One of the most popular Turkish resorts on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, Antalya is firmly registered in the first lines of the beach compatriots rating. The advantages of buying a tour to Antalya are obvious and indisputable: a short flight, a varied infrastructure that allows you to have a rich and unforgettable vacation with the whole family, quite affordable prices and the opportunity to fill your vacation with interesting excursions and trips. If you are planning to go to Turkey and are looking for an answer to the question of what to see in Antalya, pay attention to natural attractions and museums, ruins of ancient cities and whole amusement parks with all kinds of attractions.
You can fly to Antalya already on the May holidays, but consistently warm weather and a real swimming season begin in the Turkish resort towards the end of spring. For sightseeing, on the contrary, it is best to choose the second half of autumn, when the heat subsides and long walks around the city and the surrounding area become comfortable and pleasant.
TOP 10 attractions of Antalya
Hidirlik tower
Hidirlik tower
The purpose of this ancient structure in the southern part of the Antalya bay, researchers cannot unambiguously determine until now. There is a version that the Khidirlik tower served as a lighthouse. This is evidenced by its location on a hill and on the seashore. On the other hand, the tower has such strong walls and an inaccessible appearance that it looks more like a defensive structure in which it was possible to survive a siege - not too long, but quite serious.
Some researchers believe that Khidirlik could well have been an ancient tomb. The reason for the appearance of the version is a stone block of regular shape and solid size, placed inside the tower. One way or another, but a huge drum resting on a rectangular base is worthy of attention, if only because its construction is dated to the II century. n. e., and the height exceeds 13 m.
Hadrian's gate
Hadrian's gate
Having received ancient Antalya at their disposal, the Romans turned it into a port, which became one of the most important in this part of the Mediterranean. As it grew richer, the city turned into a tasty morsel for adventurers and easy prey, and it needed serious protection. The fortress walls, built in the II century, were called to defend Antalya. n. NS. The passage to the city was carried out through several gates, of which only one has survived to this day.
Hadrian's Gate is a structure of three arches connected to a single portal. They were built before the visit to Antalya of Emperor Hadrian, after whom they were named. Historians believe that initially the building had a second tier, on which sculptures of Adrian and those close to him could be installed. Marble columns support the upper level. From above they are decorated with capitals with bas-reliefs. The gate connects stone topped towers, but only one of them dates back to the Roman period.
Perge
Perge
The famous archaeological site is 17 km away. from Antalya, Perge allows you to plunge into the atmosphere of the ancient city and look at the complex of buildings, some of which were built before the onset of a new era. The most significant sights in Perge are admired by more than one generation of tourists interested in history:
- Hellenistic gate, erected by ancient builders in the 3rd century. BC NS. Five centuries later, Plantation Magna, a priestess of the goddess Artemis, spearheaded their reconstruction.
- Roman amphitheater dating from the 1st century BC BC BC, with 42 rows of seats for spectators and richly decorated stage stages.
- The largest stadium on the peninsula of Asia Minor, with a capacity of about 12 thousand people.
- Roman agora, where the ruins of the 4th century basilica are preserved. It was built during the period of Byzantine rule. The agora is covered with mosaics that are almost perfectly preserved in some places.
- The largest baths in Pamphylia of the 2nd century. Bathrooms were decorated with marble and elaborate stone carvings.
Also noteworthy is Arcadian - the main street of the city, along which Roman columns are installed.
Ancient city of the world
Lycian tombs of the city of Myra
Tradition says that the Apostle Paul stopped at the harbor at the mouth of the Andrak River on his way to Rome. There was the ancient city of Myra, named after myrrh, from which incense is made for religious ceremonies. Now from Mira there are only ancient ruins, but it is still worth going there on an excursion from Antalya to present its former splendor.
The main attraction of Mira is the tombs carved into the rocks. The ancient inhabitants of the city were convinced that the dead should be buried on a dais so that they would be guaranteed to be in heaven as soon as possible. The antique amphitheater is also worthy of the attention of tourists.
For many years, Myra has been the capital and largest city of Lycia. In the III century. BC NS. she even received the right to mint her own coins, which was an indicator of economic stability and independence.
An important role in preserving the importance of Mira as the center of early Christianity was played by St. Nicholas, who became the bishop of the city in 300. After his death, Mira turned into a center of pilgrimage, and the saint forever received the honorary post of patron of children. It is Saint Nicholas who is called Santa Claus.
