Marmaris Castle

The most important historic building in the town is the castle, situated behind the harbour on the hill. The first castle built on this site is thought to have been constructed by the Ionians. This small castle was repaired during the rule of Alexander the Great and then it was extended and repaired again by the Ottomans under Süleyman the Magnificent in 1522. It was at this time that his 200,000 troops attacked and seized Rhodes Island. Ýn 1914, during the 1st World War, the castle was heavily damaged by the shelling of a French battleship.

The castle was opened to the public in the Republican era. During this period, 18 houses and a fountain were constructed. There is now a museum inside the castle which opened for visitors on 18th May, 1991, after restorations which had taken ten years. The Museum has seven galleries, two of which are now used as warehouses. Two of the rooms form a gallery which has a collection of archaeological pieces of art. One gallery is the Ethnographic Hall which is organized as a Turkish house. The other one is organized as the room of Castle Commander. Ýn both these rooms and within the castle there are findings from throughout the region on display, including amphorae, earthenware pieces, glassware, coins and decorative pieces from excavations at Knidos, Burgaz and Hisarönü.