Beydaglari Mountains are located in the west
of Antalya and run along the sea. They
are part of the Taurus
chain. These mountains are covered with thick
pine forests, and also with cedar trees in some
places. It is possible to reach nice places
by main roads, but an off road circuit in 4X4
(1, 2 or 3 days sleeping for example at local
people's house) with the assistance of a guide
(who can also be the driver), is the best way
to discover the gorgious landscapes, the roads
used by the nomadic caravans, transhumance plateaus
(yayla) and also some unaccessible archaeoligical
sites such as Idebessos.
The small winter resort of Saklikent
is located only 50 km / 31 miles away from Antalya.
The KarainCaves, dating back
to the Paleolithic
Period, are located 30 km / 19 miles north-west
of Antalya. Karain was the largest cave inhabited
during Prehistoric
times in Anatolia. Plentiful spring water,
plant cover and game where suitable elements
for early man to settle here. The caves were
used until the Byzantine period. The interesting
finds made during the excavations are displayed
in the Karain Caves section of Antalya Archaeological
Museum and in the little Karain Museum which
is next to the cave.
TERMESSOS
Located
34 km /21 miles north-west of Antalya,
the ancient Pisidian city of Termessos,
perched at 1050m/3450 feet on a plateau
between two peaks of Güllük Mountain (ancient
Mt Solymos), is part of Güllük Dag National
Park. Its exceptional location makes it
the most spectacular ancient city in Turkey.
From the parking lot, the site can be
reached by walking uphill along a steep
trail, and as this requires time, it is
recommended to start the visit early in
the morning and bring a bottle of water.
Not much is known of the foundation of
Termessos only that its inhabitants, who
were of Anatolian origin, referred to
themselves as Solymians. They lived in
a walled city and it seems that they were
warlike and fought often against their
neighbors. In fact, what is known of their
history begins in 334-333 BC when Alexander
the Great, daunted by this impregnable
eagle's nest, raised the siege of their
stronghold. In retaliation, he burned
down the Solymians' olive groves around
the city.
The important ruins reveal that Termessos
enjoyed two periods of prosperity, a first
one during the Hellenistic
period, and a second one during the
Roman period when the city was granted
a relative independence by Rome
as it took up arms against Mithridates
VI. Severely damaged by an earthquake,
Termessos gradually declined until it
was completely deserted in the 5th century.
Among the most significant remains which date
back mostly to the Roman period, there
are: Hadrian's Gate, a monumental gate
in the walls, provides access to the site.
The cisterns: there are five huge
underground cisterns. The gymnasium,
which include baths, is completely covered
except for the northeastern section. The theater
is the best preserved and the most attractive
building on the site. It had a seating
capacity of only 4,200 spectators indicating
the limited number of inhabitants. The
theater, hewn out of the rock, is an Hellenistic
structure to which a skene was added in
Roman times. It offers spectacular panoramic
views as far as Antalya. The bouleuterion
had walls covered with polychrome marble. The temple
was dedicated to a peculiar version of
the Zeus cult. Fragments of reliefs depicting
scenes of the gods fighting monsters have
been found lying around. Nearby, another
small Roman temple stood on a high podium,
but it is not known which deity was worshipped
here. The ruins of two other Corinthian
order temples from the Late Roman period
can be seen in further places. The agora,
which is in a very ruined state, was surrounded
by a stoa. The western portico was offered
by Attalus II (160 - 138 BC), the founder
of Attalaia (Antalya), while the northern
portico, built in the 1st century, was
offered by a certain Osbaras. The heroon, a monumental tomb reserved
for a hero, is located southwest of the
agora. The Founder's House is a Roman
house whose name comes from an inscription
on the left jamb of the door which refers
to his owner as the founder of the city.
The colonnaded street was a broad
promenade bordered on either side by porticoes
and shops. The necropolis: among the tombs
and sarcophagi (one is beautifully decorated
with a lion) which are scattered far and
wide, the most remarkable is the Tomb
of Alcetas with a relief depicting the
general of Alexander who, in 319 BC having
taken refuge in Termessos, chose to commit
suicide when he was about to be handed
over to Antigonus.