Church of St. Nicholas
After the death of the former bishop of St. Nicholas, the inhabitants of the city laid the foundation for the church. It was destroyed by an earthquake, and the restored building was destroyed by the Arab conquerors in the 7th century. Today's basilica was built in the 8th century.
The temple was buried under a layer of silt and sand after the Mira River turned back after a series of violent earthquakes. The church was discovered by accident: only the top of the bell tower protruded from under the layer of earth. Funds for the restoration were raised on the initiative of the Russian traveler A. N. Muravyov, but restoration work is still underway. The temple is not functioning now and operates as a museum.
There is a sarcophagus in the church, where the relics of St. Nicholas were kept until 1087. Then the Italian merchants took them to Bari in order to save them from the encroachments of the Arab conquerors.
Archaeological Museum
The easiest way to get acquainted with the periods of Turkish history, from ancient times to the present day, is in the museum, the exposition of which is dedicated to various periods in the life of the country. The Archaeological Museum in Antalya has a rich collection of items found during excavations of ancient cities. You can see the tools of labor of primitive people, mosaics of the Byzantine era, antique statuettes of the Hellenistic period, ceramics of the Mycenaean kingdom and many other historical treasures.
Most of the rarities were discovered during excavations of ancient burials. The antique tombs themselves in the halls of the museum are also widely represented. The museum has collected and carefully preserved the original statues that adorned ancient Roman temples, amphitheaters and baths.
In total, the museum has 13 rooms dedicated to various themes and historical periods. Some of the exhibits are exhibited in the gallery in front of the entrance to the main exhibition.
Yivli Minaret
Yivli Minaret
One of the earliest examples of Islamic architecture in Antalya, the Yivli minaret is often referred to as the symbol of the city. It rises on the coast of the bay and is visible from anywhere in Antalya. The Yivli minaret belongs to the Great Mosque. Its construction began in the first third of the 13th century. In 1373, the building was partially rebuilt during reconstruction.
The name of the minaret means “grooved” and is due to its construction. The tower seems to be divided by brick ledges into many horizontal layers, and vertically consists of eight pillars semicircular in cross-section, assembled together. The height of the minaret is about 40 m, 90 degrees of a spiral staircase lead up to the balcony, illuminated through narrow window-slits in the walls.
The floor of the minaret is decorated with the words of the prophet, written in blue colors. In the niches of the octahedral tower, the remains of a mosaic assembled by artists from turquoise and cobalt glass have been preserved.
Duden waterfalls
Right within the city of Antalya, you will find a beautiful natural landmark, which can be reached either as part of an organized excursion or on your own. The Duden waterfalls are formed by the Duden river, the waters of which rush down in two cascades. The upper waterfall is located in the town of Düdenbashi, where there is a park with equipped places for observation. The old karst river bed is shaped like a cave.
The lower cascade is located 13 km downstream. The height of the lower Duden waterfall is 40 m. The stream falls directly into the Mediterranean Sea. The best views of it are from the board of a pleasure boat, which can be boarded in the port of the old city.
Antalya aquarium
Antalya aquarium
An excursion to the local aquarium will help to significantly diversify the impressions of a beach holiday, especially if you come to Antalya with children. Its main "feature" is an underwater tunnel, passing through which the visitor finds himself in the midst of sea events. Overhead, unhurried stingrays suddenly begin to swim, and satiated, but no less predatory sharks defile around, make even adults and the brave involuntarily shudder.
You will be able to get into the tunnel by passing all the previous halls, where several thousand different inhabitants of the Mediterranean Sea are placed in aquariums. At the end of the excursion, visitors will find a souvenir shop with a rich selection of various trinkets with and without aquarium symbols.
Miniature park
Dozens of the most famous Turkish sights, gathered together in a picturesque place in the resort of Antalya, await visitors in the "Mini-City". Mini-copies of famous architectural monuments, natural wonders and ancient ruins allow you to get acquainted with the historical heritage and amazing landscapes, as they say, almost without leaving the beach.
In the Antalya Miniature Park, you can look at the Blue Mosque of Istanbul, the Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara, the Cappadocia Valley with their bizarre reliefs and rocky formations, and even the Pamukkale terrace. A walk in the park will significantly save time and money if you do not have the opportunity to go on a big trip to the regions and cities of Turkey.
