Antalya City Tour

Mid-morning, pick up from your hotel and drive to the city of Antalya.

History

Antalya was established around 150 BCE by the Attalid kings, presumably King Attalus II of Pergamon. The city was then named Attaleia or Attalea in his honor and, due to its proximity to the sea, the king’s fleet naval base.

In 133 BCE, King Attalus III bequeathed the young city alongside the rest of the kingdom of Pergamon to Rome. Under the Romans, Antalya grew and prospered within the Roman province of Pamphylia Secunda. The city’s earliest contact with Christianity came in the 1st century and was even visited by Barnabas and Paul of Tarsus.

In the Byzantine age, Antalya was still of great importance to the region. It was the capital of the Byzantine administrative division of Cibyrrhaeots and was a major naval station, commercial center, and harbor on the southern coast of Asia minor.
In the 13th century, the city was captured, lost, and then recaptured by the Seljuk Turk. When the Seljuk Sultanate declined, it was conquered by the Ottoman Turks, under which it enjoyed five centuries of peace.

As late as the 19th century, the city had a Greek population making up one-third of the total population. They were all moved out during the population exchange. During world war I, the city fell under Italian occupation for two years but was retaken during the Turkish War of Independence.

In the 1970s, large-scale development aided by the growing tourist industry launched Antalya on a path that would transform it into the thriving metropolitan area you will be visiting on this tour.

Visiting

Given its 2000-year history, Antalya is one of the most visited cities in the region, and for a good reason.

Kaleici is one of the most idyllic neighborhoods of any Turkish city, treating strollers to narrow cobblestone streets lined with perfectly restored whitewashed Ottoman mansions. As you explore the Old Town, take your time to enjoy the old-world ambiance created by the ancient houses. There are also a couple of souvenir shops, restaurants, and art galleries that you can visit in the old town.

Kaleici is also home to other attractions, like the Kale Kapisis (main square), a stone-clad clock tower, and a fortress gate. In addition, the 18th-century mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Pasa, boasts stunning interior tile decorations that are worth your time.
Another attraction in the old city is the Kesik Minare (Broken Minaret), which first served as a Roman temple, then a Byzantine Church, and finally a mosque.

Leaving the old town, our next stop is Hadrian’s Gate. This magnificent structure is part of the largely intact eastern town walls and is one of the main highlights of the visit. The triple-arched marble gateway was erected after Emperor Hadrian visited the city in 130 CE. It retains much of its rich sculptural decorations, with its ceiling displaying carvings that can only be described as awe-inspiring.

This excellent museum exhibits a rich collection of stunning artifacts dug up from archeological sites along the Turkish coast. Using displays from the Bronze age to the Byzantine period, Antalya Museum has been able to tell Turkey’s long and complicated history in a relatively simple way.

Enjoy dazzling collections of mosaics, statues, and tools before we call it a day.