It is located on Aksu town of Antalya. The city known as Parha and believed to have survived during the Hittite period, become one of the most organized cities of Anatolia during the Roman period. The theater with a capacity of 15000 spectators is very well preserved. Two storey stage building opposite the seating was built in 2 century AD. Perge is also important for Christianity. St. Paul arrived in Perge during his missionary travels via Aksu River. Because it written in Bible the city and river are hilly places for Christianity.
Aspendos is famous for having the best preserved Roman theatre in entire Mediterranean world. The most brilliant period of the city which came under rule of Ptolemy after Alexander the Great’s death is undoubtedly the Roman Empire period. At Roman period famous theatres and waterways were built.
It is said that Phaselis was founded bby Rhodesian colonists in 7th century BC, on a small peninsula axtending into Mediterranean. Its geographical location indicates that it was an important port city. Ports agoras and ship on city coins emphasize Phaselis’s commercial port identity. The city was dominated by Pers in 5th century BC, Mausolos the Satrap of Kayra in 4th century and finally Pericles, the King of Lmyra. It came under Roman rule in 43 BC and this period beginning of the city’s reconstruction and prosperity that will last at least 300 years.
It is an important ancient city founded by Solyms who are descendants of the Luwians, one of the oldest peoples of Anatolia. It is in valley between peaks of Solymos Mountain which is called Güllük today. Termessos has a theatre, many temples and very large cemeteries. The most interesting work belonging to Termesseos in the Antalya Museum is ‘Dog Sarcophagus’. The poetic epitaph written by the owner of dog Stefanos, is particular importance as it is unique.
It is one of the largest natural caves in Turkey. It is located in Yağca village of Antalya. It has been concluded from excavations that the region was used as a settlement 500000 years ago. It is an important Paleolithic center for history.
Kaleiçi Antalya’s old city center where the beauty of the old and new meet, is surrounded by walls inside and out. This walls were built by various civilizations that lived here for more than 2000 years. There are traditional houses lined up around around the narrow streets leading to port. The ancient harbor in Kaleiçi is now used as a modern marina. You can sip your drink accompanied by sea view at restaurants and cafes around the marina.
The Hadrian’s Gate, located on Atatürk Street on the walls surrounding the Ancient Port, was built in 130 AD due to the arrival of the Roman Emperor Hadrianus in Antalya. The emperor entered the city through this magnificent gate. The monumental structure, which has managed to be preserved until today, is one of the most valuable historical artifacts among the symbols of the city. Hadrian’s Gate, which is the most preferred route for entrances to Kaleiçi, is also called ‘Three Gates’ among the people. Hadrian’s Gate, with its architectural features and style, resembles the triumphal arch of the Roman Period. Therefore, it can be thought that there are probably statues of the emperor and the dynasty on the upper part, which has not survived.
The second important port city of Antalya after Phaselis is Olympos. The city takes its name from Tahtalı Mountain, which has a height of 2 thousand 375 meters. Most of the surviving remains of the city are covered with trees and bushes in the forest and belong to the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods. In the ancient period, the river bed that divided the city into two was taken into a canal and both sides were used as piers and connected to each other by a bridge. Today, one foot of the bridge remains in place. The most interesting among the ruins is the Sarcophagus of Captain Eudomus, which was unearthed during the excavations carried out by the Antalya Museum. The sarcophagus is of great importance both in terms of giving the captain’s name in the emotional poetic dedication inscription and giving the shape of his ship in the relief of the ship on its long side.
Düden waterfall is located in Antalya’s Kepez district. Even on days when no water flows from the surface, at least 10 cubic meters of water per second emerges from under the Düdenbaşı Waterfall. The waterfall is divided into two branches as Lower Düden and Upper Düden. These two branches are divided into waterfalls poured into the Mediterranean.
