Manavgat is a very famous place among tourists who go to Antalya for a beach holiday. After sea procedures and sunbathing, many go to Manavgat to see various sights, which are enough here. Despite the small size of the city, it harmoniously combines objects of cultural heritage and modern architecture.
Holiday season in Manavgat
You can go to travel to this city at any time. It all depends on individual preferences and the purpose of the trip. For those who want to enjoy swimming in the sea, it is better to choose the period from the end of May to the end of October. The water temperature will delight you with its positive indicators (+ 23-29), and the air warms up to +27 degrees in May.
In November, the weather changes and starts to get colder. This is manifested, first of all, in a decrease in air temperature to + 18-15 degrees. The water in the sea is also gradually cooling down, and it is no longer possible to swim.
Winters in Manavgat are mild and warm compared to most Russian regions. So, in December, the air temperature ranges from +10 to +13 degrees. January is characterized by a drop in temperature to +9 degrees.
The maximum number of rainy days falls on winter and spring. However, this is not a reason to postpone the trip: stormy winds and prolonged rains do not happen often.
TOP 10 interesting places in Manavgat
Big mosque
Turkey is famous for its mosques, the largest of which is located in Manavgat. This attraction has existed since 2004 and has already gained popularity among locals and pilgrims. It is worth noting the fact that the entrance to the shrine is allowed to everyone, regardless of religion, which is a rare occurrence among Muslims.
The unusual structure is that it includes 4 minarets, each of which reaches 60 meters in height. The domes of the minarets are decorated with exquisite paintings in the Arabian style and beautiful stained glass openings.
There is a fountain in front of the entrance to the mosque, where visitors have to take a bath. After the ritual, you can go inside the main minaret and collect water, which is considered healing.
Fountain of Manavgat
There is a significant amount of evidence in the city that representatives of different civilizations and eras lived on its territory. One of them can be found near the Arc de Triomphe. The fountain was created in 74 AD. Historians were able to determine the exact time of the creation of the masterpiece thanks to the inscription that tells that the fountain was installed during the reign of the Roman emperor Vespasian.
Outwardly, the fountain resembles a pile of stones stacked on top of each other in a certain sequence. Jets of water flow down from holes made in boulders. At the top of the fountain are statues depicting Roman rulers and high-ranking officials. The fountain still functions, delighting not only the residents of the city, but also its guests.
Arc de Triomphe Side
The sights located in the town of Side are considered to be the cultural heritage of Manavgat, since these settlements are separated by only 14 kilometers. After Roman and Greek rule, many architectural complexes have been preserved on the territory of the Antalya coast. The entrance to one of them is crowned with a triumphal arch - a symbol of the power of Emperor Vespasian.
The arched gate, 6 meters high, was erected in the 1st century AD as a defensive structure after the defeat of the pirate invaders by the Roman general.
On both sides of the building, two towers were built, performing a protective function. At the base there are two small arches, where the monuments depicting emperors and their family members used to be. Now these relics are kept in the Turkish National Museum.
Seleucia (Libre)
At a distance of 11 kilometers from Manavgat, there are the ruins of an ancient city, found by archaeologists only in the 20th century. The history of the appearance of Seleucia goes back to the 2nd century BC, when the city was a fortified defensive structure. In the future, people from the villages began to move to the city, and he quickly won dominion on the coast.
Today, the ruins of Seleucia are overgrown with forest, but this does not prevent you from enjoying a walk and inspecting the surrounding gates, statues of Roman deities and parts of the amphitheater left after many years of destruction. In addition, for tourists, the authorities of Manavgat completely restored the building of the bathhouse, the temple, the agora and the necropolis. These buildings have preserved the imprints of history dating back several millennia, which is of significant value in the cultural sphere of the country.
Green canyon
In the vicinity of the city there are many natural sites that attract with their pristine scenic beauty. The canyon rightfully takes the first place and has a number of features that distinguish it from other natural beauties of Turkey.
- Unique location (height 350 meters);
- Diversity of flora and fauna;
- High environmental performance.
You can get to the canyon as part of a tourist group. A special program has been developed for visitors, including climbing a serpentine road, a yacht trip, acquaintance with the animal world of the canyon, as well as swimming in clear water. At the exit you can buy souvenirs: postcards, magnets, key rings, scarves with the symbols of the canyon.
Side amphitheater
The attraction is located in the ancient city of Seleucia and is recognized as the largest Greek architectural structure in Turkey dating back to the period of antiquity. It was here that mass events took place, and representatives of the Greek elite gathered to decide the further fate of the convicts.
According to scientists, the theater could accommodate more than 18 thousand spectators and was equipped with an amazing acoustic system. Sound waves were transmitted over several kilometers, which made it possible to quickly gather people for gladiatorial fights and holidays. Also, the lower tier of the theater could be filled with water, if it was necessary in accordance with the script of the play.
Nowadays, the spectators' rows, massive columns near the entrance and a round stage testify to the former splendor of the building.
During the tour, you will learn about the specifics of the Greek theater and its performances, walk through the ruins, take photographs against the background of the sea and feel the atmosphere of the ancient city.
Lake Titreyengol
Despite its small size, this lake is known far beyond Manavgat. The reason for this was the name of the water area, which is translated from Turkish as "waving lake". The history of Titreyengol is shrouded in legends.
One of them tells that in ancient times an old man lived on the shore of the lake. He was very fond of birds and protected them from the hunters who hunted on the lake. One day the old man saw hunters shooting ducks. He covered the birds with his body and was killed by a bullet. After this event, the lake began to "tremble" in memory of the poor old man and his feat.
You can take a boat ride on the lake, moor to the shore and taste delicious Turkish cuisine in the cozy restaurant. Hotels, inns, recreation areas, fish markets and recreation areas are located along the coastline.
Oymapinar Dam
A large dam was built in the highlands of the Manavgat River in 1983, the purpose of which was to generate electricity. Later, the dam became a local landmark and tourists from all over Turkey came to see it.
The Oymapinar structure includes a powerful concrete arch and four 130 MW turbines. More than 40 percent of the total energy produced is consumed by the aluminum smelter. To the left of the dam there are two spillways built according to ancient technology. However, today they function as decorative structures, since they were closed in 1990 as unnecessary.
Visitors to the dam can see her work "from the inside", get acquainted with the peculiarities of the work of Oymapinar and take interesting photographs.
Contact zoo
Those traveling to Manavgat with children are advised to visit the private zoo built in the city center. The territory of the zoo is subdivided into thematic zones, where animals of different species live. Monkeys, peacocks and wild horses are considered the favorite residents of the zoo. For the little ones, the staff organize shows with animals.
After walking around the zoo, you can sit in a cafe and taste traditional Turkish food, as well as take a ride on a miniature steam train in all areas. Additional services include photographing with animals and the opportunity to personally communicate with some of them.
Observing the inhabitants of the zoo, you will learn the peculiarities of their life and see the behavior of animals in conditions close to natural.
Green mosque
At the entrance to the city, there is a mosque, where entry is prohibited to those who do not preach Islam. This closed type building has an interesting architectural concept and is well known among believers. In 1973, the mosque was reconstructed and its upper part was crowned with four domes, framing the main dome. For the construction of the roof, tin plates were used, which create an amazing light effect, shimmering in the sun.
Arched windows, calm colors, severity of lines, laconicism, ornaments on the facade, illustrating the text of the Koran - all this is the embodiment of the Islamic religious world in architectural form. Inside, the mosque is not very different from others, since for all structures of this type there are strict rules when creating the interior of the shrine.
