Turkish Riviera

Two young people were killed in a traffic accident in the southern province of Antalya on Dec. 20 when a pickup ran over them as they were taking a selfie on the road.

Eighteen people drowned as the boat carrying them sank in the Aegean Sea off the Turkey's southwestern coast late on Friday.

The wooden vessel, which was packed with refugees, including citizens of Syria and Iraq, was attempting to reach the Greek island of Kos when it sank in Bodrum bay.

Archaeological excavations will soon begin on the ancient city of Amos, which has never been the subject of a dig. However, no sponsor has yet been found to help cover part of the costs of the endeavor Excavations are soon set to start on the 2,200-year-old Amos, one of the most important ancient cities in the southwestern province of Mu?la's Marmaris district. 

The Lion and Demeter of Knidos, which were unearthed in the ancient city of Knidos in Datça, are on display at the British Museum.

Foreigners living in the Aegean province of Mu?la have requested that the authorities build suitable places of worship in order to allow them to better practice their beliefs.

The Solidarity with Foreigners Living in Mu?la Association is keen on building churches and cemeteries for foreigners in the touristic province in southwestern Turkey.

More than 600 migrants have been seized by security forces in western Turkey over the past two days, as well as at least 12 human traffickers. 

Some 149 migrants were found at a construction site in the resort town of Bodrum on Dec. 9 after police received intelligence that a group of migrants were set to cross over to Greece in a boat, Do?an News Agency reported.

The 4th International Antalya Guitar Festival will run from Dec. 10 to Dec. 12 in Turkey's southern province of Antalya.

 Organized by the Middle East Technical University Alumni Association and the local Muratpa?a Municipality, the festival will be held at the Murat Pa?a Municipality Cultural Center. 

Tourism Minister Mahir Ünal has said the main priority of Turkey's tourism sector is to not lose Russian tourists, and Ankara wants to ease current tensions with Moscow as soon as possible.

The political crisis with Russia will have serious consequences on the tourism sector, as Turkey will experience a drastic fall in the number of visiting Russian tourists.

After the Antalya Municipality refused to provide a stage to the Antalya Theater Festival this year, its Muratpa?a District Municipality has offered to host the festival, which is allegedly under fire from the government over its hosting of actors critical of the Turkish government.