Population : 1.719.751 (2000)
Traffic Code : 07
Because of the
archaeological and natural riches of the area, Antalya is also known
as the Turkish Riviera. The sun, sea, nature and history combine to
form a very popular resort, highlighted by some of the cleanest
beaches in the Mediterranean. The 630km shoreline of the province is
liberally scattered with ancient cities, harbours, memorial tombs
and beaches, secluded coves and lush forests, many of which are
easily accessible from the city.
With its palm-lined boulevard,
internationally-acclaimed marina, and old castle with traditional
architecture, all set amidst a modern city, Antalya is a major
tourist centre in Turkey. In addition to the wide selection of
hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops, the city also plays
host to a number of sporting events throughout the year, like
international beach volleyball, triathlon, golf tournaments,
archery, tennis and canoeing competitions. The Cultural Centre,
which opened in 1995, hosts cultural and art events in the fields of
music, theatre, and creative arts. The main area of interest in the
city is central old quarter within the Roman walls, known as
Kaleici, and there are many good museums.
Districts: Akseki,
Alanya, Elmali, Finike, Gazipasa, Gundogmus, Ibradi, Kale, Kas,
Kemer, Korkutali, Kumluca, Manavgat and Serik are all towns in the
province of Antalya.Akseki
After Alanya, Akseki is the
oldest district in the province of Antalya, and has an appearance
that befits its location in the rugged Taurus mountains, in a
forested and very rocky area. The history of Akseki extends back to
the Roman era, when it was known as Marla (Marulya), and has been
continually inhabited until the present day. The developments in the
tourism sector in the Antalya region in recent years have been seen
in Akseki as well. The area is well known for the snowdrop flower,
and every years sees local and foreign visitors coming every winter
to see these flowers breaking through the snow, as the first sign of
spring.
In the Giden Gelmez Mountains, goats are protected and limited
hunting is available around the year with the purchase of a license.
Another spot frequented by visitors is the trout farming facilities
in the villages of Sinan hoca and Gumusdamla. The primary game in
the area is mountain goat, rabbit, bear and fox.
Other areas
worth visiting are the Goktepe Highland, Giden Gelmez Mountains,
Cimi Highland, Irmak Valley and the 340-metre deep Bucaklan Cave,
which has only recently been discovered. Buildings of interest are
the Ulu Camii and medreses.
Elmali
The exact founding date of Elmali, which is located within the
borders of ancient Lycia, is unknown. Excavations to the east at
Karatas near the village of Semahoyuk, and to the west in the
village of Beyler indicate that the area has been inhabited seen the
Bronze Age.
Throughout history, it has suffered the rising and falling
fortune of the Lycian region, being ruled respectively by the
Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman empires.
Tumuluses: There are several tumuluses in nearby villages. The
first is west of the city in the village of Mugren, on top of which
sits a small fortress dating back to the Roman era. Surface-level
archaeological research indicates that the area was inhabited in the
Bronze Age by various civilisations. Another village in the west,
Semahoyuk, has a tumulus but due to the fact that an Ottoman
cemetery is located on top of it, no research has been done. The
third and largest tumulus is in Beyler, south of the city on the
Elmali - Kas road. Excavations conducted here, show that the area
has been continuously inhabited from the Bronze Age right up to the
present time. The items unearthed in the excavations are exhibited
in the Antalya Museum.
At the east of the city 6 km from the village of Elmali near the
village of Bayindir, there are several tumuluses side by side.
Artifacts dating back to the 7th century BC were unearthed during
the excavations. Now on display in a special section of the Antalya
Museum, these findings represent a cross-section of life during that
era. A statuette of pure silver and two of ivory bear witness to the
fact that the art of sculpture in ancient Anatolia had reached a
level of some sophistication.
Memorial Tombs: There are tombs in Karaburun and Kizilbel. The
walls of the King's Tomb in Karaburun, on the Antalya - Elmali road,
is decorated with frescoes of scenes of hunting and war. The tomb in
Kizilbel is west of the city on the Elmali - Yuvayol road, and is a
single room made of limestone blocks.
Define Described as the Treasure of the Century, this was
discovered in 1984, just on the north of Antalya - Elmali road
between the King's Tomb and the village of Gokpinar. Consisting of
190 pieces of ancient silver coins, the treasure was smuggled to
America by antique treasure thieves. It is still on display in the
Boston Museum of Fine Arts as part of a private collection. The
Athens Decadrachme, 14 pieces each worth US$ 600,000, is said to be
the world's most valuable treasure find.
