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ANTALYA
In Antalya, the pine-clad Toros (Taurus) Mountains
sweep down to the sparkling clear sea forming an
irregular coastline of rocky headlands and secluded
coves. The region, bathed in sunshine for 300 days of
the year, is a paradise of sun bathing, swimming, and
sporting activities like windsurfing, waterskiing,
sailing, mountain climbing and spelunking. If you come
to Antalya in March and April, you can ski the slopes
in the mornings and in the afternoons swim in the warm
waters of the Mediterranean. Important historical
sites await your discovery, amid a landscape of pine
forests, olive and citrus groves and palm, avocado and
banana plantations. The Turkish Riviera is Turkey's
tourism capital. Its full range of accommodations,
from tourist-class to deluxe hotels, and the
hospitable people of Antalya will make your holiday
comfortable and enjoyable.
Set
amid amazing scenery of sharp contrasts, Antalya,
Turkey's principal holiday resort, is an attractive
city with shady, palm-lined boulevards and a prize-winning
marina. In the picturesque old quarter, Kaleiçi,
narrow, winding streets and old wooden houses abut the
ancient city walls. Since its founding in the second
century BC by Attalos II, a king of Pergamon, who
named the city Attaleia after him, Antalya has been
continuously inhabited. The Romans, Byzantines and
Seljuks successively occupied the city before it came
under Ottoman rule. The elegant, fluted minaret of the
Yivli Minareli Mosque in the center of the city, built
by the Seljuk sultan Alaeddin Keykubat in the 13th-century,
has become Antalya's symbol. The Karatay Medrese (theological
college) in the Kaleici district, from the same period,
exemplifies the best of Seljuk stone carving. The two
most important Ottoman mosques in the city are the
16th-century Murat Pasa Mosque, remarkable for its
tile decoration, and the 18th-century Tekeli Mehmet
Pasa Mosque. Neighboring the marina, the attractive
late 19th-century iskele Mosque is built of cut stone
and set on four pillars over a natural spring. The Hidirlik
Kulesi (tower) probably was originally constructed as
a lighthouse in the second century. The Kesik Minaret
Mosque attests to the city's long history in its
succession of Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman
renovations. When Emperor Hadrian visited Antalya in
130 AD a beautifully decorated three-arched gate was
built into the city walls in his honor. Near the
marina the two towers ranking the gate and other
sections of the walls still stand. The clock tower in
Kalekapisi Square was also part of the old city's
fortifications. In the Ataturk and Karaalioglu Parks,
with their colourful exotic towers and the bay's
shimmering water in front of you and the mountains
behind, you will have no doubt why Antalya has become
such a popular resort. An Aqua Park, on the eastern
coast, has every kind of water sport, including many,
interesting water-slides. The award-winning Antalya
Kaleici Marina and Leisure Center is considered one of
the loveliest marinas in Turkey This center can well
meet every tourist's need with its many souvenir shops,
friendly cafes and restaurants as well as yacht
moorings and services. Sail in the morning and enjoy
the restful peace of the marina in the afternoon. The
old city walls, lit at night, lend an atmosphere of
serenity and timelessness. The Archaeological Museum,
with remains from the Paleolithic Age to Ottoman times,
offers a glimpse of the area's rich history. This
museum was awarded by the European Council in 1988 as
the best museum of the year. You'll have the chance to
explore these places of interest with our professional
guides. The Ataturk Museum displays objects used by
the founder of the Turkish Republic. (Both open
weekdays except Monday) The Antalya Altin Portakal
(Golden Orange) Film and Art Festival, field in the
autumn, attracts both participants and visitors. The
ancient theatre in Aspendos makes an impressive
setting for some of the festivals plays and concerts.
Antalya also hosts annual jewellery fairs.
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