The area known in antiquity as Lycia occupies a section of southwest Turkey which is one of the richest areas of Anatolia, both in cultural heritage and natural attractions. For these reasons it has become a very popular destination for tourists, who are amazed by the natural wealth and beauty of the land that was once home to the Lycians.

The name "Lycia" in fact means "land of light," and this unique characteristic still illuminates today as it did in antiquity, so the name truly fits. The Lycians, or the Lukka, as they were mentioned in second millennium texts, were described as the bravest of the Trojan allies in the Iliad. Herodotus tells us that the Lycians called themselves the Trmmili and claimed to come from Crete. The Lycian language derives from ancient Luwian, suggesting that the people either were indigenous to Anatolia or had at least been settled there for a long time. The land itself has certainly been inhabited without interruption from prehistoric times. The earliest known site in Lycia is on the coast near Tlos at Girmeler Cave, which dates back to 5000 BC.