Antalya Holidays Allow You to Witness Historic Attractions

by Amanda Sutcliffe Travel Deals

There was a time when Antalya was known simply as a gateway to the Turkish Riviera. In recent times, it has become a popular tourist destination and is explored by millions of tourists coming from different parts of the world. Located on the south-west coast of Anatolia region, this Turkish coastal city is bordered by the Taurus Mountains. It was established in 200 BC by the Attalid king, Attalus II. Later, it came under the rule of the Roman Empire and was ruled by many powerful empires in the years that followed. The city was briefly under the rule of Italy after World War I, but became a part of Turkey after the Turkish War of Independence.

Your Antalya holidays would allow you to visit the city’s most popular attractions. Among them is a maze-like old neighbourhood called Kaleici, which is a perfect place to take a pleasant stroll. It has fascinating cobblestone streets that are lined with restored Ottoman mansions with red and white shades. This part of Antalya has several boutique hotels, restaurants, art galleries, and souvenir shops. If you wish to go sightseeing around this old town, you'll also find plenty of interesting places worth visiting. Among them are the main square and an 18th-century mosque called Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque.

For those who wish to explore the rich history of this region, a visit to the Antalya Museum is highly recommended. It is among the largest museums in Turkey and has 13 exhibition halls, where thousands of historic artefacts are displayed. This museum is located in the Konyaalti district in the Antalya province. In 1988 it had won the 'European Council Special Prize'. Most of the interesting exhibits in this museum have been brought from the excavation sites located across the coast of Turkey. Exhibits ranging from the Bronze Age to the Byzantine era have been displayed in the archaeological section with a special emphasis on ruins brought from the areas nearby.

During your time spent in Antalya, you can also explore the Yivli Minare Mosque, which is also known as the Alaaddin Mosque. This historical mosque was built by the Seljuk Sultan, Alaaddin Keykubad I. It forms a part of the 'Kulliye' or complex of structures that includes Giyaseddin Keyhusrev Medrese, the vaults of Zincirkiran and Nigar Hatun, and the Seljuk and Dervish lodge. This mosque has been named after its fluted minaret known as 'Yivli Minare', which is a famous landmark in Antalya.

Hadrian's Gate is yet another interesting attraction worth visiting while holidaying in this coastal city of Turkey. It was discovered in the early 19th century by Rear-Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, an Irish-British hydrographer. Built by the Roman emperor called Hadrian, it comprises two colonnaded facades, a tower on both sides, and three entry arches that rise above four pylons. It was considered to be the most beautiful gate in Pamphylia, an ancient region in the southern parts of Asia Minor. The Northern Tower that forms a part of the entrance has its bottom section from the Roman times and the upper section was rebuilt by the Seljuk Sultan, Alaaddin Keykubad.