NEW efforts are underway to open parts of the fabled Sacred Road near Apollo Temple to make Didim more attractive to the heritage tourism sector.

Parts of the road have been restored and run from Eskikoy, the original village that skirts Apollo Temple.

Plans are now afoot to open the road as well as buildings in the area to provide more diversity to the Temple’s appeal.

Didim Mayor Deniz Atabay said opening the road and buildings to tourists next year would give the town a lift and improve its image.

He said that missing parts of the fabled head of Medusa – often depicted in postcards and images for Didim – had also been found by a German archaeology team.

Mr Atabay said the missing pieces related to Medusa’s snake-head hair. He said: “The team has apparently found missing elements of the head and had been mounted in place.

He also hinted at plans for the chapel in the village to be opened for artistic and cultural activities.

Mr Atabay said: “We are sharing information and documents coming from the excavations with the Ministry and the hope it that we will create a museum. It will be a beautiful place.”