ANTALYA
Antalya, Turkey's principal holiday resort in the Mediterranean
region (ancient Pamphylia), is an
attractive city with shady palm-lined boulevards, a prize-winning marina.
In the picturesque old quarter, Kaleici, narrow winding streets and old
wooden houses abut the ancient city walls.
Since its founding in the second century B.C. by Attalus II, a king
of Pergamon, who named the city Attaleai after
himself, Antalya has been continuously inhabited. The Romans, Byzantines
and Seljuks in turn occupied the city before it
came under Ottoman rule. The elegant fluted minaret
of the Yivli Minareli Mosque in the center of
the city built by the Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubat
in the 13th century has become the Antalya's symbol. The Karatay
Medrese
(theological college) in the Kaleici district, from the same period, exemplifies
the best of Seljuk stone carvings. The two most
important Ottoman mosques
in the city are the 16th century Murat Pasa Mosque, remarkable for its
tile decoration, the 18th century Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque. Neighboring
the marina, the attractive late 19th century
Iskele Mosque is built of cut stone and set on four pillars over a natural
spring. The Hidirlik Kulesi (tower) was probably originally constructed
as a lighthouse in the second century. Today a church, the Kesik Minaret
Mosque attests to the city's long history in its succession of Roman, Byzantine,
Seljuk and Ottoman renovations.
When Emperor Hadrian visited Antalya in 130 A.D. a beautifully decorated
three arched gate was built into the city walls in his honor.
Near the marina the two towers flanking
the gate and other sections of the walls still stand. The clock tower in
Kalekapisi Square was also part of the old city's fortifications.
On March 29th, 2006, Total Solar Eclipse will be seen in Antalya as well at 13:54pm local time.
Nature
The region around Antalya offers sights of astonishing
natural beauty as well as awesome historical
remains. You can walk behind the cascade, a thrilling experience, at
the Upper Düden Waterfalls, 14 km northeast of Antalya. On the way to Lara
Beach, the Lower Düden Waterfalls plunge straight into the sea. The nearby
rest area offers an excellent view of the falls; the view is even more
spectacular from the sea. Kursunlu Waterfalls and Nilüfer Lake, both 18
km from Antalya are two more places of superb natural beauty.
The sandy Lara Beach lies about 12 km to the east. Closer to Antalya,
but to the west, the long, pebbled Konyaalti Beach offers a view of the
breathtaking mountain range. A little further the Bey Dagi (Olympos)
National Park and Topcam Beach provide more
splendid vistas. There are camping grounds at the north end of the park
should you decide to linger amid the natural beauty. For a panoramic view
of the area, drive to the holiday complex on top of the Tünektepe Hill.
Saklikent, 50 km from Antalya is an ideal winter
sports resort on the
northern slopes of Bakirli Mountain at an altitude of 1750-1900 meters.
In March and April you can ski in the morning, eat a delicious lunch
of fresh fish at Antalya's marina and sunbath,
swim or wind surf in the afternoon. The wildlife (deer and mountain goat)
in Düzlercami Park, north of Antalya are under a conservation
program. On the way you can stop at the astonishing 115 meter deep
Güver Canyon. In the eastern side of Can Mountain, 30 km from Antalya,
the Karain Cave, which dates from the Paleolithic Age (50,000 B.C.) is
the site of the oldest settlement in Turkey. Although
the little museum at the entrance displays some of the finds, most of the
artifacts are housed in various museums throughout Turkey. The ruins of
the city of Termessos, set inside Güllük Dagi, a national
park northwest of Antalya, is perched on a 1050 meter high plateau
on the west face of Güllük Mountain (Solymos). A nature and wildlife museum
is found at the park entrance.
The Archaeological Museum, with remains from the Paleolithic Age to
Ottoman times, offers a glimpse of the area's
rich history.
Other historical sites around Antalya are: Perge,
Aspendos, Side, Termessos, Phaselis,
Olympos, Chimeira,
Kekova, Simena,
Patara, Xantos,
Letoon, Pinara,
Tlos, Kas, Kalkan,
Aperlai, Myra
and Sillyon.