Guide
The Yediler monastery lies within the bounds of Gölyaka village in the Milas district of Muğla, southeast of the ancient city of Herakleia on the Beşparmak mountains. It is a complex rather than a single building — church, chapel, monks' cells, cistern and other structures — and it is the largest of the monasteries in this area.
The site consists of a large courtyard to the east and, to the west, a small one entirely enclosed by rocks. North of the small courtyard is an upper fortification surrounded by walls, and to its south, on a single rock, a small refuge fort strengthened for defence with embrasures. Built within a walled area, the monastery served for accommodation and teaching as well as for religious life. Its history and architecture carry the marks of the Byzantine period, and the frescoes and mosaics in its churches, showing scenes from the life of Christ and other events important to Christianity, are among the significant examples of Byzantine art here. The monastery lies on the Caria Trail and is a favourite stop for walkers in the area.
