Elmali - Rural Turkey Where Few Tourists Go

Elmali is an old Ottoman town located way off the beaten path so the vast majority of tourists in Turkey have no clue it even exists. Yet E...

Elmali is an old Ottoman town located way off the beaten path so the vast majority of tourists in Turkey have no clue it even exists. Yet Elmali is a very interesting and authentic place where you can almost witness life in rural Turkey as it was 100 years ago before the Ottoman Empire collapsed.

Most of Southwestern Turkey along the Mediterranean coast is spoiled with mass tourism (which is unfortunately struggling right now due to safety concerns in Turkey), so there are not many "real" places to visit. Elmali is one of few such places.
Elmali is located on the Plato in the Taurus Mountains surrounded by high peaks, so the summer heat usually stays away from this area. Lake Avlan is seen just south of Elmali.
"Elmali" is translated from Turkish as "an apple".  Apparently, Elmali is a leader in apple farming in Turkey.
But what attracts visitors to Elmali is its very distinct architectural style.
 Some wooden houses are dated back to the 17th century.
Turks, Greeks and Armenians lived here together before the 20th century. 
New houses in the old town also follow the distinct architectural style.
Tourists are still rare here, so be prepared that most of the locals will stare at you with an overt interest.
Exterior shades make houses look cozy.
I liked how people used their balconies to dry fruits and vegetables.


My other posts from the Trip to Turkey

I'm a travel photographer and writer originally from Ukraine and now living in Canada. I have found a way to combine all my passions - travelling, photography, history, science and writing - in a single blog. I hope you will find it enjoyable and useful and will definitely come back.

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