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PATARA

At about 10 kms. beyond Kalkan on the Kalkan-Fethiye highway you turn south and continue 10 kms. along the road to Patara. The painted ceramics found in the acropolis prove that the city existed in the 5th century B.C. Patara opened its doors to Alexander the Great, thereby earning the status of an important harbour city, in addition to having been the birthplace of St. Nicholas. The triple gateway through which one enters Patara is thought to have been built in 100 A.D. One of its most important edifices is its theatre which is now buried in sand.

 

XANTHOS

This is the oldest and the largest city of the mountain province of Lycia, settled in the valley of the Xanthos river. Until the Persian invasion it was an independent state. When the people of Xanthos,who had bravely tried to defend their city, realized that they could not repulse the invasion, they first killed their women committed mass suicide by throwing themselves into the flames. About 80 surviving families and people who immigrated there rebuilt the city, but a fire which broke out about 100 years later razed it to the ground. In spite of this, the city was again rebuilt and, as a result of establishing good relations with the west, was considered as an important centre. However, Xanthos again met with an unfortunate end. As a result of resisting the taxes the Athenians wanted to impose on them in 429 B.C., the city was largely destroyed and the inhabitants were drawn into a war. And thus Xanthos became "a city of disasters". The city itself consists of the Lycian acropolis and the parts remaining outside it, as well as the Roman acropolis. The most interesting building is the Roman theatre and the edifices of the theatre's western shoreline. Of these the most famous is the Harpy Monument, which is a family sarcophagus situated on a rock. The original of this relief-decorated sarcophagus is in the British Museum, and a very good copy of this is in its place. Close by can be seen very interesting Lycian sarcophagi from the 6th and 1st centuries B.C.

 

LETOON

To reach Letoon, you turn west one kilometer beyond the road from KINIK to Fethiye and continue 5 km. The history of Letoon is closely linked with that of Xanthos. It is known to have been one of the most important religious centers of the Lycian region. Due to the rising water level, archeological digs have been suspended. The remains unearthed indicate they belong to the period between the 7th century B.C. and the 6th century A.D. The most important edifice is the Greek style theater which has been preserved until our day.

 

THE FORTRESS AND YACHT HARBOR

The ancient city center enclosed by the sea and land walls is today called the "Kale Ici" (Inner Bailey). The streets and buildings still bear the marks of Antalya's history. The characteristic of the houses do not lie only in their architecture but reflect the living habits, customs and social ways of the inhabitants of ancient Antalya and are thus a valuable source of information.

This streets within the bailey are narrow, and stretch upwards from the harbor and along by the walls. The difference in the houses shows the economic status of the owners or the purpose for which they were used. However, they share many common factors. Most of them were built of masonry interspersed with timber.

Each one has a front and back garden. They are very few windows on the street side of the first floor of the house. On the top floor is a "cumba" or trellised projection in harmony with the architecture of the house and street, adorned with wooden ornaments. The center of the house is on the ground floor and opens onto a paved courtyard called "taslik" and where there are wooden benches. This leads into the ground floor rooms and there is also a staircase to the upper floors. The ground floor is largely the house's servicing area and consists of the kitchen, storage room, etc. while the upper floor contains the living quarters, although kitchen and storage room can sometimes be seen on the top floor. The upper floor rooms are larger and lighter with large windows. In some of these houses the top floor rooms have two rows of windows, one on top of the other, and in some cases the upper rows do not have any glass only wooden lattices. The bottom row can be opened. In the upper part of some of the "cumba" are small pieces of glass, sometimes colored. A few of the buildings within the harbor have been restored and restoration is continuing. Today in the inner bailey, can be found places of entertainment, guesthouses, restaurants, shops selling souvenirs and old carpets and other necessities, a supermarket servicing the yacht as well as other amenities required by them, and it is in fact an attractive center of tourism.

