​​​ Lost Paradises Travels - Europe  

​TURKEY - Kekova - Simena

The ancient Lycian sunken city of Simena, also called Kekova-Simena, was a small fishing village and later an outpost of the Knights of Rhodes. 

The ancient city of Simena was once of two parts - an island and a coastal part of the mainland.  The charming fishing village of Kaleköy ("castle village") stands on mainland with a well-preserved castle built by the Knights of Rhodes at the top of the hill. Across the bay, along the island are the half-submerged ruins of the residential part of Simena, caused by the downward shift of land by the terrible earthquakes of the 2nd century AD.  Half of the houses are submerged and staircases descend into the water.  Many Lycian sarcophagi can be found around Kekova.