Antalya - -[IranProud]-

**-[Adolf]-** · 07-05-2008

Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. It is the capital city of Antalya Province. The population of the city is 775.157 (2007 census). The population of Antalya is 798.507 (2008 estimate).

The city of Antalya corresponds to the lands of ancient Pamphylia to the east and Lycia to the west. Antalya has a hot climate.

Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Atatürk claimed that without doubt Antalya is the most beautiful place in the world.

Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, transformed the city into an international resort.

Geography:

The city of Antalya is situated by the Gulf of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast. The Taurus mountain range of southern Anatolia runs parallel to the Mediterranean in an east-west direction, resulting in the formation of narrow coastal plains, which are surrounded by mountains on three sides and open south to the Mediterranean sea. On some parts of the coast, the mountains plunge sharply into the sea, forming small natural bays and peninsulas. Antalya is situated on a plain which consists of two flat areas formed of falez rock at a height of 35 m, where the mountains recede from the shore. On the first rocky plain on the coast is the town centre and on the plain behind it, named Kepezüstü, small settlement units have been established.

-Etymology

In the 1st century BC, the Pergamum king Attalos II ordered his men 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 Attalos founded the city giving it the name "Attaleia" (Greek: Αττάλεια) which later became Adalia and then Antalya.

Economy:

The economy of Antalya depends on a mixture of tourism, agriculture, and commerce, with some light industry. Agricultural production includes citrus fruits, cotton, cut flowers and even bananas. Antalya is a leading agriculture center of Turkey due to its suitable ecology. Antalya Metropolitan Municipality’s covered wholesale food market complex meets 65% of the fresh fruit and vegetable demand of Turkey.

-Tourism:
Places to visit in the city include sites with traces of Lycian,Pamphylian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and cultures.

Kaleiçi, with its narrow cobbled streets of historic Turkish and Greek houses is the old center of Antalya, now mainly hotels, gift shops, and bars. New hotels such as the Sheraton are along the coast above the Konyaalti and Lara beaches.

The tourism boom has brought migrant labour to the city, fueled the growth of a large construction industry and provided transportation and other large-scale infrastructure which has led to Antalya becoming the hub of commerce in this part of Turkey.

In summer tourists include Turkish, British, Israelis, Arabs Germans and Russians.

Culture:

-Cuisine
Antalya’s most famous include Piyaz, made with tahini (crushed sesame seeds), garlic, walnuts and boiled dried beans, spicy hibeş with mixed cumin and tahini, şiş köfte, tandır kebap, domates civesi, şakşuka and various cold Mediterranean dishes with olive oil. One local speciality is tirmis, boiled seeds of the lupin, eaten as a snack.

-Festivals and events:
* A number of sports championships including motor rallies.
* Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival: Turkey's largest film festival, last week of September
* Antalya Festival: September
* Mediterranean International Music Festival: October, 6 days
* Antalya Honey Festival: Gündogmus, August
* Antalya International Folk Music and Dance Festival Competition: Last week of August
* Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival: June and July
* Antalya Piano Festival: October
* Antalya Painting Festival: September
* Beachpark Rock Festival: October
* Kas-Demre Festival: December
* Mediterranean Golden Orange Wrestling: Kumluca, May

- Fairs:
* Anfaş Food Product Fair February

Antalya has beaches like Konyaaltı, Lara and Karpuzkaldıran. Antalya also has waterfalls such as Düden, Manavgat and Kurşunlu waterfalls are major attractions for both local and foreign tourists. For winter sports, Beydağları and Saklikent are both natural beauties of the city.

There are a large number of mosques, churches, madrasahs, masjids, hans and hamams in the city. Kaleiçi, the harbor which the city walls enclose is the oldest part of the city. In Kaleiçi, Yivli Minare, Kesik Minare and historic houses are to be found. In Kaleiçi, there is traditional Turkish architecture which strives for harmony with the nature.

