Voyage Belek Spa

However, high school teacher, Suleyman Fikri, who had an interest in history, opposed this situation. By rearranging the small abandoned mosque next to the Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque, he laid the foundation of the Antalya Museum. He, then, transported the historical artifacts, that had been collected by the Italians, to this museum. Today, located in Konyaalti, the Antalya Museum, which is one of Turkey’s largest museums that has been designed with contemporary concepts, has 13 exhibition halls and an open air gallery. There are approximately 5000 artifacts exhibited inside the museum, which is situated on an area of 7000 m².

Perge, safe from the ransacking and duress of the pirates due to its location away from the sea, has lived through the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods. The stadium in Perge, located close to its 15.000 spectator theatre, had a seating capacity of 12.000 people. The city, which has the best preserved stadium in the Aegean region after Aphrodisias, has many interesting sites to visit, such as the Acropolis, Necropolis, colonnaded streets, Agora, as well as a great number of sculptures and works of art.

Tahtalı, the only mountain over 2300 m in altitude and yet so close to the sea, has forest lands along its hills between the altitudes of 1700 and 1800 m. The rocky regions start after 1800 meters. On the way up to the peak, there are level areas which are convenient for camping.

The 2000-year-old Aspendos Antique Theater is famous not only among its counterparts in Anatolia, but also among all Roman theaters in Europe and North Africa for being the best-preserved antique theatre and its extraordinary acoustics. Built in 2nd century A.D., the Aspendos Theatre was used as a caravanserai during the time of the Seljuk Empire and was renovated from time to time. In addition, Agora, Basilica, Nymphaeum and the arched waterways up to 15 km are other places that are worth seeing in Aspendos.

The Side region, which has survived through the Hellenistic and Roman periods, draws attention with the city walls and a grand entrance door. An old Turkish bath in the region was restored as a museum. This museum displays artifacts that were dug up in Side. The most prominent structure of Side is the theatre with a capacity of 15.000 people. Side is a must-see destination with its colonnaded street, triumphal arch, harbour, Turkish baths, temples, fountains, cisterns, water ways and Agora.

The most alluring ones of these waterfalls are Düden Waterfall flowing 15 km to the north of Antalya, Kurşunlu Waterfall 18 km to the west and Manavgat Waterfall 3 km to the north of Manavgat.

One of the most interesting antique cities in the vicinity of Antalya is Thermessos, a Psidia city founded at an altitude of 1050 meters on Toros Mountains. Located inside the Thermessos National Park, the city is home to many plant and animal species which are under protection. In order to stroll through Thermessos one needs some time and enjoy walking since the city is built on rocky and rugged land. The inhabitants of Thermessos are called the Solyms. Solyms, unlike the people of other antique cities, are not a tribe from the sea, and they are of true Anatolian origin. The known history of Thermessos starts out with Alexander the Great’s invasion of Thermessos, a city which he thought looked like a falcon nest, in B.C. 333. Thermessos, the city which Alexander the Great failed to conquer, has survived until 5th century A.D.. The city walls, Hadrian’s Gate, cisterns, theatre, Gymnasium, Agora, Odeon and Heron are some of the major sights of the city.

On the way to Antalya, along the newly opened coastal highway, which reveals the fascinating view of the all the charms of the Mediterranean, after taking a turn from the Phaselis signpost 35 km before Antalya, a forest road leads us to Phaselis in Tekirova Village. The antique city was founded as a colony of Rhodes in B.C. 690 due to its three natural harbours, its location and close proximity to rich forest lands. The city was captured by Persians after they dominated Anatolia; and when Alexander the Great defeated Persians, he took over the city. The people of Phaselis welcomed Alexander the Great and hosted him in their city. Here, Alexander the Great accepted many of the envoys from Pamphylia and he advanced to Gordion, taking over the coastal cities one after the other. After the death of Alexander the Great, the city remained under the reign of the Ptolemies in Egypt from B.C. 209 until B.C. 197. With the signing of the Apemaia Treaty, the city was handed over to the Kingdom of Rhodes like other Lycian cities and remained under their reign from B.C 190 until B.C. 160. After B.C. 160, the city entered the Lycian League which was under Roman rule. Like Olympos, Phaselis was under constant threat of pirates during the 1st century B.C.. The city was taken over by the pirate, Zenicetes, for a certain period. When the Romans defeated this pirate, the city gained its independence.