Kekova Sunken City (Dolichiste)

Kekova Sunken City: The Underwater Antiquities of Dolichiste

Lining the northern shoreline of uninhabited Kekova Island, the Sunken City (ancient Dolichiste) was once a flourishing Roman and Byzantine trading post before cataclysmic 2nd-century AD earthquakes tilted the landmass and plunged ancient streets into the Mediterranean.

Thanks to the exceptional clarity of Kekova's protected turquoise waters, visitors gazing over the side of a boat or sea kayak can distinctly observe stone staircases descending into the deep, submerged harbour quays, house walls, and storage chambers 1 to 4 metres underwater.

Underwater Archaeological Features

• Submerged Stairs and Quays: Ancient public steps and mooring quays carved from limestone lead down into the depths, perfectly visible in the shimmering azure sea.
• Cliffside Chambers and Mills: Carved into the island's rocky face above and below water are ancient olive oil presses, rock-hewn cellars, and amphora storehouses.
• Tersane (Shipyard) Bay: A sheltered cove on the island's western tip featuring the ruins of a Byzantine basilica and ancient boat slips—the only spot along the sunken city shore where swimming is permitted.
• Sea Kayaking Over the Ruins: Paddling a sea kayak silently over underwater house foundations and stone arches offers an intimate, unforgettable connection with ancient history.

Protection and Regulations

Kekova has been a strictly protected Special Environmental Protected Area since 1990. To preserve delicate submerged structures, swimming and scuba diving are prohibited directly over the ruins; excursion boats cruise slowly at idle speed. Ample swimming breaks are held in nearby Tersane and Aquarium bays.