Damlataş Cave was discovered in 1948 during the opening of a quarry for the stone to be used in the construction of the port. The cave is on the west coast of the historical Alanya Castle. There is a 50-meter passage at the entrance of the cave. After the passage with a height of 15 meters, a cylindrical space is reached. From here, it goes down to the bottom of the cave. The cave was named Damlataş because of the water drops that continue to drip from the stalactites. In addition to its fascinating beauty, the cave is also famous for its air that is good for asthma patients. There are patients who sit in the cave for a certain period of time and apply a 21-day treatment course under the control of a doctor. The atmosphere of the cave does not change in summer or winter; temperature is 22 degrees Celsius, humidity is 95 percent, constant pressure is 760 mm. The air of the cave contains 71 percent nitrogen, 20.5 percent oxygen, 2.5 percent carbon dioxide and some radioactivity and ions. It is Turkey’s first cave opened to tourism.
The ancient city of Myra, located in and around today’s Demre district center, was founded on the plain of the same name. The connection between the city and the sea was provided by the convenient canal to the west of the Myros River. Maritime transportation and trade of the region was also carried out from Andriake Port, located on the other side of the canal. The Ancient City of Myra is especially famous for its Lycian Period rock tombs, Roman Period theater and Byzantine Period St. Nicholas Church. Rock tombs, Lycian inscriptions and coins show that Myra has existed since at least the 5th century BC. Today’s ruins consist of the theater on the southern skirt of the acropolis and the rock tombs on both sides. According to the researches, it is possible to come across the ruins of the Hellenistic, even the 5th century BC city walls on the acropolis hill and its surroundings, apart from the Roman Period walls, which are in a very solid condition today. Located on the southern skirt of the acropolis, the theater reflects the characteristics of a well-preserved Roman theater with its rows of seats and the stage building.
Alanya Castle has hosted Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman civilizations. Although the first settlement date of the castle dates back to the Hellenistic Period, it took the form of a monumental castle with all its splendor during the Seljuk Empire Period. The height of the part of the castle, called İçkale, which was established on the highest point of the western corner of the peninsula, reaches 250 meters from the sea. Since it is the center of administrative and military organization, it is surrounded by strong walls from four directions. There is a Chapel in the area almost in the middle of İçkale. This structure, which is a structure of the Seljuk Period, has a clover plan. Due to its architectural features, it is dated to the 12th century. Alaeddin Keykubad also had monumental structures built to strengthen the defense of the castle. Kızılkule, one of the unique examples of Seljuk art, is one of them. It is the symbol of Alanya with its plan that provides integrity to the castle. Symbolizing the meeting of the Seljuks with the Mediterranean, the shipyard was built in 1227.
Patara Ancient City is located in today’s Gelemis Village, at the southwest end of the Xanthos Valley, between Fethiye and Kalkan, and is one of the most important and oldest cities of Lycia. In addition to its archaeological and historical values, it has a special importance as it is one of the rare beaches where Mediterranean turtles Caretta-Caretta lay their eggs and breed for millions of years. The name of the city is mentioned as Patar in Hittite texts of the 13th century BC. While the pottery sherds recovered from the Tepecik Acropolis contain Middle Bronze Age features, the stone ax from the pre-Iron Age, which was also unearthed on the skirts of the eastern slope of Tepecik, shows how far Patara’s history goes.
It was the most important port city of Pamphylia in ancient times. It was established on a peninsula with a width of 350-400 meters located 7 kilometers southwest of Manavgat. Side VII. century, it became a settlement center. On the ruins of Side Antique City, which is known as a trade and port city, XX. Selimiye Village was founded by Cretan immigrants at the beginning of the century. Built on a peninsula, Side, as in other Pamphylia cities, stretches along a monumental street that starts from the main gate of the city. The main street, which starts from the “Great Gate”, continues along the peninsula in an almost straight line, except for the curve in front of the Theater, and ends with a large square near the temples. The second largest street of the city extends from the “Great Gate” to the south of the city. Both streets have colonnades and there are columned porticos with Corinthian caps on both sides and a row of shops behind them.