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Olympos is the name of both the ruins of an ancient port on the Mediterranean and of a mountain currently knwon as Mount Tahtalıi located some 20 km from Cıralı. Mount Tahtali is one of about 20 mountains in Anatolia and Greece that used to be known as Olympos and were regarded as the seat of the gods.
The port of Olympos is first mentioned in the 2nd century B.C. Throughout its history, the city was known under a variety of names, among which is believed to be Hadrianopolis. Under the Roman emperors the god Hephaistos was revered as the most important deity. Olympos fell into disrepair when pirates ransacked it several times in the 3rd century A.D. and was abandoned altogether in de 15th century under Ottoman rule.Today, the ruins of the city are located directly on the beach, on both sides of the mouth of a river which emerges from a spectacular gorge further land inward.
Çıralı Çıralı Bay stretches across some 4 km and is bordered in the north and south by impressive cliffs. The beach is made up of sand and pebbles. It is famous for the Caretta caretta - a protected species of sea turtle.
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