TOURISM GOLF CAPITAL OF THE TURKISH MEDITERRANEAN: ANTALYA, TURKEY

ANTALYA (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: 913;964;964;940;955;949;953;945; Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. It is the capital city of Antalya Province. The population of the city was 775.157 in the 2007 census. Antalya has a Mediterranean climate. Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, transformed the city into an international resort.

HISTORY

It is unknown when the site of the future city was first inhabited. Excavations in 2008 in the Dogu Garaji district of Antalya have uncovered remains dating to the third century, B.C, suggesting that the city was founded earlier when Attalos II, king of Pergamon, is believed to have founded the city then called Attalia (present day Antalya) in 150 B.C. to base his powerful naval fleet. Later Antalya became part of the Roman Republic in 133 BC when King Attalos III of Pergamum willed his kingdom to Rome at his death and the city grew and prospered in the Ancient Roman period. Christianity started to spread in the region after 2nd century. Antalya was visited by Paul of Tarsus, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 14:25-26), (in Antalya is referred to as Attalia). St. Paul and St. Barnabas went to Antalya and sailed from there to Antioch after preaching in Pisidia and Pamphylia. The city later became a naval base for the Christian Crusades against the Muslims in the Levant and in Cyprus.

It was a major city in the Byzantine Empire. It was the capital of the Byzantine Theme of Carabisiani (920;941;956;945; K945;961;945;946;951;963;953;940;957;969;957;, Thema Karav275;sian333;n), which occupied the southern coasts of Asia Minor and the Aegean Islands. At the time of the ascension of John II Comnenus (1118) it was an isolated outpost against the Turks, accessible only by sea. The following year, with the aid of his commander-in-chief John Axuch, John II drove the Turks from the land routes to Antalya and reconnected the city with the rest of the empire. The Qamar ad-Din, which has a sweet almond in its kernel. This fruit is dried and exported to Egypt, it is regarded as a great luxury.

The city, along with the whole region, was conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the early 13th century. Antalya was again the capital of the Turkish beylik of Teke; between 1321-1423 until its conquest by the Ottomans.

By the second half of the 17th century Evliya Çelebi recorded a city of narrow streets containing 3,000 houses in twenty Turkish neighborhoods and four Greek. The town had grown beyond the city walls and the port could hold up to 200 boats.

In the 18th century, in common with most of Anatolia, its actual lord was from the Dere Bey family. The family of Tekke Oglu, domiciled near Perge, though reduced to submission in 1812 by Mahmud II, continued to be a rival power to the Ottoman governor till within the present generation, surviving by many years the fall of the other great Beys of Anatolia. The records of the Levant (Turkey) Company, which maintained an agency here till 1825, contain information as to the local Dere Beys.

In the 19th century the population of Antalya increased as Turks from the Caucasus and the Balkans moved into Anatolia. By 1911 it was a city of about 25,000 people, including many Christians and Jews, still living in separate quarters, round the walled mina or port. The port was served by coasting steamers of the local companies only. Antalya (then Adalia) was picturesque, but ill-built and backward. The chief attraction for visitors to see was the city wall, outside which ran a promenade and which survives to this day.

Antalya is in south-west Anatolia, by the Gulf of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast. It is around 550 kilometres (342 mi) distant to Adana, Izmir or Ankara.

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 travertine rock at a height of 35 metres (115 ft), the mountains recede from the shore. The town centre is located on the first rocky plain on the coast.

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: 913;964;964;940;955;949;953;945;) which later became Adalia and then Antalya. CLIMATE Since the area is closed to the cold northerly winds, it is characterized by the typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and moderately warm and rainy winters. Around 300 days of the year are sunny, the sea temperature never goes below 15°C and in summer is around 28°C. The temperature can climb into the 40°Cs in July and August but low to mid 30°Cs is more typical. The sea breeze and the northeasterly winds blowing from inland help to make the high temperatures more bearable.

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.

Kaleici, with its narrow cobbled streets of historic Turkish and Greek houses is the old center of Antalya, now mainly hotels, gift shops, and bars. 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.

Antalya is in south-west Anatolia, by the Gulf of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast. It is around 550 kilometres (342 mi) distant to Adana, Izmir or Ankara.

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 travertine rock at a height of 35 metres (115 ft), the mountains recede from the shore. The town centre is located on the first rocky plain on the coast.

Cuisine

Antalya?s most famous include Piyaz, made with tahini (crushed sesame seeds), garlic, walnuts and boiled dried beans, spicy hibes with mixed cumin and tahini, sis (shish) kofte, tandir kebap, domates civesi (geevesi), saksuka (shakshuka) 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 national film festival, last week of September

International Eurasia Film Festival: International film festival held annually

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

Antalya has beaches Konyaalti, Lara and Karpuzkaldiran. Antalya also has waterfalls such as Duden, Manavgat and Kursunlu waterfalls are major attractions for both local and foreign tourists. For winter sports, Beydaglari and Saknt are both natural beauties of the city.

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

Historic Sites in the city center

The Yivli Minare, the symbol of the city, 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, Hidirlik Tower, Hadrian s Gate and the Clock Tower. 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 Pasa Mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Pasa 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, Kiikoz Han, Alara Han and le and Sarapsu (Serapsu) Han.

Museums Antalya Museum: Prize winning archaeology museum.

Kaleici Museum: Opened in 2007 by the Mediterranean Civilizations Research Center

Sites of interest

Karpuzkaldiran

Tunek Tepe

Karaalioglu Park

Historic sites

Those near the city include:

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 / Cirali 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 / Yanartas, 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.

Antalya is one of those rare places in the world, you can ski, swim and sun bathe, all during the same season.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya / http://www.nourgroupturkey.com