Bodrum itself is a good starting point for a journey along the Carian coast which offers a panorama of mythology and history, and spectacular scenery outlined by sandy beaches, rocky coves and inlets resembling small fjords.

The city which was captured by the Lydians in the first half of the 6th century B.C., and by the Persians in the year 546 B.C., was joined with the Satrapy of Saird and later.

In the year 377 B.C. Maussollos got hold of the Western Anatolia, had many cities constructed in the region of Caria, and had the capital of Caria removed from Milas to Halicarnassos. With the aim of enlarging the city, he had 6 of the 9 Leleg cities removed to this region, and he had the city surrounded with walls and had many palaces, theaters and temples built in the city. The most important one of these, is the monumental tomb constructed for Maussollos and his wife Artemisia II. The construction had started in the year 355 B.C. and at the time of its completion in 340 B.C., it was one of the 7 wonders of the world. According to the information supplied by the historian Pilinius, the tomb consisted of 4 parts; there was a high base at the lowest level, a gallery of 36 columns upon it, and a roof of 24 steps upon which the statues of Maussollos and his wife were placed.

The architect of the monumental tomb was Pytheos, and the relief engravings were made by sculptors such as Skopas, Leochares, Bryaxis and Timothes. The stones of the monumental tombwhich was ruined by an earthquake in the 14th century, were used by the Knights of Rhodes in the construction of the fortress that exists today. The tendrils found in the tomb and the statues at the top, are kept at the British Museum today.
When Artemisia II died in the year 351 B.C., she was succeeded by Idrius who was in turn succeeded by Ada, who was dethroned by her brother Pixodaros. Meanwhile Alexander the Great entered Anatolia and made Ada ascend the throne. The Queen’s tomb, discovered in recent years, is displayed at the museum today. The city which was captured by Lysimachos following the death of Alexander the Great, was later subjected to Rhodes and Pergamum, and still later Rome got hold of Anatolia totally. Owing to the fact that Bodrum was founded upon the ancient city of Halicarnassos, not much is left to our day from the ancient city. The theater, the stoa of Mars and Apollon situated within the gardens in the city, the theater on the hill belonging to the Hellenistic period have been restored today. Former sources of information state that, the temple of Mars and the stoa of Apollon were under the road in front of the theater, and the temples of Hermes and Afrodities were on the public square of today.

The fortress is the city symbol. The Knights of Rhodes had it constructed in the year 1402, and it was reinforced with the Italian, English, German and French towers. It was taken by the Turks in 1523, and it is used as an underwater museum today. The underwater section and the section of Princess Ada, are the sections which attract the greatest attention here.

There are not many Turkish works in Bodrum. The famous crafts called The Crafts of Bodrum today, were constructed here during the Ottoman period too.