ANKARA
The local mayor is working hard to draw attention to Turkey’s hidden bay, Gideros, on the shore of the Black Sea in an area that was inhabited 3500 years ago by Amazons, the female warriors of antiquity.
It is one of the country's undiscovered gems. But that may not be the case much longer, if Nejdet Demir, the mayor of Cide, a small town on the bank of the bay.
A crescent-shaped-walkway surrounded by trees will be one of the main projects to make Gideros the country's new tourist destination, Demir said.
And he wants to illuminate the bay at night so tourists can see its beauty around the clock. They will, he said, be charmed.
Although the Black Sea is often rough, in this bay the water is so clear that the fish can be seen.
The blue waters of the bay are surrounded by green hills that slope down to the shoreline. The entrance to the bay is narrow, offering protection from the rougher tides of the Black Sea.
“Little ships can hide in this bay when the sea goes wild,’’ Demir said.
Unlike southern Turkey’s tourist city of Antalya, Gideros, located in north of the city of Kastamonu, is untouched and little-known. It's less expensive, too.
Once used by pirates and smugglers, it is also one of Turkey's protected archeological sites. It has been inhabited by various tribes since ancient times, and is mentioned, under a previous name, by Homer in the Iliad.
The most suitable time to visit Gideros is between June and August. Favorite activities of visitors are watching the sunrise and feeding wild ducks.
The mayor said he hopes Gideros does not stay undiscovered for long. The area, he said, is waiting to entice visitors from around the world with the beauty of its colors.
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