Best of Antalya

May 19, 2008 – 7:40 pm

The biggest attraction of Antalya is its exquisite natural beauty. Antalya gives you the best of Mediterranean climate with long summers, pleasant winters and lots of sunshine. So enjoy your summer travel to the fullest at this perfect holiday destination. The natural elegance of Antalya is well complemented by its plenteous historic past.

Antalya Archaeological Museum

Antalya Archeological Museum is one of the largest museums in Turkey, situated some 2km from the city center of Antalya. The museum opened his doors for visitors in 1922, originally operated in the Alâeddin Mosque, then was moved to the Yivli Mosque in 1937, and finally moved to its present building in 1972. In 1982 was closed to make restorations and modifications and was re-opened in 1985.

The museum consists of 13 halls, a children’s section and an open air gallery in the lovely garden behind the museum.

Among the halls available are: the large Archeological section where is displayed an excellent survey of the great periods in Pamphylia’s history, from the neolithic on through the Bronze Age to Hellenistic and Roman times. The hall of the goods featuring copies of statues of the Greek divinities found mostly in Perge. The two halls of artefacts displaying collections of items recovered from an ancient sunken and from the surrounding areas. The hall of the Roman Emperors that has great examples of statues, representing the main character of Roman Sculpture. The other halls displays magnificent series of sarcophagi, mosaics from Seleukeia, and fine coin collections with the Hoard of Probus, the Aspendos Hoard (silver), a Byzantine gold hoard found at Finike in 1959, and the Side Hoard (silver).

The rich ethnographic hall comprises two big halls where are displayed a great variety of material of the Turkish period like weapons, clothing, stockings, jewelry, domestic equipment, books, tiles, glass, porcelain, locks, musical instruments and carpets.

There are also large pieces, such as sarcophagi, tombstone, statues displayed in the open air gallery outside.

Kaleici

Kaleiçi is the historical old city of Antalya. In the ancient it was the Roman town, then the Byzantine, then the Seljuk Turkish, and finally the Ottoman Turkish town. This part of the city consists of massive stone walls, meandering streets, and picturesque old houses built so close they often overshadow the narrow lanes. Kaleci was restored trying to recover and to maintain its ancient remains, as result of these restorations it has turned into a major tourist centre with guest-houses, bars, shops and restaurants, and the Roman harbour has been turned into a modern, well-equipped marina.

There are several entrances to Kaleiçi, but the most convenient is Kalekapisi, and the most picturesque and historic is Hadrian’s Gate.

Yivli Minaret Mosque

The Yivli Minaret Mosque is an extraordinary example of multi-dome construction in Anatolia. This elegant fluted minaret mosque, decorated with dark blue tiles, is a landmark and symbol of the city. Built in 1230, the minaret is 38 metres high and has with eight fluted sections and has 90 steps to the top.

Originally the building was a Byzantine church that during the reign of the Seljuk sultan Ala ad-Din Kay Qubadh I (1220-1237) was converted into a mosque around 1225-7. The original mosque was destroyed in the 14th century and a new mosque was built which, with its six domes.

Today the building houses the Antalya Ethnographic Museum and contains clothing, kitchen utensils, embroidery, tapestries and looms, socks, sacks, kilims, ornaments, and nomadic tents. It was opened to the public in 1974.

Aspendos

The ancient city of Aspendos is located in the southern Mediterranean coast at 47km from city of Antalya. This ancient city boasts one of the most well preserved Roman theatre in the world. Founded by colonist who came from Argos was known as Estvadys, as it can be seen in the minted coins of the 4th and 5th centuries B.C.

This area during its history has change of hands many times as almost as the other cities of the country, and it was in the Roman times when the city flourished and lived it glory days in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. In the 5th century the city’s name was changed to Primopolis. Among Aspendos? remains that can be seen are its magnificent aqueducts, parts of which are in the nearby Village and on the site of the ruins. The necropolis of Aspendos is east of the acropolis.