Mosques The most interesting mosques in the area include Selcuklu
Camii, Kutuk Camii, Sinan-i Ummi Camii, Omer Pasa Camii and
medrese.
Korkuteli
Located 67 km from Antalya, Korkuteli is surrounded by Antalya on
the east, Burdur on the north, Mugla on the southwest and Elmali and
Kumluca on the south. The effects of the Mediterranean climate can
be felt here in this region of lakes but the further one goes
inland, the more continental the climate becomes with cold winters
and hot summers.
The Alaaddin Mosque 3 km in the west of Korkuteli, only the door
of which is still standing. In the same area is the Seljuk religious
school which bears the name of its founder and was built by El Emin
Sinaeddin of the Hamidogullari dynasty in 1319.
Gundogmus
There are numerous ruins of ancient cities in the district of
Gundogmus, which is 182 km from Antalya. The important ruins are
those of Hagiasophia city, 7 km north of Guzel Bag Bucagi, but no
excavations have been conducted here. There are also the ruins of
Asar at Sumene (7 km from the city centre), Kese (2 km east of the
village of Senir) and Gedfi (11 km southwest of Gundogmus).
Other places to visit in the area include; Cem Pasa Camii; ruins
on top of Sinek Mountain, 15 km east of the city centre between
Gundogmus and Pembelik; and the ruins of Kazayir at Tasagir, on the
Gundogmus - Antalya highway.
Gazipasa
Situated 180 km from Antalya, Gazipasa is a charming little town
with a beach 10 km long, beautiful forests and turquoise blue coves.
Iskele, the site of the Koru and Kahyalar beaches, is an important
breeding ground of the caretta caretta turtles. Mostly undeveloped
up until the present time, Gazipasa is on its way to being an
attractive tourist centre with accommodation, recreation facilities,
an airport and yacht harbour still under construction, as well as
the natural and historical treasures of the area.
Antiocheia Ad Cragum 18 km east of Gazipasa, and within the
village of Guney, these ruins gets its name from the Commagene King
Antiochus IV, and are found on the three hills that stretch out
towards the sea. It has the ruins of a castle dating back to the
Roman and Byzantine era, a column-lined boulevard, agora, baths,
victory arch, a church and the city necropolis. The barrel-vaulted
memorial tombs with their pre-entrance porticoes are well preserved
and reflect a style peculiar to the region.
Adanda (Lamos) This ancient city is located 15 km northeast of
Gazipasa, and was founded 2 km north of the present-day village of
Adanda, on the top of a high and steep hill. It is a walled city
with a large tower south of the city gate, and among the ruins are a
fountain carved into the living rock and two temples. Other
significant ruins are the tombs in the necropolis made of single
pieces of carved stone. These remains are a good representation of
the culture and art of the mountainous Cilician region.
Nephelis This ancient ruin can be reached by going through the
village of Muzkent 12 km out on the Gazipasa-Anamur road and taking
the gravel road south for about 5 km. The southern area is
surrounded by the sea and steep cliffs. The city consists of the
acropolis and the remains of dwellings spread out in an east-west
fashion. The only standing structures date back to the Roman and
Byzantine periods and include a Medieval Castle, a temple, a musical
hall, irrigation system and the necropolis.
Selinus Located on the slopes in southwest of Hacimusa Creek by
Gazipasa Beach, the ancient city of Selinus is one of the most
important cities in the mountainous Cilician region. On the top of
the hill is the acropolis as well as the walls and towers of a
medieval castle, which are fairly well preserved. In the Acropolis,
a church and cistern have survived the ravages of time. The other
buildings of Selinus are near the beach and on the slopes, among
which are the baths, agora, Islami Yapi (mansion), aqueducts and the
necropolis. Most of the bones in the Alanya Museum were brought from
the Necropolis and allow the workshop in the museum to exist.
Kumluca
Situated on the plane formed by the silt carried down from the
mountains by Alakir Creek and Gavur Brook, Kumluca is surrounded by
the towns of Finike and Elmali. In the upper reaches of Alakir Creek
fed by the springs coming from Onemli Mountains and the Beydaglar
Mountains, there are trout and striped
mullet.
