Pinara

Pinara is an ancient city of Lycia, located in what is now southwestern Turkey. It was one of the notable towns in the region and is associated with the Lycian cultural and political milieu from the late archaic through the Roman periods. The site offers evidence of continued occupation and urban development from around the 5th century BCE onward, with later influences from Hellenistic and Roman administration. By Late Antiquity, Pinara experienced decline, and the urban center eventually diminished.

The archaeological remains at Pinara include a pronounced hillside necropolis with rock-cut tombs that feature pedimented façades and decorative elements typical of Lycian funerary art. In addition to the tombs, the site preserves traces of the ancient city’s layout, including portions of the acropolis, terraces, walls, and public structures such as a theater and other civic buildings. Inscriptions found at the site, in Lycian and Greek, contribute to understanding the language, governance, and daily life of the city.

Today Pinara is an archaeological site open to visitors, though much of it remains fragmentary and exposed to the elements. It is typically accessed by road from nearby towns and involves walking across uneven terrain. The site provides valuable insights into Lycian urban planning, architecture, and provincial administration within the broader history of ancient Anatolia.