Daily excursions from Side
Perge
An important city of ancient Pamphylian, Perge (18 km from
Antalya) was originally settled by the Hittites around 1500
BC St. Paul preached some of his first sermons here. The
theater's stage has finely carved marble relieves; other
carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium.
Amateur archaeologists will want to see the handsome city
gate flanked by two lofty towers, a long colonnaded road
once paved with mosaics and lined with shops, a large agora,
the public baths and a gymnasium. The name Perge comes from
Anatolian dialect; nonetheless, in ancient times the townsmen
believed that it had been founded by Greek heroes after
the siege of Troy. Perge is also know because it is the
birth-place of the mathematician Apollonius, author of a
famous treatise on geometry.
Other structures include the necropolis, city walls, gymnasium,
Roman Baths, memorial fountain and the Greek and Roman gates.
Termessos
In the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, is located on a natural
plateau flanked by two mountains at 1040 meters above from
the sea level. It is one of the best preserved archaeological
sites in south Turkey and the only town that Alexander the
Great never managed to conquer. During the 2nd and 3rd centuries
B.C., Termessos was at the peak of its glory and boasted
as many as 150,000 inhabitants; most of its buildings also
date back to this period. Later on, it was severely damaged
by an earthquake and gradually become less populated until
it was completed deserted in the 7th century A.D. Of all
the ruins, the most impressive by far is the Theatre; hewn
out of the rock, it offers a view as far as Antalya. An
outstanding feature of Termessos remains the large number
of tombs, all around the slopes to the east, west and south.
Olympos
(75 km to Antalya) Near Kemer are the remains of ancient
Olympos founded during the 3rd century B.C. and pirates'
den before becoming a Roman Empire. The ancient city of
Olympos is situated on the southern side of Mt. Tahtali.
Oleander and laurel bushes shade the Olympos Valley, which
you can approach by land and sea. The play of light on the
quiet pools of water enhances the mosaics in the bath. A
temple gate and theater also remain from antiquity. The
outer walls and towers around the bay date from the Middle
Ages. North of Olympos up from Cirali Beach, is Yanartas
(at a height of 300 meters) where according to mythology
the Lycian hero Bellerephon, mounted on his winged horse
Pegasus slew the fire-breathing monster, Chimera. Gas, which
seeps from the earth, burns brightly at night at this site,
which the Byzantine also considered a religious area. Homer
narrates in the IV book of the Illiad that it was the dwelling-place
of Chimaera, the fire breathing monster, part lion, goat
and serpent, which gave it its name.
Apart from the ruins, Olympos is well known for its simple
tree house camps, where most tourists stay, and a natural
environment thanks to forests and vineyards near to a beautiful
beach.
Ariassos
The ancient remains of Ariassos, around 50km from
Antalya, are located on a slope and contain baths and rock
tombs.
Phaselis
Phaselis founded by Rhodes at the beginning of
the 6th century B.C., it soon became an important harbour,
as can be deduced from the ships portrayed on coins. The
Theatre dates back to the 2th century A.D. The arches of
the Aqueduct that supplied the city stand out the green
of the pines. Lastly, one can admire the Baths and the paved
road that leads to the gate erected in honor of the emperor
Hadrian. This antiquity harbour city were once a major commercial
center/ The ruins of aqueducts, agoras, baths, a theater,
Hadrian’s Gate and an Acropolis reveal the city’s
historical importance. From the south harbour, look up at
Mountain Tahtali (Mt.Olympos) for a spectacular view. The
sheltered sandy beaches make a superb playground, and the
waters are calm and safe for swimmers.
Limyra
Believed to have been in existence since the 5th century,
Limyra is still in existence despite a massive earthquake
in the mid 19th century although was emptied in the 7th
and 9th centuries after the Arab invasions. The city, which
is 11km south, composes of three section; the acropolis,
areas of settlement, and necropolis.
Arycanda
Excavations of this city reveal that it probably existed
from the 5th century BC, and controlled much of the Arycanda
valley. Having survived a destructive earthquake in 240
AD, the city maintained its prominence until the 11th century,
and its most important structures still survive today.
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