Antalya is the 5th largest city in Turkey. It has had many civilisations for thousands of years and has the most antique cities starting from Lycians to Lydians and Pamphylia to Pergamon. Its original name, Attaleia, means the city of Attalus II of Pergamum, who founded the metropole. It was ruled for centuries by the Roman Empire, having been visited by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, whose name was immortalised here at the triumphal arch known as Hadrian's Gate. The Byzantine Empire followed suit, and the Seljuk Turks arrived in the early 13th century. One century later it became part of the Ottoman Empire, which collapsed after WWI. During those troubled times, Antalya was ceded to Italy, but regained by Atatürk's army in 1921, and made the capital of Antalya Province.
This rich history makes the city a must-visit. You will see many Roman, Byzantine, Seljukian and Ottoman monuments, for the old town is a perfect mix of all those cultures. Understand the evolution of Roman temples into churches, and then into mosques. In the “Kaleiçi”, which means “inside walls” in Turkish, you will see its special historical landscapes, like Hadrian’s Gate, the Singing Fountain or the Attalus Monument. With this tour, you will understand the many stories surrounding Antalya!