The port of Antalya was formerly considered after Mersin as the only port on Turkey's western seaboard where ships could dock. However, today it is used exclusively as a yacht harbor. After the new industrial harbor west of Antalya wentTHE CITY WALLS

The ancient city of Antalya was protected by two walls, in the shape of a horseshoe, one enclosing it along the shore and the other inland. In addition, there were walls within the city separating the various settlements, and a great number of towers on the outer walls at 50 paces from each other. These walls date back to ancient times and, as was the general rule, the Romans built on the Hellenistic foundations and these were subsequently widens and repaired by the Seljuks. Many stone blocks with ancient inscriptions were used and the walls were well protected until the end of the 19th century. Today in the city can be seen the remains of some of the walls, a few turrets, Hadrian's Gate, the Clock Tower, and the Hidirlik Tower. into operation, the former port became known as the Yacht Harbor.

 

THE CITY WALLS

The ancient city of Antalya was protected by two walls, in the shape of a horseshoe, one enclosing it along the shore and the other inland. In addition, there were walls within the city separating the various settlements, and a great number of towers on the outer walls at 50 paces from each other. These walls date back to ancient times and, as was the general rule, the Romans built on the Hellenistic foundations and these were subsequently widens and repaired by the Seljuks. Many stone blocks with ancient inscriptions were used and the walls were well protected until the end of the 19th century. Today in the city can be seen the remains of some of the walls, a few turrets, Hadrian's Gate, the Clock Tower, and the Hidirlik Tower.

 

HADRIAN'S GATE

This is one of the best preserved monuments in Antalya. This Roman edifice was built in 130 A.D. to honor the Emperor Hadrian. Formerly the city walls enclosed the outside of the gate and it was not used for many years. This may be the reason why it has not been destroyed, and it was only revealed when the walls collapsed. It is considered as Pamphylia's most beautiful Gate. The upper part has three apertures in the shape of a cupola, and except for the pillars is built entirely of white marble. The ornamentation is very striking. The original Gate was two storeys but little is known of the top storey.

On either side of the Gate are towers, which are known not to have been built at the same time. The southern one is known as the Julia Sancta tower and is a work of the Hadrian era. It was constructed of plain stone blocks. While the base of the northern tower belongs to antiquity, the upper part is left over from the Seljuks.

It is worth while stopping in front of the Gate and reflecting for a few moments. On the one hand you are standing on modern Antalya's dual carriageway, lined with palm and orange trees, Ataturk Caddesi, while behind you is ancient Attaleia, the past and the present separated by Pamphylia's most beautiful Gate, which itself has on either side towers representing the art and civilization of two different epochs. This blending of the epochs is something peculiar to Antalya and can be often seen.

THE HIDIRLIK TOWER

This tower, which has a square base surmounted by a cylindrical edifice, can be seen at the southern most point of the land walls. Belonging to ancient times, there is a large square block in the interior. The tower is a very solid building and, from the shape of the inside, it is thought to have been used for defense or to send out signals by lighting a fire.

 

THE TRUNCATED MINARET MOSQUE

Examination of this building reveals that it dates to the 2nd century A.D. and that in the 5th century A.D. a basilica was built on an ancient temple. The son of Bayazit II, Sultan Korkud, transformed it into a mosque and had a minaret added. When a fire broke out in the 19th century the timber section of the minaret was burnt out, and since then it has been called the "truncated minaret". It is to this day in a state of disrepair and does not function as a mosque, but as visitors can see ancient, Byzantine and Seljuk remains all at one time, it still serves as an unusually interesting sight.

 

THE FLUTED MINARET AND COMPLEX

The "Kalekapisi" neighborhood is where number of buildings of Seljuk origin are concentrated, and consist of the following: the Fluted (Yivli) Minaret, the Yivli Mosque, the Giyaseddin Keyhusrev Medrese, the Seljuk Medrese, the Mevlevi Han, the Zincirkiran Mausoleum and the Nigar Hatun Mausoleum.

The Fluted Minaret is one of the first Muslim edifices in Antalya and is an 18th century work of the Seljuk period. Its base is of hewn stone and the trunk of bricks and turquoise colored tiles, and it has eight grooves. This minaret has now become the symbol of Antalya. It is 38 meters high and the top is reached by 90 steps.