BURDUR
Burdur is located 120 kms / 75 miles north
of Antalya, in the mountainous Lake Region
(Göller Bölgesi) reputed for its natural
beauty, flora and fauna. Carpets
and kilims weaving
also contribute to the reputation of Burdur.
The city provides good examples of Ottoman architecture
with the Tasoda, Kocaoda-Çelikbas
and Misirlilar "konak" (mansions)
which date from the 17th century.
From Susamlik Hill, the panorama over
Burdur Lake and the city is beautiful.
10
kms / 6.3 miles south of Burdur are the 597
m / 653 yds long Insuyu Caves. They contain
nine undergroud lakes and halls full of stalactites
and stalagmites.
SAGALASSOS
Between Burdur and Isparta, 7 km/ 4.5 miles
from the village of Aglasun lies the
ancient Pisidian city of Sagalassos situated
on Mount Akda?, at an altitude of about 1500m/
5000 ft. Sagalassos reveals traces of settlement
going back to 3000 BC but what is known of its
history begins with the arrival of Alexander
the Great in 334 BC. Its inhabitants, like
those of Termessos,
were courageous and warlike people, however
their city was finally conquered during a battle
which took place on a hilltop facing the city.
Sagalassos enjoyed a first period of prosperity
throughout the Hellenistic
period. From the 1st century AD, when it
became part of the Roman
Empire as well as the foremost city in Pisidia,
Sagalassos enjoyed a golden age and many magnificent
buildings were constructed here. In 518, the
city was struck by an earthquake and was subsequently
rebuilt. But in the 7th century, another earthquake
destroyed not only the city but its water sources.
Lack of water, disease and also the Arab incursions
hastened the desertion of the city which fell
into oblivion. Because of landslides, Sagalassos
was gradually buried and laid concealed until
it was discovered in 1706 by the French traveller
Paul Lucas who described it as a place of enchantment.
In 1824, the British cleric Francis Arundell
discovered the city's true identity. From 1985
British researcher Stephen Mitchell and Belgian
archaeologist Marc Waelkens carried out the
excavations of the site remained remarkably
intact. Since 1990, they are carrying further
excavation and reconstruction work of some buildings
with the support of Leuven Catholic University
in Belgium together with experts from Turkey
and various countries.
The main structures uncovered are:
The Doric Temple(1st century BC). The late Hellenistic Fountain House was
built in the 1st century BC as a U - shaped
portico. The back wall was rebuilt during the
second half of the reign of Hadrien (117 - 138
AD) and the south side was closed off by a wall
with a stairway. Later the fountain house was
incorporated into an esplanade surrounding it
on three sides. After the earthquake of 518
AD, the courtyard was partly filled and the
water distributed by terracotta pipes over the
city.
This beautiful spring fed fountain house has
been entirely restored and the water source
has been unblocked. This is the first time in
Turkey that the original function has been restored
to an antique structure. The Neon Library (2nd century AD) with
the mosaic pavement in front of it. The Bouleuterion
with a seating capacity of 200 people (125-100
BC). The Upper and Lower Agoras (2nd century
BC - first quarter of the 1st century AD). Antonines Fountain (161-180 AD) is located
on the north side of the upper agora
which was the heart of the city. The façade
of this imposing fountain is like a theatre
proscenium, with niches containing statues made
in Aphrodisias. Two
splendid statues of the god Dionysus,
2.65m/ 8.7ft and 2.45m/ 8ft high respectively,
and statues of various sizes representing august
citizens of Sagalassos discovered during excavation
of the fountain, are today exhibited in Burdur
Museum. When the restoration work is complete,
replicas of these statues will be placed on
the fountain, and the water main linking it
to the Hellenistic fountain restored, so that
the water will flow here again. The Heroon, a 14m/ 46 ft high hero's
memorial, is thought to commemorate Alexander
the Great. It has a Hellenistic frieze depicting
women dancing in a trance, wearing draped cloths
and holding musical instruments. It dates from
the reign of Augustus (25 BC - 14 AD). The Temple of Apollo Clarios, erected
during the reign of Augustus, was restored and
dedicated to Apollo and the imperial family
(103 - 104 AD). The Temple of Antoninus Pius was started
under Hadrian (117 - 138 AD) and completed under
his successor Antoninus Pius to whom it was
dedicated (138 - 161 AD). This was the second
imperial cult temple in Sagalassos. The Theatre,
built in the 2nd century AD, is the highest
in the world. It had a seating capacity of 9,000
spectators. The theatre offers panoramic views
over the wild region. The Baths,
dating from the 2nd century BC, were remodelled
in the 6th century AD. The public lavatory accommodating forty
people. The Honorific Gate erected during the
reign of Tiberius (14 – 37 AD) and partially
restored in the 6 C AD.
