Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

Tucked away in the heart of Bodrum, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Designed by Greek architects Satyros and Pythius, the structure soared to approximately 45 metres. It was richly adorned with friezes and statues by renowned sculptors of the time, its marble reliefs capturing the power and artistry of the ancient world.

It was built around 350 BCE by Artemisia II as a grand tomb to honour her husband and brother Mausolus – giving us the word mausoleum.

Sadly, though, earthquakes between the 12th and 15th centuries reduced this ancient splendour to ruins – and that remains today is a small site of foundations and scattered sculptural fragments.

It’s a quiet but evocative space: low stone foundations, fragments of carvings, and a small museum that helps you reimagine the wonder that once stood. It may not rival nearby beach clubs for most visitors to Bodrum, but for those drawn to history’s lost masterpieces, it’s a chance to walk among the ghosts of one of antiquity’s greatest architectural achievements.