-Historic Sites in the city center:
* Kaleici: the historical center of the city; now restored as the touristic centre of the city with its hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping. Kaleici retains much of its historical character and the restoration won the Golden Apple Prize, the Oscar of tourism.
* Ancient monuments include the City Walls, Hıdırlık Tower, Hadrian's Gate and the Clock Tower.
* Antalya Museum: Prize winning archaeology museum.
* Kaleiçi Museum: Opened in 2007 by the Mediterranean Civilizations Research Center (Akdeniz Medeniyetleri Araştırma Merkezi) see also their annual journal.
* Hadrian's Gate: constructed in 2nd century BC by the Romans in honour of the Emperor Hadrian.
* Kesik Minare (Broken Minaret): Once a Byzantine Panaglia church, later converted into a mosque.
* Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret): It was built by the Seljuks. Decorated with dark blue and turquoise tiles, the minaret eventually became the symbol of the city.
* Karatay Medresesi, Ahi Yusuf Mescidi, Iskele Mosque, Murat Paşa Mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque, Balibey Mosque, Musellim Mosque, Seyh Sinan Efendi Mosque and Osman Efendi Mosque are other Islamic buildings in the city.
* "Han"s are Seljuk or Ottoman inns which have architectural significance. Examples in Antalya include Evdir Han, Kırkoz Han, Alara Han and Castle and Sarapsu (Serapsu) Han.

-Sites of interest:
* Karpuzkaldıran
* Tünek Tepe
* Karaalioglu Park

-Historic sites:
* Aspendos: A Pamphylian city, 50 km (31 mi) from Antalya city on the Antalya-Alanya highway.
* Termessos: A Pisidian city situated high on a mountain with remnants of an agora, theatre and an odion. It has a reputation of being the most magnificent necropolis on the Mediterranean, 35 km (22 mi) northwest of Antalya.
* Ariassos: 48 km (30 mi). along the Antalya-Burdur highway and before arriving at the village of Dag turn left and Ariassos is 1 km (1 mi). further on. A city of antiquity, Ariassos was built in a valley and could survey its surroundings. The gate, the baths, the rock tombs and the mausoleum are almost intact.
* Perge: 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Antalya. The ruins are spread on two hills, the theatre on one and the acropolis on the other. According to the legend the city was built by three heroes from Troy.
* Olympos / ***ali areas; Two small rural villages located just over 80 km southwest from Antalya and boasts a beautiful 3.5 km secluded beach, the ruins of Olympos, the flames of the Chimaera / Yanartaş, as well as being a protected area by the WWF for the nesting of the Caretta Caretta or also known as the Loggerhead Sea Turtles.
* Phaselis is an ancient Lycian city in the province of Antalya in Turkey. It is located between the Bey Mountains and the forests of Olympos National Park, 16 km west of the touristic town of Kemer and on the 57th kilometre of the Antalya–Kumluca highway. Phaselis and other ancient towns around the shore can also be accessed from the sea by daily yacht tours.

Transportation:

Main transportation to the city is by air and land. Sea routes are still under development.

In 2007, the airport added a new terminal. The city is improving land and sea transportation as well.

The city has a main port at the south of the Konyaaltı. It is planing to launch local routes to Kemer.[citation needed]

-Public transportation

Antalya Bus Station (Otogar) through E87, D400, D650 routes.

There is a local bus system operated by a private corporation of the greater municipality.

The dolmus consists of municipal minibuses that travel a prescribed route.

Taxis are available.

A rail connection is in the planning stages.

The tram system runs from Antalya Museum and the Sheraton Voyager and Falez hotels, along the main boulevard to the city center at Kalekapisi, Hadrian's Gate, Karaalioglu Park, and ending at Talya Oteli. Trams depart on the hour and half-hour from the terminal (east and west), and reach Kalekapisi between 10 and 15 minutes later. The one-way fare is under $1.

Currently an 11,1 km light rail line is being built from one of the main city bus hub nortwest to the Zoo and beyond to suburban areas. The line is due to open in December 2008. It is planned to expand to the Airport, Lara and the Harbour til 2020.