Antalya, Turkey

Antalya attracts tourists with its cultural and historical assets, besides its natural beauties. The historical evolution of the region starts from the Middle Paleolithic Era (50,000 B.C.) and continues until the present. In the city founded by Attalus II, the King of Pergamum in the second century B.C., there are numerous ancient cities in the regions which are called by their historical names of Lycia in the west, Pamphylia in the east and Pisidia in the north.

The Mosque with Fluted Minarets which is the symbol of the city, the Murat Pasha Mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Pasha Mosque, the Kaleici (Inner Citadel) District, where the old Antalya houses are located, the Ataturk and Karalioglu parks where various exotic Mediterranean plants are grown, the Hadrianus Gate, the Ataturk and the Archaeological Museums are worth seeing. The Lara beach to the east and the Konyaalti beach to the west of the city are ideal for swimming. Besides these beaches, there are also two water parks in Antalya in which various water games are played.

Among the interesting places in the vicinity of the city of Antalya are the Upper and Lower Duden Falls, Kursunlu Falls, Saklikent, which is a winter sports center, Gulluk Mountain National Park, with its famous ancient city of Termessos and Karain Cave which was a settlement place in the Stone Age.

Kemer, on the coast to the west of the city of Antalya, is among the most beautiful holiday centers in the Mediterranean. It has many holiday villages in the surroundings, which have been constructed by showing respect for nature, the environment and humans. Kemer should be experienced with its lively marina, colorful markets, bars, restaurants and its lifestyle full of interesting activities. The Kemer Carnival, which is held in April every year, adds a distinctive color to the region. Phaselis is to the south of Kemer. It is an historical port. The historical city of Phaselis, which has many natural coves, is surrounded by forests. To the south of Phaselis is the ancient city of Olympos. The ruins of the city are surrounded by bay forests. To the north of Olympos there is a sacred area, at an elevation of 300 meters, called Cirali. The gas, which emerges naturally between the rocks here, burns when it combines with the oxygen in the air. According to mythology, the flames come from the mouth of the monster who was killed by Bellerophon, the Lycian hero.

The charming Finike County of Antalya Province is a holiday town famous for its orange groves. To the west of Finike is Demre, or Myra with its historical name. Saint Nicholas (Santa Claus), the jolly grandfather of the children of the world, lived and died here. A church was built where his grave is located and was later transformed into the Noel Baba (Santa Claus) Museum. Every year a Noel Baba festival is organized in Demre.

There is a beautiful marina at Kalkan, another holiday town on the western shores of Antalya Province. Kalkan is worth seeing for its hotels, which have such beautiful architecture that it reminds one of the European Renaissance. In the vicinity of Kalkan, is the Patara Beach which is Turkey's longest beach extending for 22 km. At the same time, this beach is also the longest beach in Europe. In the areas of the historical town of Patara are located many structures which remain from the Lycian period. To the north of Patara are located Xanthus, the historical capital of Lycia, and Letoon, another one of the holy cities of Lycia. Further to the north are ancient cities such as Pinara and Tlos. These beautiful cities are worth seeing for their architecture.

The eastern region of Antalya, which is called the Antalya Plain, used to be called the Pamphylia Region in history. The region, with its long and sandy beaches along its shores, is known today for its holiday villages, historical cities, holiday towns and agricultural areas. The ancient city of Perge, 18 km to the east of Antalya, was first founded by the Hittites. Most of the architectural works which can be seen today in the city are 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. Belek is surrounded by pine trees where one cannot get enough of playing golf on the expansive and green courses with international standards. The ancient city of Aspendos, which is at a distance of 50 km from Antalya, was one of the most important cities in the Pamphylia Region in the past. The theater is the most important architectural work in the city. It was constructed by the architect Zenon, in the second century, and it is one of the best preserved structures in Anatolia. The theater, which can accommodate 15,000 people, has superb acoustics. During the art festivals organized here every year classical concerts, operas with rich costumes, ballets and plays are performed. Aspendos is at the same time a center for processing gold and cutting jewels. How gold is processed can be seen at this center which is of great interest for tourists.

Side is one of the most important historical cities in Turkey. It is located on a small peninsula 80 km to the east of the city of Antalya. Its theater with a capacity of 25,000 people is the largest theater in the region. The remains of the baths were restored and transformed into a museum. The most frequently visited places in the city are the agora, monumental fountains, Temple of Apollo, city walls and the remains of the port.

Alanya is an urbanized holiday town in Turkey, with its beautiful beaches. There are various hotels and holiday villages along the coast. The modern Alanya extends along the shore to the west and east. The historical Alanya is located right at the center of the city on a small peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea. There are many architectural works remaining from the Seljuks in Alanya, which was the winter capital of the Seljuk State.

Tours in/from Antalya