examples of the historic carvings from Milas. Traditional motifs on doors and cupboards, on ceilings and canopies have survived to this day. Carpeting: Milas is one of the oldest settlements of the Turkmen tribes. This peculiarity has been preserved in the customs, manners and type of clothing. For example, in the area of Milas, carpets are made that are characterized by characteristic features typical of the region. It is undisputed that the carpet weaving tradition began in the 16th century with the production of prayer rugs. Rugs from the 18th and 19th centuries are associated with a classic (traditional) style and a Baroque style according to their pattern and color. The Milas prayer rugs are of classic style. They are equilateral and have a quadrangular shape. In the center of the prayer rug you can see a minaret point, with stylized floral motifs on the edges. You can also find motifs that have no contours. The rug “Ada Milas” is one of the older examples of such prayer rugs. The border decorations line up next to each other and in general the motifs are repeated. Baroque-style carpets, on the other hand, were made in the Ottoman era under Sultan Abdulmecit, that is, in periods when architecture and art were heavily exposed to European influence. The surface for the border ornaments of such carpets was not separated with straight lines, but with zigzag lines and used for the border ornament floral motifs. They got their name because of the stylized clove bunch that lies over a branch. In Milas there is another carpet called “Maldalyonlu”. These carpets are made as square, rectangle or as hexagon in different shapes. The “Karacahisar” carpets from the village of Karacahisar belong to this group.
For the Milas rugs only wool was used after the 18th and 19th centuries, which was dyed with natural colors. These carpets, called “Milas rugs”, are still made in Karacahisar, Ören, Dörttepe, Gereme, Bozalan, Ikizköy, Pinarköy, Mezgit, Gürcegiz, Akçakaya and other villages.
Car Repairs: If something is broken on your car, Milas is the best place in the region where you can get damage repaired. Even on Sundays, they will find a car mechanic. Also any spare parts can be procured.
Excursions in the area
Excursion to the villages where crafts and carpets are made: If you want to see how the carpets in the villages Bozalan and Karacahisar, which have the same name as the villages, are made, you can visit these places. If you intend to buy a rug, you will find hand-knotted rugs at reasonable prices.
Cultural trips
In addition to the crafts described above, Milas is rich in landscapes and history. As a day trip you can visit Milas, the ancient cities of Labranda, Euromos (Ayakli), Harakleia (Kapikiri), Iasos (Kiyikislacik), the fortress Beçin and the ancient city Keramos (Ören).
Excursion with breakfast and hiking in the nature: On the Bafa lake and in its surroundings you can make beautiful walks. There are also travel agencies organizing walks there. The ancient city of Harakleia will ensure that your trek goes back in history.
Excursion to the traditional Çomakdagi houses and wedding festivities according to local customs: The villages of Ikiztas, Kizilagaç and Ketendere on Çomakdagi Hill are known as Çomakdagi villages. It is worth to see the stone houses and the local people in their traditional clothes. The houses with their wood carvings are still inhabited. The colored carvings on the doors, ceilings and cupboards are of artistic value. Because of the typical weddings in the region, foreign tourists visit the villages where weddings take place, especially during the summer months.
Skydiving in Ören
In all 12 months of the year it is possible to parachute down from the 640 m high summit of Mount Kocadag. The starting point can be reached with a vehicle in 20 minutes. Because the turbulence of the hot air is one-sided and strong, the accident risk is reduced to a minimum and at the same time ensures that after the jump with the parachute one thousand meters into the air rises. Moreover, because of this peculiarity, it is possible to come back to the point from which one jumped. This possibility is not given on other mountains of the world from which you can skydive. Because the turbulence of the hot air on the slopes of Mount Kocadag is of continuity, you can stay in the air for 7 or 8 hours. Experts from Ege University will give you the opportunity to parachute, because at present there is no parachute troop, which is constantly in Ören. Therefore, it is necessary, if you want to do this sport to reach over the mayor’s office in Ören the responsible persons. If there is demand, a paratroop comes from Izmir. Work on the take-off point also continues.
Trekking routes
Trekking routes can be found in Ören and on the shores of Bafa Lake. The area from the mountain Alatepe at Ören, where you can also jump parachute, to Ören Yalisi is a hiking area that has been used since antiquity. Although the route is marked in red, it is not an official route. From the shores of Lake Bafa you can hike in the direction of the mountain, stand on the monastery. Tents can be pitched for overnight stays. But even this route is not an official route, which is why the travel agencies are only active when in demand.
Festivals
Every year in the first week of September, the traditional Milas Festival takes place.
Picnic places
For picnics you can always go to the picnic area Beypinari, where there are also restaurants offering trout.
Folk dances folklore
The typical Zeybek dances for the region are also danced in Milas district. Some of these dances are Kerimoglu, Çökertme, Keklik, Mugla Zeybegi and Çavur Asarin Yollari.