Gelidonya Lighthouse

Gelidonya Lighthouse is located on Taşlık Cape, within the boundaries of Kumluca District in Antalya Province, along Türkiye’s southern coast near Mavikent Neighborhood. Situated at an elevation of 227 meters above sea level on a dominant position overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, it is the highest-elevation lighthouse along Türkiye’s coastline. The lighthouse was constructed on sharp cliffs approximately three kilometers inland from the sea. The structure, situated within the boundaries of Beydağları Coastal National Park, is under protection.

^{Gelidonya Feneri} (TC.Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı)

Construction of the lighthouse began in 1934 and it became operational in 1936. At the time of its construction, illumination was provided by kerosene. Due to its remote location without access to an electrical grid, the lighthouse was manually operated for many years. In 2017, a solar-powered system was installed, enabling automatic operation using 220V electricity. The lighthouse provides navigational guidance over a wide maritime area including Gelidonya Cape, Taşlık Cape, and Kırlangıç Cape. The lighthouse building and its associated residence are protected under national heritage status by the General Directorate of Coastal Safety.

^{Gelidonya Feneri} (Anadolu Ajansı)

Direct road access to Gelidonya Lighthouse is not possible. Visitors reach the site via a footpath that begins in Karaöz settlement and forms part of the Lycian Way. This trail passes through forested terrain to reach Taşlık Cape. The hiking route continues along the Mediterranean coastline toward Adrasan. The region features typical Mediterranean vegetation. Visitors can collect plants such as narcissus, thyme, sage, and bay leaves during their walk.

Gelidonya Lighthouse is one of the key stops along the Lycian Way. This area is frequently visited by hikers and nature enthusiasts. It offers scenic landscapes of great interest for nature photography. Visitors can set up tents and camp in the area. Various nature sports events and marathons are also organized along this route. From the lighthouse’s location, Suluada and the Five Islands are clearly visible.

^{Gelidonya Feneri} (Türkiye Kültür Portalı)

The Five Islands located off the coast in front of Gelidonya Lighthouse hold significant importance in maritime history. Among these islands, one of the oldest known shipwrecks in the history of global seafaring has been identified. This wreck is of considerable archaeological and maritime historical importance.

Located approximately three kilometers from Karaöz Bay in the southeast of the lighthouse, the Ancient City of Melanippe served as a small harbor settlement subordinate to the city of Gagai from the Hellenistic period onward. The ancient city was founded as a Greek colony during the Archaic period; its name derives from the Greek words melas (black) and hippos (horse). During the Middle Ages, the settlement was also known as Sanetus Stephanus or Karaozi. Remains of a three-aisled church dedicated to Saint Stephanos have been found in the harbor area, which served seafarers. The city’s walls, residential ruins, cisterns, and olive oil production facilities have survived to the present day. Although some sources mention the existence of a Temple of Athena within the city, no direct archaeological evidence of such a structure has been found. Additionally, underwater sarcophagi and ostothek remains have been discovered in the region.