The Turkish Riviera
Antalya has something for everyone. If you want to do some sightseeing, the labyrinth town is full of historic sites, while the atmospheric old harbour makes a tranquil spot to relax. This city is a great spot for your launch onto the white sand beaches and Mediterranean waters of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast.The maze-like Kaleici neighbourhood was made for strolling. Perfectly restored whitewashed and red-roofed Ottoman mansions line the cobblestone streets, now home to a plethora of boutique hotels, souvenir shops, art galleries and restaurants.
Nestled in the cliffs, Antalya’s old harbour is a picturesque huddle of boutiques, pretty cafes, bazaars and gently bobbing yachts that look out over a shimmering Mediterranean.
If you’re at all interested in Turkish history don’t miss this excellent museum. The dazzling exhibits here showcase all the best finds from excavation sites across the Turkish coast.
Antalya’s most distinctive landmark is the Yivli Minare. it is a typical example of Seljuk architecture with a square base surmounted by an octagonal drum bearing the fluted shaft with its corbelled gallery round the top.
Hadrian’s Gate is one of the main entrance gates into the Kaleici district. Considerable stretches of the Hellenistic and Roman town walls on the eastern side of the old town have been preserved and Hadrian’s Gate is the most notable of these sections.
This squat 14 m high cylindrical tower watches over the old harbour from high above on the edge of Karaalioglu Park.
The near-twin villages of Olympus and Cirali sit on a piece of lovely coastline surrounded by the ruins of the ancient Lycian city of Olympus.
The limestone countryside around Antalya is rich in karst springs, sinkholes and waterfalls. Lime deposits from these springs have built up over a period of 1.5 to 2 million years into vast travertine terraces similar to those at Pamukkale.
