Getting
to know people, it quickly becomes obvious that this is no ordinary collection
of holiday makers.
That man jotting in a notebook is a well known writer, that astonishingly beautiful women sitting alone at the bar is a famous actress; sometimes it seems that anybody who's anybody in the world of art pays an incognito visit to Gümüşlük at some point in their carreers. Perhaps it's due to the philosophy think tank perched on the hills overlooking the village or maybe it's down to the backwater, unchanging nature of the village but unquestionably Gümüşlük has become one of the most important artistic centers of Turkey. Writers, artists, actors and musicians, its seems anyone with a creative bone in their body seems to gravitate to the village.
That man jotting in a notebook is a well known writer, that astonishingly beautiful women sitting alone at the bar is a famous actress; sometimes it seems that anybody who's anybody in the world of art pays an incognito visit to Gümüşlük at some point in their carreers. Perhaps it's due to the philosophy think tank perched on the hills overlooking the village or maybe it's down to the backwater, unchanging nature of the village but unquestionably Gümüşlük has become one of the most important artistic centers of Turkey. Writers, artists, actors and musicians, its seems anyone with a creative bone in their body seems to gravitate to the village.
There are
numerous art workshops dotted around Gümüşlük specializing in ceramics,
earthenware, sculpture, beadwork, patchwork and leather crafts. There are
also many art and music studios. Most of these workshops and studios welcome
visitors, encouraging them not only to make purchases but also to try their
hand at the various artistic activities.
Throughout the season a wide range of educational courses are also available. These classes are held on demand in yoga, meditation, tai chi...
The
ancient city of Myndos
In the classical era, the Lelegian town of Myndos was located on the hilltop at Bozdağ, about two miles from Gümüşlük and was remembered in later times as Old Myndus. It had a well-sheltered harbour and wall-circuit over two miles long. It is said that the philosopher Diogenes once visited Myndus. In third century it was mostly in the hands of Ptolemies and was still so in 197 b.c. when the Rhodians awarded Myndus its freedom. The city was for a short while held by the rebel Aristonicus at about 131 b.c., and after the murder of Caesar in 44 Cassius kept his fleet there. The harbour of the city was enclosed and well protected against the prevailing wind, the meltem, by the peninsula on the north-west. The fortification-wall on the mainland was strengthened with towers. . Another wall running from north to south up to the spine of the hill had the same thickness as the mainland wall, 'the Lelegian Wall'. Today it has all virtually disappeared Although hardly anything remains of ancient Myndus, rock-cut stairways and house-foundations may be still be seen on the hillside. The theatre and stadium have totally disappeared; all that survives is a ruined basilica and at the highest point of the peninsula, what may have been an early church.
(Condensed from Turkey beyond The Meander- George E. Bean 1971, Ernest Benn, London)
In the classical era, the Lelegian town of Myndos was located on the hilltop at Bozdağ, about two miles from Gümüşlük and was remembered in later times as Old Myndus. It had a well-sheltered harbour and wall-circuit over two miles long. It is said that the philosopher Diogenes once visited Myndus. In third century it was mostly in the hands of Ptolemies and was still so in 197 b.c. when the Rhodians awarded Myndus its freedom. The city was for a short while held by the rebel Aristonicus at about 131 b.c., and after the murder of Caesar in 44 Cassius kept his fleet there. The harbour of the city was enclosed and well protected against the prevailing wind, the meltem, by the peninsula on the north-west. The fortification-wall on the mainland was strengthened with towers. . Another wall running from north to south up to the spine of the hill had the same thickness as the mainland wall, 'the Lelegian Wall'. Today it has all virtually disappeared Although hardly anything remains of ancient Myndus, rock-cut stairways and house-foundations may be still be seen on the hillside. The theatre and stadium have totally disappeared; all that survives is a ruined basilica and at the highest point of the peninsula, what may have been an early church.
(Condensed from Turkey beyond The Meander- George E. Bean 1971, Ernest Benn, London)
