Know the History of Antalya with These 4 Attractions

Bordered by the Taurus Mountains, Antalya is one of the beautiful Turkish cities on the Mediterranean coast and is located on the south-west coast of Anatolia region. It was first settled in the 2nd century BC by the Attalid dynasty and was ruled by many powerful rulers, such as the Romans and the Ottomans, in the years that followed. Some of the fascinating structures that were built during those times exist even today and attract plenty of tourists visiting the city. During your holiday spent in this charming coastal city of Turkey, you'll get to explore some of these historic attractions:

1. Kaleici

You can utilise the amount saved while booking your flights to Antalya from London for enjoying the best offerings of Kaleici, which is the city's historic neighbourhood. It is an excellent place to take a stroll and you'll enjoy walking on the cobblestone streets, savouring some fascinating sights of old Ottoman mansions. This part of Antalya also has structures belonging to the Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk eras. Some of the traditional mansions have now been transformed into restaurants, boutique hotels, and shops selling handicrafts and other items. Among the prominent attractions in Kaleici are the 13th-century Yivli Minare Mosque, the 18th-century Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque, and Kesik Minare.

2. Yivli Minare Mosque

This historical mosque located in Kaleici was built by Alaaddin Keykubad I, an Anatolian Seljuk Sultan, in the year 1230. It is a part of a large complex of structures including the Seljuk and Dervish lodge and the Giyaseddin Keyhusrev Medrese. This mosque has been named after its fluted minaret called the 'Yivli Minare'. This minaret is a landmark of the city and has been included in the tentative list of World Heritage Sites. In the 14th century, a new mosque was constructed on the foundation of a Byzantine church by rulers of the Hamidid dynasty after destroying the original mosque.

3. Antalya Museum

One of the largest museums in Turkey, the Antalya Museum is located in the Konyaalti district and comprises an open-air gallery and 13 exhibition halls. The museum covers a vast area of 7,000 square metres. You can explore the history of Anatolia's Pamphylia and Mediterranean regions with a visit to this museum. Earlier, this museum operated in the Alaeddin and Yivli Minare mosques until it was moved to its present location in the year 1972. Later, it was organised in accordance with the modern concepts used in museums and was opened to the public in the year 1985.

4. Aspendos

Many tourists visiting Antalya make a day trip to this ancient site, which is home to a fabulous Roman theatre. This theatre is thought to be among the best-preserved structures in the world and is among the prominent tourist attractions in the country. Most of the ruins at the site were built during the 2nd and 3rd centuries when this region was in its period of glory. The theatre has been fully restored today and can accommodate about 15,000 individuals. It hosts the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival every year, which the Turkish State Opera and Ballet has been organising since 1994.