Kemer
is an important and well equipped touristic
center situated 42 km / 26 miles west of Antalya.
The Yörük Park , where nomadic people's
everyday's life is displaid, is located in the
small peninsula facing the marina.
The nice holiday resorts of Tekirova,
Çamyuva, Göynük, Beldibi
where beautiful hotels are situated, spread
all along the coast among a luxuriant vegetation
composed of pine trees, palm trees, orange and
lemon trees.
ANTALYA
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Antalya
was formerly called Attalaia, a name
derived from Attalus II, king of Pergamum,
who founded the city in the 2C BC. The
port city became the capital of Pamphylia
and was protected by walls in 130 AD.
These walls were reinforced in the 10C.
During the Crusades, the place became
the port of embarkation to Palestine.
Taken by the Seljuk
Turks in 1207, it was incorporated
to the Ottoman
Empire at the end of the 14th century.
Antalya is a famous touristic, seaside
and winter resort much appreciated by
both Turks and foreigners, and is partly
located on a 40 m / 132 feet high cliff
and sheltered in a beautiful bay with
mountains as background. It is a charming
city with an old picturesque area where
stone and wooden houses overlook the
marina.
It is also a very active city where
many festivals and events take place
like the Golden Orange (Altın Portakal)
Film Festival in September or the Mediterranean
International Music Festival in October.
Many parks adorn the city. In the surroundings
there are the KurşunluWaterfalls
and also the DüdenWaterfalls
which particularity is that their water
flows into the see.
Among the most beautiful beaches is
Konyaaltı that stretches for
kilometers and from where there is a
gorgious panorama over the Beydağları
mountains. Golf players meet at the
beautiful National Golf Club located
in Belek, 40 km / 25 miles east
of Antalya.
Antalya has a domestic and international
airport. Ferries link Antalya to Venice
/ Italy and to Girne/ Northern Cyprus.
Kaleiçi is a very nice area overlooking
the marina where it is recommended to
wander through its narrow streets to
discover the old typical houses that
have been restored, some of which are
small boarding houses. It is a protected
area where modern constructions are
forbidden.
The Gate of Hadrian was built
to commemorate the visit of the emperor
in 130 AD. Remains of Roman and Byzantine
walls can still be seen there.
Kesik Minare (Truncated Minaret)
was originally a Roman temple first
converted into a Byzantine church in
the 5th century, and finally converted
into a mosque in the 13th century.
Hıdırlık Kulesi is a round tower
which was part of the walls which do
not exist any more.
Yivli Minare is a fluted minaret
that is part of Ulu camii , a
13C Seljuk mosque and medrese complex.
It has become the symbol of Antalya.
The Archaeoligical Museum holds
most interesting collections and should
not be missed.
