Aspendos is an ancient Greco-Roman city in Antalya Serik region, mostly famous for its antique Roman Empire theater which holds the title of best preserved ancient amphitheater in Turkey. It was built in 2 AD and dedicated to Emperor Markus Aurelius. One of the most spectacular ancient views you can see as a traveller waits for you.
Throughout the history, Aspendos was always a popular city and had seen many invasions. At Seljuk times, it was used as a caravansary. There are also various Roman structures nearby including basilica, agora, nymphaeum and a long 15 kms long Roman aqueduct.
Because of its excellent acoustic properties, Aspendos ballet and opera festival is held each year attracting thousands of local and international music and art lovers. It has a seating capacity of 17,000 people.
Here are some Aspendos photos :
Theater View
Aqueduct View
Archway at Aspendos Theater
Aspendos Walls
Male dancers of UK The Royal Ballet at Aspendos
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Known also simply as Antalya Museum, it is one of the largest museums of Turkey. Actually, the foundation is owed to Italians ironically who occupied Antalya and south region of Turkey by the result of First World War. It is told that some Italian archeologists were carrying the valuable archeological items which was found around to Italian consulate. At that time, a teacher named Suleyman Fikri Bey seeing the danger, managed to assign himself as voluntary officer of antiquities by government decision and established a small museum at 1919 and have begun to collect items as well. Today, the museum is large and operates on 13 exhibition halls including ancient natural history hall (fossils, bones), prehistory hall, proto and classic period halls (Neolithic, Calcolithic, Early Bronze Age, Hellenistic age objects), the hall of Emperors which presents the golden age of Roman Empire with beautiful sculptures, the hall of burials tombs, the hall of mosaics and icons which includes Byzantine period, coins hall, Turkish-Islamic hall, ethnography section and a special children hall which presents toys, moneyboxes of ancient times.
Aqualand is the biggest waterpark in Antalya consisting of many water games, huge pools and waterfalls, long open and closed water slides ranging from 40 meters to 100 meters. The facility also consists of different snack-bars and restaurants. You will feel refreshed because you are surrounded also by beautiful natural trees and green.
DolphinLand is situated nearby and home to the super dolphin, white whale and sea lion shows. You can also enjoy swimming with dolphins. I have learned that the dolphins are from Black Sea and since the salt level in Black Sea is much less than in Mediterranean, the salt level is carefully controlled. A dolphin lives around 25 to 30 years and the dolphins here are 9 years old and eat sardines and mackerels.
Kursunlu Waterfall
Manavgat Waterfall
