SIDE - ANTALYA

Ancient Cities and Tourist Locations of Antalya.

The Mediterranean Region
South of the majestic Taurus Mountains is the Mediterranean Sea. The raw and rugged coast line is softened by fine, sandy beaches and made even more attractive by the unexpected, alluring coves and dramatic rock formations. This paradise receives at least 300 days of glorious sunshine a year and is the perfect place for idling away the summer warmth with sunbathing, swimming and water sports. There are fascinating and important historical sites to discover which are set in pine forests and citrus groves. This is also the land of mythology with wonderful stories from the past and there are antique artifacts which are steeped in history. While you are there do take in the ancient region of Lycian which lies to the west of Antalya. Also the mountain cities of Termessos and Arikand are within reach, as are the coastal areas of Olympus, Kale, Kekova and Kas. On the coastal plains the cities of Perge, Aspendos and Side lie to the east of Antalya, which was originally known as Pamphylia.

Antalya is definitely a hot-spot for holidays. This important city is flanked by the beaches of Konyaalti to the west and Lara to the east. The massive Taurus Mountains keep a watchful eye over this exceptional destination. There are palm tree-lined streets, beautiful parks, abundance of accommodation, restaurants, bars, night clubs and a picturesque marina. It has it all. The Yivli Minaret is the famous symbol of this city, which was founded in 2nd Century BC . As if all this wasn’t enough, the Asagi Waterfall flows east over huge boulders down to the sea.

Side (see-deh) is a beautiful Mediterranean coastal resort. It is on a small peninsular, about 800m long and approximately 15km east of Antalya. This is a pretty, modern, town alive with chic boutiques, late bars and good restaurants and it lies comfortably within the ruins of a city of a greater age. Edged by golden beaches and lapped by the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean, Side is enjoying the popularity of a much desired holiday resort. Although Side has undergone some dramatic transformations in recent years,

It was actually founded way back in 1405 BC and history tells us that it was at its most magnificent during the reign of Alexander the Great. As well as its fantastic history, Side is also recognized for its contribution of cotton and oranges to the area. It used to be primarily a fishing village, but with the development of the tourist industry, yesterdays fishermen are now today’s hotel and restaurant owners. Demand from holiday makers for accommodation has seen a massive rise in the development of holiday villages, hostels and hotels. Naturally, this in turn has brought on the need for restaurants, cafes, snack bars, souvenirs and carpet shops. However, in between all these things, historical remains remain in abundance and the complete picture is one of charm in a spectacular setting.

What to see

Side Theatre

Side Theatre has a huge seating capacity of 20,000 seats which originally, during the Roman period, accommodated an audience who came for the thrill of watching gladiators and wild animal challenges. This architecturally important theatre, which was built on the flat instead of the traditional hillside, was later on during the Byzantium period, used as an open air church. It is the largest of all the theatres in Pamphilia and although much of it was destroyed, there are still pieces of the unusual arches, columns and walls in existence and the fountain and monumental gate have been restored to re-instate the lovely entrance.

Aspendos

Aspendos is considered to be the most important city in Pamphylia and is about 48 km east of Antalya. The amphitheatre here has been nominated as the best preserved example of its type and was built by Zeno, top architect during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Perge (Aksu)

Perge, which is about 18km from Antalya is also an important city housing a beautiful amphitheatre. The theatre boasts lovely marble reliefs and there are other marble carvings from around the city housed in the stadium. It was the Hittites who originally settled here around 1500 BC and St Paul was a very special visitor who stopped here during his first missionary pilgrimage.

Beaches

Sorgun Beach

Sorgun beach is situated 3km from Side and is a small, but perfectly formed, well maintained and promises a quiet and relaxing time while you are on the sand.

Koru Beach

This beach is famous for its natural rocks and pools. Water warmed up by the sun pours in to these shallow pools and makes a wonderful playground for children as well as adults.

Lara Beach

About 12 km from Antalya, this beach stretches from Antalya’s cliffs to the Lower Duden Waterfall. The sand is a darker colour than usual but silky soft with gentle waves. Lara Halk Plaj1 is the main attraction on the beach which is under the management of Antalya city.

