Wide, fertile plains parallel the endless sandy beaches east of Antalya until you come to Alanya. Abundant modern tourist facilities and well-preserved historical sites give you a number of options for a day's activities.

Perge (18 km from Antalya) was an important city of ancient Pamphylia, originally settled by the Hittites around 1500 BC. St. Paul visited this city on his first missionary journey. The theater stage has finely carved marble reliefs and other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium.

Amateur archaeologists will want to see the handsome city gate flanked by two lofty towers, a long colonnaded road once paved with mosaics and lined with shops, a large agora, the public baths and a gymnasium.

Golfers, Swimmers and sunbathers alike enjoy Belek, a modern luxurious holiday center and golfer's paradise, 40 km from Antalya. The National Golf Club located in Belek features a wide variety of water sports as well lots of championship 18-hole golf courses and 9-hole academy courses. Visitors may sample some of Turkey's finest cuisine and enjoy open air discos for evening entertainment. In 2007 are nine golf courses in operation.

A photogenic Seljuk bridge crosses the Köprü River from the road to Aspendos. The road continues past the Aspendos Jewellery Center to the Aspendos Theater, the best-preserved theater of antiquity, with seating for 15,000. Still used today, the theater's galleries, stage decorations and acoustics all testify to the architect's success. Nearby stand the remains of a basilica, an agora and one of the largest aqueducts in Anatolia.

And if you have ever wondered how gold dust becomes a fine piece of art or how precious stones are engraved, be sure to visit the Aspendos Jewellery Center, where jewellery making can be observed at every stage in the large workshop.

Northeast of Antalya, at the turn off for Taşağıl and Beşkonak, is the scenic route that leads to the Köprülü Canyon National Park. The twisting road winds over mountain streams and passes through virgin cedar forest. lt is often a slow drive because the view at every turn is more beautiful than the last. The park, 92 km from Antalya, is a valley of wild beauty rich in flora and fauna.

The canyon stretches for 74 km along the Köprü River and is 400 meters deep in some places. Fish restaurants dot the rest areas. The Roman Oluk Bridge which spans the canyon and the Bügrüm Bridge over the Kocadere Stream are engineering feats of antiquity.

From this park you can take two possible excursions: to the ancient city of Selge or to the Dedegöl Mountains. Dedegöl, the highest peak in this mountain range rises to 2992 meters. An important city of ancient Pisidia, Altıkaya (Selge), northwest of Köprülü Canyon National Park, is reached by a winding mountain road. The city walls, towers, cisterns, temple to Zeus, agora, stadium, theater carved into boulders, gymnasium and necropolis still remain from this commercial city that stood at an elevation of 950 meters. Historians verify that Selge had direct trade with Antalya, which brought it prosperity. Selge was ruled by Lydians and! others.

Although the Manavgat Waterfalls are not high, milky white, foaming water rushes powerfully over the rocks. Next to the waterfalls, shady tea gardens and restaurants make the falls a pleasant, cool resting spot, especially welcome after a day of sightseeing. You can take a delightful boat trip up the Manavgat River to explore this lovely area further.

Side, one of the best-known classical sites in Turkey, was an ancient harbour whose name meant pomegranate. Today a pretty resort town, its ancient ruins, two sandy beaches, numerous shops and extensive tourist accommodation facilities attract throngs of visitors.

There are numerous cafes and restaurants with a view of the sea, and the shops that line the narrow streets sell typical Turkish handicrafts including leather goods and Turkey's famous beutiful gold jewellery. The magnificent theater of the ancient city, built on colonnaded arches, is the largest in the whole area.

Other monuments include the agora, the Temple of Apollo, which is situated near the sea, a fountain and necropolis. The extensive Roman baths, now a museum, houses one of Turkey's finest archaeological collections.

Tucked in pine forests east of Side, the holiday resorts of Sorgun, Titreyen Göl (Blue Flag) and Kızılağaç are popular for their sandy beaches and sparkling sea. The atmosphere is relaxed, the accommodation plentiful and the activities endless.

West of Side, the holiday centers of Kumköy, Çolaklı and Kamelya also offer sun and sea, in close proximity to ancient sites. At Seleucia of Pamphilyia (Bucakşıhlar), 15 km northeast of Side, are the remains (in good condition) of Roman baths, temples, churches, a mausoleum, theater and agora. One of the most interesting and well known caves in Turkey is located in Altınbeşik Cave National Park situated 12 kilometers southeast of Aydımkent (Ibradi) and 55 kilometers north of Manavgat. Lakes and interesting rock formations within the cave area as well as travertines and streams make this area especially fascinating. Altinbeşik Cave is situated on the western glopes of the Manavgat River Valley and can be reached via Ürünlü, which is an authentic village and a must see when trayelling through this area.

 

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