Enjoying the cool Mediterranean climes of the Turkish Aegean highlands, the traditional Ottoman homes of old Mugla continue to tick over to the erudite chatter of its resident students, the occasional click of a visitor’s camera, and the earthy tones of the muezzin’s ezan, echoing out from the towering minarets of the city’s Great Mosque.
Most of the visitors who come here head swiftly for the nearby coastal resort towns of Bodrum or Marmaris and their concomitant beaches. But should they choose to linger a little, they can head out with their Mugla tour guide to explore the charming historic streets around Saburhane Square, experience the aged Arasta bazaar, or lose themselves between the frontispieces of the town’s large mosque, its 13th century hamam, and the curious melange of Greek cubist homes and old Ottoman municipal buildings. Of course, there’s also plenty of room for exploring the surrounding area, with the traditional village of Akyaka sitting to the south, and the fascinating cliff tombs of Dalyan just a little further afield.