The ancient world of Antalya
Most people know Turkey because of its beaches, sunny weather, big all-inclusive hotels and cheap luxury. I have been to Turkey several times to enjoy a beach holiday, but this year I explored Turkey in a different way. Turkey has a very interesting history, beautiful buildings and an amazing architecture. In this article, I will describe some interesting historical things to do in and around Antalya.
1. Termessos
Termessos was a Pisidian city and is located in the mountains at Güllük National Park. The Roman and Hellenistic ruins of the city are very good preserved. After a quick hike, you can see the beautiful ruins. The theatre is really impressive and the views are magnificent. Termessos is hidden from the majority of tourists. The entrance fee only costs five Turkish Lira (€1,50). Do not forget to wear good hiking shoes and to bring some water.
Düden Şelalesi & Düden Şelalesi Zabita Noktasi
The Düden Waterfalls are a group of waterfalls in Antalya. There are two parks called the Düden Şelalesi, above Antalya, and the Düden Şelalesi Zabita Noktasi (Düden Park), below Antalya. Both parks are really nice and worth the visit. Within Düden Şelalesi, there are several amazing waterfalls. The other park, Düden Park, is even more beautiful to visit. Within this park the waterfall drops off a rocky cliff into the Mediterrean Sea. This is a great experience to see. The entrance fee of the parks amount to six Turkish Lira (€1,75). In both parks are some small restaurants located where you can buy some meals and snacks. Next to this, there are many English guides available inside both parks.
Aspendos theatre
Aspendos was an ancient Greco-Roman city and is now famous for its best-preserved ancient amphitheatre. The theatre is really beautiful and has an interesting history. The king of Aspendos organised a competition to see who served the city the best. The winner was able to marry with his daughter. One candidate built the theatre and won the competition. The wedding ceremony was held in the theatre. The architecture of the Aspendos theatre is really acoustic and if someone speaks, you will be able to hear it in the entire theatre. Next to this nice story, the theatre is well preserved and looks really nice. The entrance fee is twenty Turkish Lira (€6,00). During the year, there are several (light) shows and opera performances at the theatre.
Perge
Perge has a large area of ruins with a preserved theatre. It is a must-see for any enthusiast of the Ancient World. It is a very interesting place. The theatre is a little bit less preserved than Termessos and Aspendos, but still worth a visit. The sight is really big and you can walk for hours through the ruins. Perge offers a truly magnificent insight to life in this place through times. With a good guide, you will discover the stories behind the many ruins. Perge is part of the tentative list of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
Temple of Appolo
The temple of Appolo is a small sight to visit. It is more than two thousand years old and there is one big ruin, which is located next to the beach of Side. The best time to visit this ruin is during the sunset. It is a great place to take nice pictures and to buy some souvenirs.
This article is part of the GPSmyCity iOS app. You can download it, read this article offline and obtain travel directions (by foot, car or bicycle) to the places mentioned in this article. Click here to download it.
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