Knidos is a hidden treasure, overlooked by most tourists. A few yachts arrive to tie up at in a sheltered harbor and fewer still arrive overland, to this place at the end of the 63 kilometer long Datca peninsula.

Driving out in a rental car on Sunday, the marina worker's holiday, we were rewarded with a narrow road, sometimes only a single lane, winding up, down and around the mountains amid a changing landscape of pine trees, scrub growth, olive groves, rocky outcrops and finally a spectacular view. Out at the end where the Mediterranean and Agean Seas meet.

With two natural harbors, one on either side, this location became pivotal in the old sea routes and helped the city's development into one of the most important ancient ports. Little is known about the early history, but excavation has revealed information from 400 BC. The reason for our visit is to explore what has been found and see the restoration underway.

What is here? City walls; an amphitheater facing the sea and large enough to seat 5,000; the columned gallery entrance into a building of 25 rooms and annexes; stone frieze slabs with inscriptions and carvings, many now laid out on the ground in an organized manner.

Also, an important round temple, believed to be dedicated to the diety of love, Aphrodite; other temples including one with 3 aisles, which in later years was turned into a Christian church; a main street and a harbor street; plus, a stairway of stone leading to the Temple of Apollo.

No one knows why Knidos lost its strong foothold of power, maybe from ongoing wars to which they succumbed. The city became deserted, water sources had dried up and it was forgotten until a Brit stumbled upon the land in 1747. And then, visited many times and studied. It was only in 1967 that serious excavation was begun, led by an American archaeologist, Iris Love, and her team.