Locals hope Jesus Christ frescoes will attract tourists in Turkey's west

MUĞLA – Anadolu Agency

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Ancient frescoes of Jesus Christ and a number of saints, as well as rock graves around them, will serve tourism within the scope of a new geopark project in the southwestern province of Muğla’s Yatağan district. 

The frescoes, thought to have been made by secret Christian worshippers around 1,500 years ago, will be taken under protection and promoted with the project. 

Speaking of the frescoes on the coast of the Çine Adnan Mendrede Dam, one kilometer from Muğla-Aydın highway, Yatağan Deputy Mayor Tarcan Oğuz said the new presentation of the frescoes would attract increasing numbers of visitors. 

“The frescoes, found in some of the worshipping places of the earliest Christians, depict the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, saints and children. The paintings on the rocks date back 1,500 years. People secretly worshipped in this place. Rock graves and motifs depicting monks are also close to the frescoes,” Oğuz said.

“The Muğla Metropolitan Municipality and Yatağan Municipality are jointly working on this project, which will be completed in the coming days,” he added.