Davazla: Trysa, Lycian Trails and Spoon Carving

Davazla combines a living craft tradition with a nearby archaeological site. To the east, on the plateau near the village of Davazlar and the road between Kaş and Kale, lies the ancient city of Trysa; the Hoyran–Davazlar–Trysa section passes through open areas and by various ruins. This brings cultural discoveries together with outdoor activity. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider whether Trysa, the Hoyran–Davazlar–Trysa section, or a combination of both interests will shape your stay.

Trysa: Ruins, Heroon and Frieze

The ruins of the ancient city of Trysa extend 550 metres in length and 150 metres in width. On the surviving northern and western sides, a wall of irregular stones surrounds the ruins; it is dated to the 5th century BCE. The largest monument is a heroon, dated to the second quarter of the 4th century BCE, which stands in a covered area of 18 square metres. A wall of rectangular blocks surrounds it on all four sides. On the outside of the south side, the heroon bears a frieze in two horizontal bands. The mythological scenes refer, among other things, to the Iliad and the Odyssey, Theseus, the Seven Against Thebes, Greeks and Amazons, and battles between Centaurs and Lapiths.

In 2009, Trysa was proposed for the UNESCO World Heritage List as one of the ancient cities of the Lycian civilization. In Davazlar, the Karacabelen area is registered as a first-degree archaeological conservation area. The Karacabelen neighbourhood of Davazlar also contains an ancient workshop, two cisterns and a boat tomb.

Craft and Cultural History

Davazlar is one of Antalya’s most important centres where spoon carving is kept alive. Tools commonly mentioned for spoon-making include a saw, an adze, a rasp, a knife, a scraping tool and sandpaper. Davazlar is also one of the villages on the Kaş-Demre Plateau where the rural architecture of settled Yörük, with simple early houses and their later architectural development, has been documented. Craft, architectural history and Lycian monuments offer different ways to explore the area’s cultural history.

Hiking Trails and Route Options

The approximately 11-kilometre section of the Lycian Way from the Heroon of Trysa to Myra starts in the Davazlar neighbourhood and passes traces of the ancient Lycian civilization. It follows trails and gently undulating sections. The Hoyran–Davazlar–Trysa section passes through open areas and by various ruins. To hike from Davazlar to Trysa, follow the village road in front of the mosque. At the spot with the Hoyran sign, there is a spring where hikers can refill their water supplies. Before setting out, check whether the spring is usable, as well as the signage and current trail conditions.

On the route from Davazlar via Trysa, Gürses and Demre, the path descends again to a farm track after Trysa. In the Trysa area, the route splits: one option goes via Çukur and the Demre Valley, while the other goes via Çakalbayat and Gürses to Demre. The Gürses option is described as more difficult than the Demre-Çayı option. When planning with children, the approximate length of a stage and this relative difficulty comparison are two separate considerations.

Choosing Davazla as Your Accommodation Base

You can consider Davazla when choosing a holiday rental if you want to combine culture and hiking. Decide whether Trysa, the craft tradition or the trails described here will be your main focus; then compare the specific location of an accommodation with the destinations you want to include in your stay.

Discover more destinations: Çenger, Elmalı, Manavgat, Akseki, Bereket, Payallar, Yukarıkaraman, Beğiş

For the main travel overview: Antalya.