The town existed already during Antiquity and the Byzantine period. During the time between the 13th and the 19th century it lived through the Middle Ages. The town is a typical example of a Turkish settlement of the 15th century. It is made up of neighbourhoods, following a tradition born in the 13th and 14th century. The streets follow the terrain and are often dead-end streets. The houses have two floors and a courtyard. Their stone walls face the streets and the windows look on to the inner courtyard. The walls and chimneys are whitewashed. The oldest building in Mugla is the Big Mosque.