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General

Gemiler Island is opposite Gemile Cove and beach, a short distance from the historic village of Kaya Köy. The former name of the island was St. Nicholas, and it is believed that during the early Christian period, the island served as a place of worship and St. Nicholas lived here.

On the island there are the remains of churches dating to the Early Christian era and the Byzantine period. The frescoes of the large churches are in good condition, while at the seaside there are the ruins of cisterns.

The most interesting historical relic is the tunnel that links the two churches to each other. Although some parts of the 500-metre long tunnel have collapsed, there are 17 stops in the staircase inside the tunnel. These aresaid  to represent the 17 points at which Christ halted while he was being taken to be crucified. As a result of an earthquake in 240-241 CE some of the ruins have slipped beneath the sea, lying at a depth of two metres.

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