Facts and information about Antalya
Facts and information about Antalya
Antalya is located in the west of the Mediterranean region. In ancient times it covered all Pamphylia which means “the land of all tribes”. The land really deserves the name since it has witnessed many successive civilizations throughout history. In 1st century BC the Pergamum king Attalus ordered his men to find the most beautiful piece of land on earth; he wanted them to find “heaven on earth”. After a long search all over the world, they discovered this land and said “This must be ‘Heaven’ ” and King Attalus founded the city giving it the name “Attaleia”. From then on many nations kept their eyes on the city. When the Romans took over the Pergamene Kingdom, Attaleia became an outstanding Roman city which the great Roman Emperor Hadrian visited in 130 AD; an arch was built in his honor which is now worth seeing. Then came the Byzantines, after which the Seljuk Turks took over the city in 1207 and gave it a different name, Adalya, and built the Yivli Minaret. The Ottomans followed the Seljuks and finally within the Turkish Republic it became a Turkish city and an important port. Antalya has been growing rapidly since 1960 and its population is 1,146,109 according to the 1990 census.
Manavgat River Cruise and Bazaar
Witness the unique beauty of the region by taking a cruise on the Manavgat River. You can book a full-day tour that includes the famous Grand Bazaar in Manavgat and an amazing cruise along the Manavgat River.
You can enjoy the sun and cool off by swimming in the spot where the river pours into the sea. A barbecue lunch is usually served on board. You will be given about 1.5 hours free time in the center of Manavgat to visit the Blue Mosque and find various souvenirs from the Manavgat Grand Bazaar.
Red Tower (Kızıl Kule)
The iconic Red Tower, where you can see traces of Seljuk Architecture, has been the symbol of Alanya for centuries. It’s located in the historical city center, right near the Seljuk Shipyard (Tersane).
The octagonal building was built in the 13th century by Seljuk Sultan, Alaeddin Keykubad. When you look around from the top floor of the tower, the view encompasses the walls, towers and the harbor that surround the peninsula.
Düden Waterfalls
A sight of stunning natural beauty
Located just outside the city of Antalya, the Düden Waterfalls showcase Turkey’s stunning natural beauty and are a mesmerising sight to be seen. There are 2 parts to the falls, the Upper Düden Falls, which you’ll find further inland, and the Lower Düden Falls. The latter of the 2 cascades over the clifftop, crashing into the sea below, not far from Lara Beach.
Quad Safari in the Taurus Mountains
Those who want to add a little extra fun to your holiday with extraordinary activities, get together around Quad Safari tours. All you do is wear your most comfortable clothes and show up.
Everything will be covered in mud in a flash anyway, during the ride. Running through water and mud is part of the fun.
Tour operators offer pick-up from hotels in all regions of Alanya to take you to explore the magnificent nature in the Taurus Mountains on 4 wheels.