Antonines Fountain
The Fountain House
ISPARTA
Isparta is located in the center of
the LakeRegion (GöllerBölgesi) on the high plateaus
of the Taurus Chain (Toros Da?lari).
The fame of Isparta comes from the rose
oil obtained from the roses called
summer damasks (Rosa Damascena) which
are extensively grown in the region
in the gardens and terraced fields on
the lower slopes of the mountains. Roses
are picked in early morning, while they
are still half open and the scent is
at its strongest. Rose oil is produced
by distilling the petals in a copper
vat by passing hot steam over them.
The steam is condensed into large bottles,
producing mainly rosewater, but a thin
layer of yellowish oil called "gül
ya?i" in Turkish, or attar of roses,
floats on the surface. This most valuable
oil is used in the cosmetic industry.
Most of it is exported to Grasse, in
France, a town of perfumeries and blending
factories. Isparta is also renowned
for its thickly piled carpets.
After the collapse of the Seljuk Sultanate
of Rum, Isparta became the capital
of the Hamitoglu
Principality which was delimited by the
four great lakes of the region. In 1381
Isparta was sold to Ottoman Sultan Murat
I.
The old monuments of the city are the
Seljuk Castle (14C), the Ottoman Ulu Mosque
(1417), the Ottoman Covered Bazaar (1561),
the Firdevs Pasha Mosque built by Sinan.
South of Isparta Gölcük Lake which
rests at an impressive 1,405 m / 4.6 feet,
is encircled by aromatic pine forests.
Isparta Carpet
and Rose Festival takes place every year
in July
EGIRDIR
Egirdir lies in the south of EgirdirLake in a beautiful natural scenery.
The Egirdir Castle, first built by
Lydian King Croesus,
was later renovated and enlarged in turn by
the Romans, the Byzantines and the Seljuks.
The Seljuk Kemerli Minaret strangely
enough stands in the middle of a road. EgirdirIsland is connected
by a boardwalk to the shore: a visit to the
weavers working at their looms outside their
houses should not be missed.
Egirdir Lake
Kovada National Park, 30 km south of
Lake E?irdir, surrounds Kovada Lake, a pristine
and cool mountain getaway.
YALVAÇ
North-east of Egirdir Lake and west of
Aksehir,
near Yalvaç, stands the ancient
city of Antioch of Pisidia
which was founded by Antiochus I in 280 BC,
and named after him like Antioch on
the Orontes (Antakya).
In 25 BC Antioch of Pisidia became a Roman
military colony known as Colonia Caesareia
Antiocheia. St. Paul and St. Barnabas came
here in 46 A.D.. Antioch became one of the
first Anatolian cities to accept Christianity
. The first and largest church dedicated to
St. Paul was later constructed on the site
where St
Paul gave his sermon. The city was razed
by the Arabs in 713. Attempts were made to
rebuild the city, but it never regained its
former splendor. It was finally abandoned
when the settlement of Yalvaç was established
in the second half of the 13th century.
The most significant ruins of the ancient
city are: St. Paul's Church: most of
the walls have disappeared, only the superb
mosaic floor and inscriptions have been preserved
but they cannot be seen because they have
been recovered for their protection. The Aqueduct The Public Baths The Theatre
The Temple of Augustus: the temple
dedicated to Augustus, the founder of the
Roman colony, was built at the highest point
of the city, in a rock-cut area where, in
early times, stood a sanctuary of the Mother
Goddess Cybele, and in Hellenistic times,
a temple consecrated to the Moon – God Men.
The Archaeological Museum
in Yalvaç displays important findings from
the excavations led in Yalvaç and in the region.
Giant cedar
trees grow in KizildagNationalPark, south of Yalvaç, amid one of
Turkey's most splendid landscapes.