Antalya offers sights of astonishing historical remains including Temples, Amphitheatres, Ancient Ruined Towns. Main historical sites around Antalya are: Perge , Aspendos, Side, Patara, Termessos, Phaselis, Olympos, Kekova, Simena, Xantos, Myra.
Perge
If you are wondering how an archaeologically fertile site could ever interest you, you should never miss a chance of visiting Perge. For Perge has much to offer for the vacationer as well, it has a unique blend of the exotic and the ancient. You may have visited many beautiful places, but the beauty of Perge lies in its unconventionality, its mysticism and glorious past, and it beckons you to discover it.
Perge, one of Pamphylia’s foremost cities, was founded on a wide plain between two hills 4 km. west of the Kestros (Aksu) river. In the New Testament book, Acts of the Apostles, the sentence “…when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perge in Pamphylia” suggests that Perge could be reached from the sea in ancient times.
Aspendos
After passing Serik on the Antalya-Alanya highway, you turn north and continue for 4 km. Aspendos dates back to the 5th century B.C. The theater which was built in the 2nd century A.D. was periodically repaired by the Seljuks who used it as a caravansary. It is one of the best preserved theaters to be found today. The theater holds 7000 spectators, with an additional 500 in the orchestra. Today it is used for concerts and festivals. In addition to the theater the agora, basilica, nymphaeum and 15 km. of aquaducts are to be seen. If vacation means action, adventure and exploration for you and not just lazing by the beach or the swimming pool, Aspendos certainly lives up to it.
Patara
Ancient Mediterranean port of Lycia . It was a Dorian colony, and became the seat of the Lycian League (167 B.C.–A.D. 43). According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul visited Patara. Extensive excavation of the city’s ruins only began in the late 20th century. Apart from biblical references, Patara is also an old settlement on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. This region boasts thousands of years of history, breathtaking scenery and hundreds of miles of unspoiled coastline.
Side
Side is reached by turning south 3 km before Manavgat on the Antalya-Alanya highway. The exact date of its founding is not known. In the language of Anatolia “Side” means Pomegranate. From inscriptions it appears that Side dates back to the Hittites. The city was constructed on a peninsula and was a Hellenistic and Roman town, protected by city and sea walls. One’s attention is particularly drawn to the city gates and walls, as well as the many remains of aquaducts which brought water from the Taurus mountains foothills and surrounding country. The old baths have been restored and turned into a museum, in which are exhibited some of the statues and art treasures found in Side. One of its most important buildings is its 15,000 spectator theater. The difference between this Roman theater and other antique theaters in the region is that it is not built against a hillside. The 2 storey theater, built on a series of arches, is 20 m. high. The orchestra and stage are in a state of ruin. Rainwater channels run under the theater. Side has colonnaded streets, a triumphal arch, harbor, baths, fountains, cisterns, aquaducts, temples and a agora.
