Antalya, a famous Turkish city on the Mediterranean coast with more than one million citizens, is undoubtedly the “Turkish capital of tourism”. Antalya is the pearl of the Turkish Riviera, known for its blue coast, long sandy beaches and warm temperatures. This city is located on Anatolia’s south coast bordered by the impressive and rocky Taurus Mountains, which can be seen from the district Kemer. Situated from west to east on the Turkish coast respectively, the districts of Kemer, Belek, Side and Alanya welcome together millions of tourists each year, contributing to Antalya’s popularity in international tourism.
Antalya is an attractive city with long boulevards surrounded by palm trees, with its impressive seaport and picturesque old town “Kaleiçi”. This old town consists of narrow alleys, wooden houses and its seaport has received various awards for its beauty. For many, however, Antalya is known for its luxurious large-scale accommodations along the coast, guaranteeing great holidays with giant swimming pools, water slides and excellent Turkish cuisine.
The presence of various civilizations has shaped this region throughout the centuries. King Attalus II of Pergamon is known as the founder of Antalya in the second century BC, naming the city Attaleia or Attalia. Hereafter, the city has been governed by the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Seljuk Empire and the Ottoman Empire. With the Turkish War of Independence, Antalya has finally become part of the Turkish Republic. All of these various civilizations have left their own legacy. Some examples of interesting and famous sights to visit are the “Hadrian's Gate”, “Yivli Minare Mosque”, “Murat Pasha Mosque” and “Karaalioğlu Park” which has a breath-taking view overlooking the blue waters of the Mediterranean.
