Turkey – Antalya
Antalya is surrounded by mountains and the Mediterranean. In the provincial capital, the sun shines purely statistically on 300 days a year. Antalya has 800,000 inhabitants.
The landmark of Antalya is the minaret of Yivli Minare Mosque, located in the city center. It was built in the 13th century under the Seljuk Sultan Kai Kobad I.
The coastline is lined with lemon, orange, banana and avocado plantations. In the immediate vicinity of Antalya are the tourist centers Belek, Manavgat and Side in the east and Kemer in the south. The province is rich in natural and historical treasures. In the old quarter “Kaleici” you can study the everyday life of the Turks.
One should definitely visit the archeological museum with its artefacts collection and the Atatürk Museum, which displays the utensils of the founder of the Turkish Republic. A tip are the traditional oil ring fights on the Yesil-Hochalm. Each June, musical performances such as the International Ballet and Opera Festival take place. An attraction of a special kind is the fruit and vegetable market with its fabulous offer, a veritable treasure trove to make great holiday pictures.
In the province of Antalya you can find many natural and historical sites worth seeing. 14 kilometers north of Antalya is the Upper Düden, a waterfall behind which you can walk. At the Lara beach (12 kilometers east of the city and with fine sand) the lower Düden falls from a height of 40 meters into the sea. You should also visit the Kursunulu Falls and Lake Nilüfer (18 kilometers from Antalya).
About 30 kilometers from Antalya, on the eastern slopes of Can Mountain, is the Kocain Cave. It was inhabited by people over 150,000 years ago. It is the oldest settlement area discovered in Turkey.
In the Gulluk Dagi National Park in the northwest of Antalya on the 1050 meter high plateau on the western slope of the Gulluk mountain extend the ruins of the city of Termessos.
Especially worth seeing is the old port of Antalya with the nearby old town. Here are numerous tourist shops and interesting wood carvings, carpet shops and restaurants. The steep descent from the old town is definitely worth it.
If you like fish, the Club Arma, a fantastic fish restaurant above the harbor with a wonderful panoramic view recommended. But there are also other restaurants on the harbor offering excellent fish dishes. In the harbor district there are many shops, here is always a lively bustle.