The Yivli Minaret Mosque is to the west of the Truncated Minaret. It is the oldest example of the multicupola construction in Anatolia; it is covered by six semi-spherical cupolas. It was built in 1372 by Balaban Tavsi and it can be seen that ancient ruins have been used in addition to other products in its construction.

Giyaseddin Keyhusrev had the Medrese built in his name by Atabey Armagan in 1239. Facing the entrance of this building are the ruins of what is thought to be a 13th century Seljuk Medrese.

The Zincirkiran Mausoleum is north of the Fluted Minaret in the upper garden and is of Seljuk design. However, because of the simplicity of the exterior, of having windows, and the tombs being at a lower level, it has the characteristics of the Ottoman Mausoleums. In was built in 1379 and contains three tombs.

The Nigar Hatun Mausoleum is also north of the Fluted Minaret. It is of simple design and is hexagonal in shape. The Seljuk style mausoleum dates back to 1502.

It is believed that the Mevlevis house to the west of the Zincirkiran Mausoleum was built by Aladdin Keykubat in 1225. Its inscription has been effaced, but the building has been repaired and is today used as a fine arts gallery.

 

ISKELE MOSQUE

This is a very small and pretty mosque in the old Yacht Harbor. It is not known when it was built, but it was repaired within the framework of the Inner Bailey restoration project.

ANTIOCHEIA AD CRAGUM

It is located at the east of Gazipasha, in a village called " South Village ( Guney Koy ) " which is 18 km away from the town. The area has taken its name from the King of Kommagene, 4th Antiochus. The ruins of the city gathered on three hills. On the first hill, from west to east, located a castle from the Middle Ages, on the second hill there is a colonnaded street, an agora, a bath, a victory arch and a church, lastly, there is a Necropolis on the third hill. The buildings of the old city dated to the Roman and Byzantium periods. At the Necropolis of the city, the monumental graves with cradle vaults and precourtyards are preserved well. The temple in the area must have been built for the God " Zeus Lamotes "

ADANDA - LAMOS

This ancient city is located at the 15th km. to northeast of Gazipasa. It was built at the peak of a mountain, 2 km. to the east of Adanda. The city is surrounded with city walls. There is a big tower at the east gate of the city. We can mention two other temples and a fountain carved into the rocks at the other ruins of the city. Also at the Necropolis there are very important one-piece-carved-stone sarcophagi. Possibly the city was the capital of the area called " Lamotis ". The ruins reflect the culture and the art of Clycia. The peak period of the city must have been during the reign of Gallianus.

NEPHELIS

It is located 12 km away from Gazipasha, in a village called " Bananacity Village ( Muzkent Koy ) ". South of the city surrounded with sea and rocky hills. The old city is on the Acropolis and the ruins lie east to west. The buildings of the ruins are a castle from the Middle Ages, an odeon, a temple, the waterways and a necropolis which were dated to Roman and Byzantium periods. The inscriptions from the city are displayed at Alanya Museum. It consists of eulogies for the Byzantium Emperor Xenon. Also we can see the name of the Mayor of Clycia Cornelius Dexter, in another inscription. This inscription has been written from the people of the city and the Council of State. The small Odeon in the city represents the cultural activities of those times.

SELINUS

The old city is located close to Gazipasa. The Acropol was built on a hill. In this city there is a Middle Age castle. The walls and the towers of the castle are well preserved. There are also a church and a cistern on the Acropolis. The ruins of the city consist of baths, an agora, a kiosk, water canals, arches and a necropolis. Selinus is one of the most important cities of the mountainous area of Clickya. The city is named after the Roman Emperor Traian, who died in this city.

