Antalya
travel Turkey travel Antalya
Tags:
Düden falls |
Lara beach |
Belek
|
Selçuks
Antalya Holiday Tours
The area that Antalya is located, has magnificent
nature, beauty, ancient ruins and glory history. You can feel the excitement of walking
behind a waterfall in the upper Düden falls, that are about 14 k'm from
Antalya. On the way to Lara beach, you can see the Düden river, cascading
into the Mediterranean, in a gushing waterfall. Here is a list of places
you can visit:
Kemer
Until the early 90s, Kemer was a small Mediterranean
village, surrounded by orange groves. Now days, it is considered as one of
the leading touristy towns, in the province of Antalya. It's marina is one
of the biggest in Turkey, and it is a very popular place for yachts and
cruise boats, as well. The streets are hamming with activate until the
late hours of the night (or early hours of morning). The many souvenir
shops are open along the same hours, in the touristy season.
The beautiful popular shorelines, that are at the foothill of the Taurus
mountains, are very busy in the summer time. Around the holiday villages, Belek, there is a golf course and many rear birds, nest in the forest
around.
Alanya
This is the oldest district of the
province. It is nestle between to sandy shores, along the Mediterranean.
Alanya is a modern touristy place with hotels, motels, many fish
restaurants, cafe shops, bars, souvenir shops, boutiques, leather,
clothing, jewelry, hand bags shops and more. Above the city, the is a 13th
century Selçukian castle. The castle has 150 well preserved standing
towers. Around the walls there are some mosques ruins, an inn and a
covered bazaar. Inside the wall you will see a ruined Byzantine church an
a water source. The city's history can be dated back to the Roman times,
though it developed during the Selçuks, thanks to “Alaeddin Keykubat”,
when he made it his winter house, in 1220. Take some time to visit the red
tower and the dock yard. In August an international folklore festival,
with groups from all over the world, takes place in the city. You can also
take a tour in the “Damlatas” cave, and enjoy the special rock formations.
Next to it the Archaeological and Ethnographic, can be found. It is closed
on Mondays. To visit the “Fosforlu Magara” with its phosphors rock, cave
can be reached by boat
Akseki
After the Alanya district, this is
the oldest district in the Antalya province. The place's location, suites
the district's rugged look, of the Taurus mountains, in a very rocky and
forestry. In the Romans times this place was know by the name Marla. This
area was with inhabitance ever since, constantly, since our time. The
growth in Antalya's tourism, had influence Akseki, as well. This area as
well known for the Snowdrop flower, that attracts many tourists and the
locals, as well. They all come in the winter to see it sprouts out of the
snow, as a sign for spring. If you like hunting, know that around the
villages of Sinan- hoca, Gumusdamla, it is legal to hunt goats, rabbets,
bears and foxes, as long as you have a permit.
Elmali
This city
is located in the vicinity of the ancient city of Lycia. Diggings that
where held here, indicate that this place was populated since the bronze
age. The Parisians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Selçuks and the Ottomans, controlled this area. Many artifacts, mainly from the Bronze age, where
discovered here. They are kept and displayed in The Antalya museum. Next
to Bayindir village you can see the artificial royal burial mounds, next
to each other. The excavations reviled also findings from the 7th
century b.c. They, too, are on display in the Antalya museum. In 1984, the
“treasure of the century”, as its was named by archaeologists, was found
around the the connecting road between Antalya and Elmali. It contained
190 old silver coins, that where smuggled to the U.S.A, by archeology
robbers. This collection is still on display in the Boston art museum, as
part of a privet collection.
Finike
This is a small harbor town. The town had won the “Blue Flag” prize. The
place is mainly for its citrus groves. The town is an excellent mixture of
history, nature and sea, as well as a touristy area. The area contains the
ancient ruins of the cities Limyra and Arykanda. The history of the place, shows
that it was established in the 5th century b.c, by the
Phoenicians, thus, its name. It was used as trading harbor for
agricultural products. The weather tends to be hot and dry in the summer,
and the winters are warmish and rainy. The sandy shore starches between
Finike and Kumluca. The old city of Limyra is on the Turunçova ridge,
containing an amphitheater, acropolis and the city's walls.
Arikanda
The location of Arikanda is north
of Finike, amongst the mountains. It looks as if it is hanging on the
rock. The place has ruins of the town, ruins, that among other thing,
contain parts such as Basilica, a gym, bath house, Necropolis (The city of
the dead), Agora that functioned as the market square, theater and a
stadium. The findings that where found in the site, indicate that the city
was build in the 5th century b.c, in spit the fact the end of
the city's name-anda shows the city is much older. The city was under many
rules throughout the years, such as Alexander “The Great”, Romans, Arabic
invaders, and even earthquakes, but still it stayed populated.
Manavgat
“Fertile
Garden” is the meaning of the city's name. Though there no specific date
for the city's establishment, it is estimated it was founded between 200-
150 b.c. As old texts show, people used the river to move goods, since the
first documentation, until now days. In 1923, the village (then) became
part of the new Turkish republic. Manavgat is 72km from the province of
Antalya, when the city's center, is about 4km from the Mediterranean. Its
northern part borders with the forestry Taurus mountains. The Manavgat,
that runs through the city, fertilizes and enhances the soil. The
waterfall and the river's delta, are a very important natural source of
wealth to the city. The beautiful Sorgun forest, south of the city, with
its pine trees and Titreyengöl lake, that was created by a
landslide, that created the delta area, is worth will a visit. At the
eastern part of the river, Oymapınar lake and the Manavgat dam can be
found. The Manavgat plateau is the most fertile in the Antalya district.
