Kayaköy - Livissi Kayaköy is a small village situated 8 kilometers to the south of Fethiye in the southwestern part of Turkey. In ancient times, it was known by the name Livissi in Greek. In the period of late antiquity, the inhabitants of this area converted to Christianity. After the division between East and West in 1054 AD, they were identified as Greek Orthodox Christians. The Greek community, living under Turkish governance, experienced a long period of peaceful coexistence from the conclusion of the Ottoman conquest in the 14th century until the beginning of the 20th century. Before the outbreak of the Greco-Turkish War from 1919 to 1922, Livissi was a thriving Greek settlement. However, after the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, the town's Greek Orthodox population was forced to depart. Today, Kayaköy stands as a powerful symbol of Livissi's former life, with its deserted homes and ancient ruins drawing visitors from all over the globe. Included in the treaty was a special protocol known as the Population Exchange between Greece and Turkey. This agreement prohibited the return of displaced Greek Orthodox individuals to their previous residences in Turkey (such as those from Livissi) and mandated that any remaining Orthodox Christians in Turkey relocate to Greece, with the exception of Greek residents of Istanbul. The Treaty of Lausanne also mandated that Muslim citizens residing in Greece relocate permanently to Turkey, except for those living in Greek Thrace. When the Muslim families arrived in Livissi (Kayaköy), they found the conditions unsuitable for settlement and soon moved elsewhere, leaving the hillside village deserted once again. Today, Kayaköy - Livissi stands as a preserved museum village, featuring hundreds of decaying homes and churches spread across a modest mountainside. Once home to Greek-style communities, these buildings now serve as scenic stops for tourists heading to Fethiye or Ölüdeniz. The village remains uninhabited except for visiting tour groups, local vendors offering handmade crafts, and a few restored houses brought back to life through dedicated restoration efforts. If you need more information or have any questions about Kayaköy - Livissi, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or simply send us a message on WhatsApp. We’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.