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The East Coast of Antalya / The Coast
of Light
Wide, fertile plains parallel the endless sandy beaches
east of Antalya until you come to Alanya. Abundant modern
tourist facilities and well- preserved historical sites
give you several options for a day's activities.
An important city of ancient Pamphylian, Perge (18 km from
Antalya) was originally settled by the Hittites around 1500
B.C. St. Paul preached some of his first sermons here.
The theatre's stage has finely carved marble reliefs; other
carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium.
Amateur archaeologists will want to see the handsome city
gate flanked by two lofty towers, a long colonnaded road
once paved with mosaics and lined with shops, a large agora,
the public baths and a gymnasium.
Swimmers and sunbathers alike enjoy Belek, a modern luxurious
holiday center and golfer's paradise, 40 km from Antalya.
The National Golf Club located in Belek features a wide
variety of water sports as well as a championship 18-hole
golf course and 9 hole academy course. Visitors may sample
some of Turkey's finest cuisine and enjoy open air discos
for evening entertainment.
A photogenic Seljuk bridge crosses the Kцprь
river from the road to Aspendos. The road continues past
the Aspendos Jewellery Center to the Aspendos Theatre -the
best-preserved theatre of antiquity, with seating for 15,000.
Still used today, the theatre's galleries, stage decorations
and acoustics all testify to the architects success. Nearby
stand the remains of a basilica, agora and one of the largest
aqueducts in Anatolia.
And if you have ever wondered how gold dust becomes a fine
piece of art or how precious stones are engraved, be sure
to visit the Aspendos Jewellery Center, where jewellery
making can be observed at every stage in the large workshop.
Northeast of Antalya, at the turn off for Tasagil and Beskonak,
is the scenic route that leads to the Kцprьlь
Canyon National Park. The twisting road crisscrosses over
mountain streams and passes through virgin forests. It is
often a slow drive as the view at every turn is more beautiful
than the last. The park, 92 km from Antalya, is a valley
of wild beauty rich in flora and fauna. The canyon stretches
for 14 km along the Kцprь River and is 400 meters
deep in some places. Fish restaurants dot the rest areas.
The Roman Oluk Bridge, which spans the canyon, and the Bьgrьm
Bridge over the Kocadere stream, are engineering feats of
antiquity. From this park you can make two possible excursions
- to the ancient city of Selge and to the Dedegцl Mountains.
Dedegцl, the highest peak in this mountain range rises
to 2,992 meters. An important city of ancient Pisidia, Altinkaya
(Selge), northwest of the Kцprьlь Canyon
National Park, is reached by a winding mountain road. The
city walls, towers, cisterns, temple to Zeus, agora, stadium,
theatre, gymnasium and necropolis remain from this commercial
city that stood at an elevation of 950 meters. Historians
verify that Selge had direct trade with Antalya, which brought
it prosperity.
Although the Manavgat Waterfalls are not high, milky white,
foaming water rushes powerfully over the rocks. Next to
the waterfalls shady tea gardens and restaurants make the
falls a pleasant, cool resting spot, especially welcome
after a day of sightseeing. You can take a delightful boat
trip up the Manavgat river to explore this lovely area further.
Side, one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey,
was an ancient harbour whose name meant pomegranate. Today
a pretty resort town, its ancient ruins, two sandy beaches,
many shops and extensive tourist accommodation attract throngs
of visitors. There are numerous cafes and restaurants with
a view of the sea, and the shops that line the narrow streets
sell typical Turkish handicrafts including leather goods
and Turkey's famous beautiful gold jewellery. The magnificent
theatre of the ancient city, built on colonnaded arches,
is the largest in the whole area. (Closed for restoration)
Other monuments include the agora, the Apollo Temple, which
is situated near the sea, a fountain and necropolis. The
extensive Roman baths, now a museum, houses one of Turkey's
finest archaeological collections.
East of Side, tucked in pine forests the holiday resorts
of Sorgun, Titreyen Gцl (Blue Flag) and Kizilagaç
are both popular for their sandy beaches and sparkling sea.
The atmosphere is relaxed, the accommodation plentiful and
the activities endless.
 West
of Side, the holiday centres of Kumkцy, Çolakli and
Kamelya also offer sun and sea, in close proximity to ancient
sites. In the Pamphlyian Seleucia (Bucaksihlar),15 km northeast
of Side, are the remains (in good condition) of Roman baths,
temples, churches, a mausoleum, theatre and agora. One of
the most interesting and well known caves in Turkey is located
in Altinbesik Cave National Park situated 12 kilometres
southeast of Aydinkent (Ibradi) and 55 kilometres north
of Manavgat. Lakes and interesting rock formations within
the cave area as well as travertines and streams make this
area especially fascinating. Altinbesik Cave is situated
on the western slopes of the Manavgat River Valley and can
be reached via the village of Ьrьnlь which is an authentic
village that is a must-see when travelling through this
area.
The 13th century caravanserai, Alarahan, was built by the
Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubat on the banks of the Alara
River. On the top of a nearby hill the Alara Fortress commands
a view of the whole area.
The large popular resort center of Alanya lies at one end
of a rocky promontory which juts out into the Mediterranean
between two long sandy beaches. A 13th century Seljuk fortress
- one of the most magnificent sights on the coast - crowns
the headland. About 150 towers punctuate the walls of the
well-preserved, double-walled citadel. Within the outer
walls are ruins of mosques, a caravanserai and a covered
bazaar; in the inner walls are a ruined cistern and a Byzantine
church. Although Alanya's history dates back to Roman times,
it rose to prominence under the Seljuks, when in 1220, Alaeddin
Keykubat made it his winter residence and naval base. The
surviving buildings reflect the importance of the city in
Seljuk times. Besides the impressive citadel tourists should
explore the unique dockyards and the octagonal Kizil Kule
(Red Tower).
Alanya is a beautiful holiday center of modern hotels and
motels, numerous fish restaurants and cafes and bars. The
cafes that ring the harbour have become popular gathering
places for tourists. From the town's lovely park, the road
runs along the coast to the harbour, lined with countless
boutiques that tempt tourists with handicrafts, leather,
clothes, jewellery, handbags and the amusing painted gourds,
a symbol of the area. In August, when Alanya hosts a colorful
International Folklore Festival the atmosphere is charged
with vitality and gaiety.
If you enjoy exploring you should visit the Damlatas Cave
to see the eerie misshapen rock formations. Nearby is the
Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, (Open weekdays except
Monday). A boat can take you to the three sea grottoes:
Fosforlu Magara with its phosphorescent rocks, the Kizlar
Magarasi, where pirates imprisoned their female captives,
and the Asiklar Magarasi.
When the intense sun overpowers you, take a day trip to
the Dim Çayi Valley, 15 km east of Alanya, where
you can relax in the shade of this scenic valley and listen
to the stream rushing by.
Avsallar (Incekum), about 25 km from Alanya to the west,
is a holiday resort center with fine sandy beaches. If you
travel east from Alanya towards Gazipasa you will discover
and no doubt linger on the exceptional beaches.
30 km east of Alanya, Aytap, the historical harbour city
lotape, is a great excursion site, with Roman ruins, secluded
beaches and bays.
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