Perhaps Aphrodite never really left Datca. Among the ruins of Knidos, housing the remains of the ancient Hellenistic city, you can still see the foundations of the temple that once housed her elusive form, described by Pliny as the greatest statue in the world. Stroll inshore, hand-in-hand, amidst abundant bougainvillea, pretty pink cobblestones, and enticing little lanes.

Elixir Art is the perfect base for exploring the delights of the Datca Peninsula, an area replete with colourful tradition. The sleepy Datca peninsula itself has delightful beaches, gloriously exotic fauna and graciously soaring mountains. Old Datca town has lovely old stone houses, with the symbolic windmills of Datca a presence in themselves.

At Orhaniye, you can walk on water, crossing the bay via the submerged spit of sand known as the Maiden's Sand. For shopping, the town of Marmaris is only 40 minutes away.

There is even a Greek island, Symi, glistening in the azure across the water, just 45 minutes away by hired boat. Better still, Orfoz, voted the finest seafood restaurant on Turkey's Mediterranean coast, is a mere 50 metres walk down the coastal path from your hotel.