KIZIL KULE (RED TOWER)

After capturing Alanya in 1221, Sultan Aladdin Keykubat gives an order to build a monument which will ensure that Alanya, the symbol of the Turkish rule over the seas, will always stay under the sovereignty of the Turks. Kizil Kule, which still stands strong in its grandeur as it was the day it was built, is named after the reddish stones used in the lower section also after the bricks in the upper section. The cut stones used in the lower section of the tower are believed to be brought from the east of the Dim Strait. Due to the site that Kizil Kule is built on, there is 2 meters difference in elevation between the west side and the east side of the tower. Therefore the height in the east side is 35 meters and the height in the west side is 33 meters. Portraying a smooth octagonal shape the tower is of five storeys. At Kizil Kule, the section which rises up to the fourth floor right in the middle forms the backbone of the tower, is also used as an extension of the museum to exhibit ethnographic artifacts used around Alanya. It is known that water requirement throughout the year was met by collecting the rain water into the cistern during the winter months with the use of small conduits around the tower.

 

THE SELJUK SHIPYARD

This shipyard was built two years after the Kizil Kule (Red Tower) in 1228 by Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat. With this effort the Sultan realized his wish of becoming "Sultan -ul- bahreyn" (the Sultan of the two seas) by preventing possible attacks that may come from the east. The shipyard is 56.5 meters long, 44 meters wide and consists of five chambers. Each chamber is 7.70 meters wide and 42.30 meters deep.

 

ALARA FORTRESS

This is an unusual tower built on a mountain rising straight up from the bed of the Alara stream which is 200 m. north of the Alara Han. It is not known when it was built, but it was repaired by the Seljuks when they captured it in 1231 and it was used for a long time during the Ottoman era.

 

ALARA INN

Thirty kilometres before reaching Alanya on the Antalya-Alanya highway,one has to make a turn to Alara Han and continue 10 kms. It was built in 1231 on the orders of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat I. It is a very solid construction, entered through a gate with inscriptions and lion heads. It has somewhat the appearance of a fortress as if warding it from aggressors.

 

LEATRES-LEATRI

This historical city is situated 22 kms. from the center of the province, on a hill of 900 m. high Cebelireis Mountain, and is surrounded with sharp drops in the east, west and south directions. Today it is known that in relation to this historical town, coins were minted in the names of Trojan and Empress Herennia Etruscill. Found here churches, baths, cisterns, various dwellings, a small stadium, a theater, colonnaded streets and worshipping places almost all are in a bad condition. The remnant next to the stadium is the center of a church standing with its side naves and abscissa and having traces of red and light blue coloured frescoes in the interior. The innumereous inscriptions and the reliefs depicting the claws of an eagle and ox heads often seen in these ruins inherently takes one back deep into history. According to the inscriptions that are available, this area lived its best period between the first and third centuries. The temples that the city had between these centuries are Zeus-Megistos, Apollon and Caesar.

 

SYEDRA ARCHEOLOGICAL RUINS

The city of Syedra is situated on a hill which is the demarcation line between the present day villages of Kargycak and Seki. It is at a distance of 20 kms. to the center of Alanya. The center of the city or the big city is situated on a large hill. Now if you like, let's walk on the colonnaded street on which once the Kings and Queens used to stroll. This road is situated to the north of the temple and extends from east to west. We shall finally conclude our visit after walking along the colonnaded street and observing various ruined buildings on both sides of the road and the wall tabloids made with different colored mosaics that have lost very little from their originality after so many centuries. From the inscriptions and the coins minted in the names of Marcus Aureoles and Antonius between the years 138 and 161 found in the area, this big city is known to be the remnants of the Roman period.

 

IOTAPE HISTORICAL PORT CITY

Iotape, which is known as Aytap by the local people, is 30 kms. to the east of Alanya. This city was named after King Antiachus' wife Iotape. During the progressing years, especially in the Roman Emperor Trainus (98-117) period, he had coins minted for his name. Although, this city has the appearance of the Roman period, we do not have any evidence of the clans that might have lived before, therefore Iotape can be rightly said to be a Roman period city. The city has a natural port measuring 50x100 meters.

 

SARAPSA INN

This site, 15 km. before Alanya and was built during the time of the Seljuk Sultan Giyaseddin Keyhusrev II (1236-1245). It was constructed on a large area and the stone ceiling is still in a good state of repair. It is closed to the south. It, too, has the appearance of a fortress; its ornamental gate is on the north side. A small mosque is next to it.

 

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