Historical Places in Antalya

This content was last updated on 20.08.2023 20:33

Antalya is one of the most important tourism destinations of the Mediterranean coastline in the south of Turkey. The basin of civilizations, Antalya has grown many civilizations in its heart for four thousand years. In this beautiful geography surrounded by green and blue, you come across a deep-rooted historical richness beyond sea and sand on every side.

The Most Beautiful Historical Places of Antalya

1. Historical Kaleici

Kaleici is an exquisite medieval settlement. It is one of the oldest cities in Anatolia, which can still preserve most of the historical structures bearing the traces of Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottomans. It is possible to see the historical spirit of Antalya in Kaleiçi with its minarets decorated with eye-catching stones, narrow stone-paved streets, wooden houses with bay windows and quiet courtyards.

The bougainvillea overflowing from the gardens of the houses, which display a delicacy from the past, suits the stone houses very well. Most of the two-storey houses with high ceilings and outer sofas have been restored. Most of the 3-storey houses serve as boutique hotels, restaurants, antique shops and gift shops.

The 14-meter-high Historical Clock Tower, located on the outer walls of the Kale Kapısı area, was built in 1901 in the name of Abdülhamit II.

2. Yivli Minaret, Kaleici

The Yivli Minaret can be seen from almost every corner of the city. One of the symbolic works of Antalya, the historical Yivli Minaret from the Seljuk period is undoubtedly one of the first places to visit in Antalya. It says I am the symbol of the city with its eight belts in the shape of a half-cylinder groove on a square block of cut stone and a 45-meter minaret decorated with turquoise stones. It is visible from all over the city, just like the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The symbol of Seljuk domination was designed as a monument during the reign of Alaeddin I. It forms a complex with the Ulu Mosque, Ulu Mosque Madrasa, Atabey Armağan Madrasa, Antalya Mevlevi Lodge, Zincirkıran Mehmet Bey and Nigar Hatun tombs around it. All of them are important historical heritages worth seeing.

3. Hadrian's Gate

Hadrian's Gate, known as the "Üç Kapılar", was the entrance gate to the city from Kaleiçi and the port area in ancient times. This monumental gate was built in 130 AD in honor of Hadrian, one of the Roman Emperors. It looks like a typical Roman triumphal arch with its two-columned facade and three arches rising on four gate towers. On the second floor, which has not survived, there were statues not only of the Roman emperor but also of his family members.

4. Phaselis Ancient City

Phaselis (Faselis) is a quiet and peaceful paradise in Kemer's Tekirova Town, famous for its natural beauties, ancient city, bay and beach. Phaselis Ancient City is an ancient settlement where the sea and history coexist with its historical ancient theatre, aqueduct, agora and baths.

It was founded by the Rhodesians in the 6th century BC. It was the most important port of the eastern coast of Lycia. In 333 BC, Alexander the Great stayed in Phaselis for a while during his campaign from Macedonia to India. Phaselis Bay is a part of the Ancient Phaselis City. The bay, which welcomes many daily visitors on weekends in the summer, is located 60 km from Antalya. Take your food and drink with you.

Phaselis Ancient City visiting hours
Summer term (1 April – 31 October) 08.30-19.00
Winter period (31 October – 1 April) 08.30-17.30

It is open to visitors 7 days a week.

Phaselis Ancient City entrance fee is 55 TL (January 2022)
Museum Card is valid.

5. Aspendos Theatre

The Aspendos Theater is one of the best preserved among the ancient theaters and one of the rare examples among the Roman theaters in Anatolia that has survived to the present day with its stage. It is known that the Aspendos Theater was built by the architect Zenon during the reign of the emperor Antonius Pius between 138-164. The semi-circular amphitheater for 15,000 people leans against the eastern slope of the acropolis, as in the classical Greek theater tradition.

Known as "Belkıs Ruins" among the people, Aspendos Ancient City is visited in two sections as "Upper City" and "Lower City". The theater is the most important building in the Lower Town. Among the places to see are its walls, agora, fountain, exedra, stadium, baths, aqueducts, temples and necropolises. The ancient city can be reached from the asphalt road that separates from the Antalya-Manavgat highway.

Aspendos Ancient City visiting hours
Summer term (1 April – 31 October) 08.30-19.00
Winter period (31 October – 1 April) 08.30-17.30

It is open to visitors 7 days a week.
Aspendos Ancient City entrance fee is 60 TL. (January 2022) Museum Card is valid.

6. Perge Ancient City, Aksu

The ancient city of Perge is located within the borders of Aksu county, only 18 km away from Antalya city center. An ancient city, which was the capital of the Pamphylia Region, is one of the most beautiful historical places in Antalya. The Ancient City of Perge, which is on the UNESCO World Temporary Heritage List, was among the richest and most beautiful cities in the old world during the Hellenistic period.

The ancient city of Perge, whose history goes back to the Bronze Age, is an important city in terms of planning in the context of the Late Classical, Hellenistic and predominantly Roman Imperial periods. St. Paulus and Barnabas started their first travels in Anatolia to spread Christianity from here.

Perge Ancient City visiting hours
Summer term (1 April – 31 October) 08.30-19.00
Winter period (31 October – 1 April) 08.30-17.30

It is open to visitors 7 days a week.
Perge Ancient City entrance fee is 100 TL. (2022) Museum Card is valid.

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Perge Ancient City, Antalya, Turkey

7. Xanthos Ancient City, Kas

Xanthos Ancient City was the largest administrative center of the Lycian Civilization in Antiquity. Although its assembly was in Patara, the capital of the union was Xantos. Located 46 km from Fethiye centre, Xanthos was the most important settlement in the region, together with the religious center Letoon.

Xanthos, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1988, has witnessed many bloody wars and important historical events, unfortunately, there are not many buildings that can be seen in the city today. The artifacts found during the excavations in the 1840s are exhibited in the British Museum.

Xanthos Ancient City visiting hours
Summer term (1 April – 31 October) 08.30-19.00
Winter period (31 October – 1 April) 08.30-17.30

It is open to visitors 7 days a week.
Xanthos Ancient City entrance fee is 17.50 TL (January 2022) Museum Card is valid.

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