Antalya’s Historical Places

Historywebstar@gmail.com April 17, 2025Historical Places

Antalya, a region that has been home to numerous civilizations throughout history, boasts a rich cultural heritage. Within its lands, you’ll find an impressive array of historical sites and structures spanning from ancient times to the Ottoman Empire. We invite you to discover the most significant historical areas in and around Antalya. This list will take you on a journey through time, from the captivating ruins of ancient cities to magnificent monuments, impressive museums, and structures of religious and cultural importance. Each stop tells a unique story about the region’s past and offers visitors an unforgettable experience. Get ready to explore the historical treasures of Antalya.

Ancient Cities and Archaeological Sites:

• Aspendos: Famous especially for its well-preserved Roman theater. It also features an agora, acropolis, and aqueducts.
• Perge: An important Pamphylian city with Hellenistic and Roman period ruins. Its theater, stadium, colonnaded street, and agora are worth seeing.
• Side: An ancient port city known for the Temple of Apollo, its ancient theater, agora, and ruins.
• Termessos: An impressive ancient city built on a steep area of Güllük Mountain.
• Phaselis: An ancient trading city with three separate harbors.
• Olympos: An ancient city near Kemer with ruins from the Roman and Byzantine periods.
• Myra (Demre): One of the important cities of the Lycian civilization, famous for its rock tombs and the Church of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus).
• Patara: A significant city of Lycia, known for its beach and ancient ruins. It is the birthplace of St. Nicholas.
• Xanthos: One of the capitals of the Lycian League.
• Letoon: The sanctuary of Xanthos, with significant temple ruins.
• Arykanda: A Lycian city built on a mountainous area.
• Sillyon: An ancient city located between Perge and Aspendos.

Historical Structures and Monuments:

• Hadrian’s Gate: One of Antalya’s iconic structures, built in honor of Roman Emperor Hadrian’s visit. It is located at the entrance of Kaleiçi.
• Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret): One of Antalya’s first Turkish structures, dating back to the Seljuk period.
• Kaleiçi (Inner Castle/Old Town): Antalya’s historical city center, worth seeing for its narrow streets, historical houses, and city walls.
• Kızıl Kule (Red Tower) (Alanya): A historical tower that is an important part of Alanya Castle.
• Alanya Castle: A historical castle with remnants from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods.
• Church of St. Nicholas (Demre): The historical church where the original Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, was buried.
• Şehzade Korkut Mosque: A historical structure bearing traces of different civilizations, having served as a Roman temple, Byzantine church, and Seljuk mosque.
• Karatay Madrasah: An important Seljuk-era building.
• Evdir Han and Kırkgöz Han: Historical Seljuk-era caravanserais.
• Hıdırlık Tower: An ancient structure overlooking the harbor of Kaleiçi.
• Aspendos Bridge: A historical bridge dating back to the Roman period.

Museums:

• Antalya Museum: Houses rich archaeological and ethnographic artifacts obtained from excavations in the region.
• Alanya Archaeological Museum: Exhibits archaeological artifacts found in Alanya and its surroundings.
• Side Museum: Contains artifacts excavated from the ancient city of Side.
• Suna & İnan Kıraç Kaleiçi Museum: Displays artifacts reflecting the historical texture of Kaleiçi.
• Antalya Ethnography Museum: Housed in restored Ottoman-era mansions, showcasing artifacts reflecting the local way of life.
• St. Nicholas Memorial Museum (Demre): Exhibits memories related to Saint Nicholas and historical artifacts of the region.

This list is a great starting point for exploring the rich historical heritage of Antalya and its surroundings. Each site offers unique stories and remnants that shed light on the region’s different historical periods

This list shows you the important old places and historical things you can see in and around Antalya, a city in Turkey. Antalya has a very long history, so there are many interesting sites from ancient times up to more recent periods. The list includes old cities that are now ruins, like Aspendos with its amazing theater, and Perge with its grand streets. You can also find ancient harbors like in Side, and impressive mountain cities like Termessos. These places help us understand how people lived in this area thousands of years ago.

Besides the old cities, the list also points out special buildings and monuments. Hadrian’s Gate in Antalya city center is a beautiful old entrance. The Yivli Minare is an old Turkish tower. Kaleiçi, the old town of Antalya, itself is like a step back in time with its old houses and walls. If you go to other towns near Antalya, like Alanya and Demre, you will find even more historical sites like castles and churches, such as the church of St. Nicholas, who we know as Santa Claus.

Finally, the list includes museums where you can see things that were found at these old places. The Antalya Museum is a big one with many ancient objects. Visiting these museums can give you a closer look at the art, tools, and everyday items people used in the past. This list is a helpful guide for anyone who wants to explore the history and culture of the Antalya region during their visit. You can use it to plan your trips and decide which historical sites are most interesting to you.