Aspendos? Theater

The theatre at Aspendos is undoubtedly the best-preserved example of Roman theatre in the world. This splendid theatre was built during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) in honour of to “the Gods of the Country and the Imperial House”, the architect who designed the theatre was Zeno. For its construction was used regularly dressed blocks of conglomerate while the door and window frames are of a cream-colored limestone. Its seating capacity is of 20,000, and is still usable today.

The theatre consists of a stage building that is a two-tiered facade with four rows of windows, each row of which is of a different form and size. The niches contained decorative statuary. The auditorium is divided in two by a diazoma and there is a gallery of columns surmounting the top row of seats.

Kursunlu Waterfalls

Located approx. 16 km on the east of Antalya near to the ancient roman city of Perge is the Kursunlu Waterfalls. The water falls from a height of 20 metres and becomes a part of the river that flows towards the south. The waterfall is on one of the tributaries of the Aksu River and its situation in the midst of a pine forest is of quite exceptional beauty. The countryside around the water forms a lovely picnic and pleasure spot.

Perge

The ancient city of Perge in eastern Antalya is an archaeological site and major tourist attraction. It was one of the chief cities of Pamphylia located at 18 km east from Antalya in the coastal plain, and lies between the Duden and Aksu rivers. Founded by the Hittites in 1200 B.C. the city was devastated by many pirate attacks. In 334 AD, Perge made an agreement with the Great Alexander, just like Side, so the city was not demolished.

Perge still preserves remains of the Roman Period. Among the historical structures the theater, stadium, city gates, avenues, agora and baths are interesting for tourists. Large, modern holiday complexes extend along the Belek coast, which is at a distance of 40 km from Antalya.

The theatre consists of three main sections: the seating, orchestra and stage. The theater held over 12,000 spectators, with 19 rows of seats on the lower section, 22 on the top section, and a 52 meters stage. The stadium measures 1156 square metres, with 13 rows of seats on top of the vaults. The eastern and western sides have 30 vaults each and the northern side has 10. There are three vaults where one is used as an entrance to the stadium and the other two were used as shops. Excluding the Aphrodisias Stadium in the Aegean Region, Perge has the best preserved Stadium of Turkey.

The Agora of Perge was the commercial and political centre of the city, with many shops surrounding the centre, some with preserved mosaics on the floor. The colonnaded boulevard lies between the Hellenistic Gate and the nympheum on the slopes of the acropolis. On both sides of the street are porticoes, some up to five meters high, behind which are shops. The street is divided into two by a 2 meter wide water canal.

Termessos

The ancient city of Termessos in eastern Antalya is an archaeological site and major tourist attraction. It was one of the chief cities of Pamphylia located at 18 km east from Antalya in the coastal plain, and lies between the Duden and Aksu rivers. Founded by the Hittites in 1200 B.C. the city was devastated by many pirate attacks. In 334 AD, Termessos made an agreement with the Great Alexander, just like Side, so the city was not demolished.

Termessos still preserves remains of the Roman Period. Among the historical structures the theater, stadium, city gates, avenues, agora and baths are interesting for tourists. Large, modern holiday complexes extend along the Belek coast, which is at a distance of 40 km from Antalya.

The theatre consists of three main sections: the seating, orchestra and stage. The theater held over 12,000 spectators, with 19 rows of seats on the lower section, 22 on the top section, and a 52 meters stage. The stadium measures 1156 square metres, with 13 rows of seats on top of the vaults. The eastern and western sides have 30 vaults each and the northern side has 10. There are three vaults where one is used as an entrance to the stadium and the other two were used as shops. Excluding the Aphrodisias Stadium in the Aegean Region, Termessos has the best preserved Stadium of Turkey.

The Agora of Termessos was the commercial and political centre of the city, with many shops surrounding the centre, some with preserved mosaics on the floor. The colonnaded boulevard lies between the Hellenistic Gate and the nympheum on the slopes of the acropolis. On both sides of the street are porticoes, some up to five meters high, behind which are shops. The street is divided into two by a 2 meter wide water canal.