It is suitable for cotton, wheat, buckwheat and 45 types of fruit and
vegetables. In some parts of the river, Tilapia fish are grown.
Korkuteli
It is 67km east of Antalya, when
the city of Burdur to its north, the city of Müğla to its west and Elmali
and Kumluca, to its south. The influence of the Mediterranean's weather,
is felt in this area. The more inland you go, the weather become harsher
and extreme. About 3km from town, you can see Alladin's mosque. At the
same area you can see the Selçuk religious school, that has its founder's
name. It was build in 1319, by El Emin Sinaeddin, from the house of
Amidogullari.
Gundogmus
The Gundogmus district has many ancient ruins, that are about 182km
from Antalya. The most important ruins are thus of Hagiasophia, about 7km north
of Guzel Bag Bucagi. The area was never dug. In addition to that there are
2 more sites west of: Kese 2km from Senir village, and Gedfi 2km west of Gundogmus.
Other places
you might want to visit are: Cem Pasa Camii ruins, on Sinek mountain, at a
distance of 15 km from Gundogmus and Pembelik, and the ruins of Kazayir,
that are located in Tasagir, along side the road between Antalya and
Gundogmus.
Gazipasa
This town is at a distance of about 180km from
Antalya. It is a charming coastal town with a 10km shore' a forest and
turquoise ravines. At Iskele area, where Kahyalar and Koru beaches are,
the Caretta Caretta turtles nest.
This area had
undergone a rapid development, a thing that had made it a very popular
touristy destination. It has hotel, pastime places, an air port, a marina
for yachts, and a big selection of ruins and nature.
At about 18km north of town,
there are to old cities, Cragum and Antiocheia, next to Guney village. The
ruins got there name from the king Antiochus the 4th. You can
see them along three hills going to the sea. Finding indicate that the
Romans and Byzantines, rule these places. You can see here an Agora,
bathhouses, a boulevard of columns, arch of triumph, a church and a
necropolis.
Adanda
Can be found 15 km north to Gazipasa. It was built
about 2 km from now days village with the same name, on top of the
highest hill. It is a well fortified with a wall and a high guard tower,
west to the city's gate. Among the ruins in the city, there is a curved
fountain in the rock and 2 temples. In addition to that. You can also see
in the necropolis, tombstones made of stone. These ruins are a good
example to culture and art of the Cilician mountains.
Nephelis
This ruin can be found behind Muzkent village, about 12
km of the connecting road between Gazipasa and Anamur, on a dirt road, at
about 5 km drive. The southern area, is surrounded by sea and high cliffs.
While walking around the place, you will see an acropolis, and some other
ruins to the east and west. The only remains that are still standing, are
thus of the Roman and Byzantine times. There are a medieval
castle, a shrine, a music hall, an agricultural water system and a
necropolis.
Selinus
To get to Selinus, you need to go to south of Hacimusa
ravine, near the shore of Gazipasa. The old city of Selinus is among one
of the great cities of the Cilician mountains. In the end of the hill you
can see the
acropolis, also an ancient walls as well as old towers of a medieval castle, that are
in pretty good condition. In the acropolis you can see a church and
another house, that have survived the over the years. The rest of the
buildings can be found on incline and next to the sea. Among them you can
see bathhouses, Agora, a Muslim prier house, aqueduct and a necropolis.
You can visit in the Alany's museum to see Most bones that where collected from the
necropolis site's.
Kumluca
This place is on the plains that where formed by the
slit that came from the Alakir mountains, and the Gavur Brook delta. The
place is “surrounded” by the cities of Finike and Elmali. At the upper
part of the Alakir ravine, that gets it's water from Onemli
and Beydaglar mountains, you can find also fish for eating.
Pamphylia city
This ancient city, is located around the bay of Antalya
and the Taurus mountains. It is one of the ancient settlements in the
Antalya reign. Finding that where found in Belbasi, Karain and Beldibi,
indicate that the first settlement started around the paleolithic period.
This city was part of the Hitti kingdom (between 1900- 1400 b.c). Many
people emigrated and populated this area, and thus established a very rich
city. Gradually, this city became the home for many nationalities, a thing
that gave the city its name, Pamfilya, meaning “People from all decent”.
Cappadocia
The meaning of the name Cappadocia in Persian is “A
land with beautiful horses” this place is like an open air museum, with
unique samples to the unity and heritage of the human race.
The city is located at the center
of an inactive volcanic area, between Nevsehir, Urgup and Avanos. After
the Anatolian plateau finished its formation, the lava reached 100m in
some places. Millions of erosion years, the rain, cold and heat,
worn out the rocky granite stone, thus, styled today's mountains. This
erosion formed round structures that go as up as 45m, at times. The
locals call these rock formations “Fairy Chimney”, a name that is in use
now days. After nature “sculptured” these formations, the Antolians build
there house, churches, and over 120 underground cities, throughout the
years. The biggest of these cities is Ozkonak. In the past over 60,000
people lived here. In Ihlara valley's there are 105 churches and 4535 houses. There in no way to
describe Cappadocia. You must see it for yourself.
