THE CITY FOR SUN AND HOLIDAYS – ANTALYA

Antalya is one of the oldest settlement areas in Anatolia. Located about 25 km northwest of the city center, the Karain Cave lies in the limestone slopes of Mount Şam. It once housed a community of 80 people and provides evidence of settlement dating back to the Paleolithic period. The cave has been studied since 1946 by Professor Ismail Kılıç Kökten from Ankara University. Artifacts from the cave are displayed in a small museum at the foot of the mountain slope, at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, and in the prehistoric hall of the Antalya Museum.

From 1400 BC until the fall of the empire, the region was under the influence of the Hittites. From the 11th to the 8th century BC, the area of present-day Antalya was first ruled by the Lycians, followed by the Persians.

On his way to Persia and India, Alexander the Great broke the Persian dominance over Anatolia in the 4th century BC. The period between his death and the arrival of the Romans is referred to as the Hellenistic Era. The Kingdom of Pergamon is considered the cultural representative of this period in Asia Minor. King Attalus II of Pergamon (159-138 BC) had a small harbour built in 158 BC and founded the settlement above the harbour, which is now known as Attaleia or Antalya, named after him.

After the death of King Attalus, the city was incorporated into the Roman Empire and gained wealth and significance under Roman rule. Attaleia, sheltered from the sea by cliffs, was provided with a strong wall on the land side, which was later extended by Emperor Hadrian. A triumphal arch at the edge of the old town commemorates the emperor’s visit in 130 AD.

The Byzantines defended the city in the 7th and 8th centuries against Arab invasions. In 1207, the Seljuks, under Sultan Kaykhusraw I, conquered the area. Numerous buildings in the city still testify to this period. In the 14th century, the traveller Ibn Battuta referred to Antalya as one of the “most beautiful cities in the world.”

Under the Ottomans, who took control of the city in the 14th century, Antalya remained a port of the Ottomans, but trade declined, and the city lost its significance.

Antalya: Sand, sun, shopping, and culture. Enjoy this sunny metropolis and its historical heritage as part of your treatment.

In the Treaty of Sèvres, Antalya was assigned to Italy and became part of the young Turkish Republic on July 5, 1921. Initially, the economic foundation was based on agriculture and fishing, but today, Antalya is the most important tourist center in Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean.

To the west of Antalya, the first significant confederation in history, the Lycian League, was established. The member states were granted voting rights of 1, 2, or 3 votes, depending on their size and importance. The Lycians settled between Antalya and Fethiye and in the mountainous regions above the coast. Homer describes the Lycians, as well as the Carians, in the “Iliad” as allies of the Trojans during the Trojan War.

To the east of Antalya stretched Pamphylia, the “land of all tribes.” Due to the geographical features with steep mountains and only a few plains, this area attracted pirates for a long time. These pirates not only raided merchant ships but also occasionally conquered and occupied the cities.

Many buildings from the early Christian period testify to the fact that Christianity had its origins here. The region’s museums house artifacts from pre-Christian, Christian, and Islamic times. The world-renowned and revered Saint Nicholas hails from the Antalya region. Legends, myths, and memories of the rich history are ever-present here.

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We wish you a wonderful holiday in Antalya right from the start.

Antalya Old Town Bay