Like Bitez,
the village of Ortakent is inland of the beach.
This is one of the oldest settlements on the peninsula,
a major mandarin producer and generous supplier
of water to Bodrum. Located
to the west of Bodrum
on the main road, Ortakent houses one of the thirteen
remaining original tower houses in the area. The
Mustafa Pasa tower house, built in 1601, has cannon
embrasures along the roof and walls 60-cm thick,
indicating that it was built with defense in mind.
Further on from
Ortakent, Yahsi offers spectacular views back
towards Bodrum, and a
road descends to the wide sandy beach where a
couple of boatyards mingle with small hotels and
restaurants along the shoreline. |