Natural and National Parks

Camping and hiking are very popular past-times in Antalya. There are four national parks and one natural park which offer the perfect surroundings for these pursuits.

Olympus National Park

The Olympus National Park lies to the west of Antalya in amongst the snowy peaks of the Olympus range. As well as antique cities, there are caves bearing the traces of early man and innumerable plants and animals which are protected by the park. There are many examples of exquisite flora in this area and because of this, there has been no construction since 1989. Many of the parks plant species still await classification.

Koprulu Kanyon National Park

Bridge Canyon National Park (Koprulu Kanyon Milli Park makes an ideal stop on your way from Antalya, Belek or Side. Activities in the park include rafting, hiking, exploring ruins of the Roman theatre, city walls and the Temple of Zeus in the mountain town of Selge (Altinkaya).

Termessos National Park

There are many rare plants and animal species in this park which are under the parks protection. The park is about 34 km from Antalya, using the Burduh highway for 11km and then following the sign-posting to Korkuteli and then again on to Termessos. The mountainous nature of the park provides a challenging and enjoyable hjiking route.

Altinbesik Cave National park

Altinbesik cave is on the western side of the steep Manavgat hill, 7km from Ibradi (Aydinbesik) district of Antalya and 5km south-east of Urunlu Village. The best way to get there is by following the Antalya-Ibradi road and then enjoying about a one hour walk to the cave. Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Manavgat Valey, and the impressive local architecture, this extraordinary cave has ancient carvings from limestone.

Night Life

Antaylya has an exciting and colourful night life. You can expect lots of fun in the many discos, bars, pubs and restaurants. The icing on the cake is the gorgeous marina spangled with beautiful yachts. Likewise, Side Harbour and Titreyengol are full of pubs, rock bars and traditional Turkish Taverns. Antalya also hosts the International Golden Orange Film Festival when things really take off.

Shopping

Antalya Migros Shopping Mall was built in 2001 and is the city’s largest and most modern centre with 104 shops. Deepo Outlet Center, which is just across from Antalya Airport offers excellent shopping at outlet prices. In the historical quarter of Side Harbour you will find real treasures of local handicrafts in the local shops.

What to eat

Antalya enjoys a wonderful authentic cuisine made up from Mediterranean and Arabic influences. Among the specialities are Kulakli Soup made from chick peas, diced meat and spices, Tahinli Piyaz, which is a dried bean salad seasoned with crushed sesame seeds, Tandir (tandoor) Kebap, Kabak Tatlisi (pumpkin desert) sweetened by crushed sesame seeds and grape syrup and bergamot jam. Main attractions Side offers to visitors are:

Aspendos

The Aspendos is a theatre which was built in 167 AD by the architect Zeno who was the son of Theodorius. It is made up from 40 rows of marble banks which are built up against a hill side and during its heyday could accommodate 15,000 people. This Hellenistic theatre was created during the reign of Marcus Aurelius and as a thanks giving, was dedicated to the gods. The two brothers who built it then gave to the city as a gift. This well used theatre is still very much in use and has been beautifully preserved. Aspendos also has an historical bridge measuring 225m. This piece of engineering was built by an Anatolian emperor in the 13th century. Since its extensive restoration, the bridge now houses many souvenir shops. Aspendos also has the remnants of the Agora Basilica and one of the largest aqueducts (dating from 100AD) in Anatolia.

Temples of Apollo and Athena

Built in the second half of the second century AD, these identical temples were dedicated to Athena, who is Side’s patron Goddess, and to Apollo.

Manavgat

This is a lovely place to stop. There are restaurants and shops and places to just sit at and enjoy the calming sound of the waterfall.

Beaches

The beaches at Side are a lovely compliment to all the historical ruins. The golden sands and deep blue waters of the Mediterranean are alluring and beautiful and together with the breezes make a perfect place to unwind. Some of the other attractions available include the Byzantine hospital, dating from 6th century BC, Nymphaeum, which is a fountain in the city wall and the Roman baths that have been converted into a museum. Side is easily accessible through Turkish Airlines, Thomas Cook, Cyprus Turkish Airlines and Easy Jet. If you are thinking of buying an investment or holiday property in Turkey, then the beautiful Turkish Resort of Side is a wise decision, it doesn’t get much better than this.

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