The hotel Nerissa is the ideal base for those who wish to explore the Olimpos Beyda¿lari National Park - a conservation area of great natural beauty and historical importance - and many other sites and locales in the vicinity. A number of small, local companies offer a variety of day trips. Better still, you can also set out on your own. The ancient pirate port of Olympos lies some 40 minutes away from the hotel Nerissa. A leisurely stroll along Ç¿ral¿ beach takes you to its harbour, which is dominated by the spectacular ruined acropolis. For most of its history, Olympos was a bit of a renegade city, especially when it served as the headquarters of the infamous pirate Zeniketes from the end of the 2nd century B.C. until 78 B.C. At the foot of the Acropolis, right on the beach is the curious rock formation known as Delikta¿, which roughly translates as 'pierced rock'. Some 20 minutes from the hotel is the mystical Mount Chimera, known locally as Yanarta¿. It is a popular attraction featuring an ancient temple near a series of flames erupting from the very bedrock itself. Of the many legends surrounding the place, perhaps the best known is that of the Greek hero Bellerophon and his
