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In August Amanresorts will launch its 24th property, Amanruya, in a quiet valley on the Bodrum Peninsula overlooking the Aegean Sea. There are few places in the world which offer classical history and natural beauty in equal measure, and the Aegean region of Turkey is one such place. Offering an international airport just 30 minutes by car from the resort, Bodrum has long been a favoured summer destination for Turkish city dwellers. This fabled coastline is where Homer’s heroes were born, where the ancient Greeks consulted their oracles and the Romans built magnificent temples to honour their gods. The region tells a story spanning 5,000 years of Greek and Roman history. Towns with ancient names inhabit the bays and traditional Turkish gulets ply the turquoise waters between the Aegean’s many islands. It is into this setting that Amanruya will open, named for the Sanskrit word for peace, ‘aman’, and the Turkish word for dream. Surrounded by a pine forest and olive groves, Amanruya is set on a peaceful hillside, offering breathtaking views of the sea and a winding pathway leading to a protected pebble beach. Amanruya offers a total of 36 nearly identical Pool Terrace Cottages with varying courtyard and swimming pool designs to ensure a unique character prevails. The resort buildings are free-standing and all offer exceptional sea views. They include an Arrival Pavilion, a three-storey Library, Dining Pavilions, a Terrace and Wine Lounge, a Boutique, an Art Gallery and two Spa Suites. A 50-metre marble swimming pool and a tennis court round out the facilities. |
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Turkey is blessed with a variety of microclimates that provides an amazing array of produce. Thought to be the originating influence for nearly all Middle Eastern cuisines, Turkish fare will be a highlight of the resort’s menus, but continental and Asian-inspired dishes will also feature. There are four Dining Pavilions open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, all offering picturesque views. The nearby Beach Club restaurant is open for lunch and in the afternoon, offering simple snacks and drinks. Amanruya’s home-baked bread and informal Meze platters make for superb in-suite dining or picnic options. Bodrum, called Halicarnassus in ancient times, is the South Aegean’s most attractive seaside village. Cafes, restaurants and bars have flourished along the city’s marina which is also the starting point of day trips to various Greek islands. Sailing around the Bodrum Peninsula on a gulet is an experience not to be missed. Bodrum also offers a number of historic sites including its most prominent landmark – the 15th-century Castle of St. Peter. Amanruya will provide a number of excursion options to the wealth of classical sites in the region, including the ancient ruined cities of Didyma, Miletus, Priene and Ephesus. Standing beneath the towering columns of Didyma’s Temple of Apollo, in the 5,000-seat theatre at Priene or under the Gate of Hercules in Ephesus – all thousands of years old – is sure to be a holiday highlight. |
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