The Castle of St Peter is Bodrum's defining landmark, a superbly preserved fortress begun by the Knights Hospitaller of Rhodes in 1402 on a rocky promontory that separates the town's two harbors. As you climb through its gates and towers, each named for a different nation of knights (English, French, German, Italian), you pass coats of arms, cannon, a chapel and terraced gardens planted with Mediterranean species, and the views back over the marina and white town are superb. The knights partly built it from cut stone salvaged from the ruined Mausoleum, so the castle is literally made from a Wonder of the World. Inside it houses the celebrated Museum of Underwater Archaeology, so one visit combines fortress, gardens and world-class exhibits. Allow at least a couple of hours, as the route is steep and cobbled with plenty of steps. It anchors the whole waterfront and is floodlit beautifully after dark.
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