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Antalya is a large town and tourist destination, situated on the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey. It is the capital city of Antalya Province. The population of the city is 603,190 (2000 census) but reaches up to two million in summers at the height of tourism season.
Situated on a steep cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is a picturesque city surrounded by mountains. Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, have transformed the city into an international resort. With its airport and central location, Antalya is "the capital of Turkish tourism", a gateway for the Turkish riviera and many historical sites. Furthermore, with its palm-lined boulevards, its prize-winning marina, the unspoilt historical neighbourhood of Kaleici, and the modern developments along the coast, the city of Antalya is a major attraction in its own right.
Antalya has plenty of accomodation, a very hot climate and many places to visit both in and around the city, including traces of Pamphylian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and cultures.
Ataturk claimed without doubt Antalya is the most beautiful place in the world.
The economy of Antalya depends on a mixture of tourism, agriculture, and commerce, with some light industry. Agricultural production includes citrus fruits, cotton, cut flowers and even bananas. Antalya is a leading agriculture center of Turkey due to its suitable ecology. Antalya Metropolitan Municipality's covered wholesale food market complex meets 65% of the wet fruit and vegetable demand of Turkey.
The tourism boom has brought migrant labour to the city, fueled the growth of a large construction industry and provided transportation and other large-scale infrastructure which has led to Antalya becoming the hub of commerce in this part of Turkey.
 ANTALYA TODAY
The city as a whole has grown huge now and the infrastructure such as roads and drains are struggling to catch up, but there are still areas that are very attractive indeed: Kaleici, with its narrow cobbled streets of historic Turkish and Greek houses is the old center of Antalya, now mainly hotels, gift shops, and many, many bars. The big new hotels such as the Sheraton are along the coast above the Konyaalti and Lara beaches, and indeed spread along the coast in both directions far beyond the city of Antalya itself.
In summer the town is heaving with tourists both from Turkey itself and sun-seeking foreigners, many from Britain and Germany and for the last few years a large number from Russia as well. On summer evenings it is too hot and humid to sleep and Antalya hums with the sound of people buzzing around on scooters or cracking open seeds and nuts with their teeth as they parade the streets with their friends and families. In winter the town is cool and quiet.
Antalya has now acquired a rich middle-class and the associated developments such as private colleges, drug-taking and luxury cars. The tree-lined avenue along the cliff-top to Konyaalti is one of Antalya's best-known locations, lined with luxury apartments and posh shops; the other major shopping street is Isiklar Caddesi.
Antalya is not all wealth and glamour of course and there are large neighbourhoods of working families struggling to survive in this hot climate, where employment is seasonal. There is a military base in the city.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF ANTALYA
- Kaleici: the historical center of the city; now restored as the touristic centre of the city with its hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping. Kaleici retains much of its historical character and the restoration won the Golden Apple Prize, the Oscar of tourism.
- Ancient monuments include the City Walls, and the Clock Tower.
- Antalya Museum: Prize winning archaeology museum.
- Kaleici Museum: Newly opened by the Mediterranean Civilizations Research Center (Akdeniz Medeniyetleri Arastirma Merkezi) see also their annual journal.
- Hadrian's Gate: constructed in 2nd century BC by the Romans in honour of the Emperor Hadrian.
- Kesik Minare (Broken Minaret): Once a Byzantine Panaglia church, later converted into a mosque.
- Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret): It was built by the Seljuks. Decorated with dark blue and turquoise tiles, the minaret eventually became the symbol of the city.
- Karatay Medresesi, Hidirlik Tower, Ahi Yusuf Mescidi, Iskele Mosque, Murat Pasa Mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque, Balibey Mosque, Musellim Mosque, Seyh Sinan Efendi Mosque and Osman Efendi Mosque are other important Islamic buildings in the city.
- "Han"s are Seljuk or Ottoman inns which have architectural significance. Examples in Antalya include Evdir Han, Kirkoz Han, Alara Han and Castle and Sarapsu (Serapsu) Han.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS AROUND ANTALYA
- Aspendos: A Pamphilian city, 50 km from Antalya city on the Antalya-Alanya highway.
- Termessos: A Pisidyan city situated high on a mountain with remnants of an agora, theatre and an odion. It has a reputation of being the most magnificent necropolis on the Mediterranean, 35 km northwest of Antalya.
- Ariassos: 48 km. along the Antalya-Burdur highway and before arriving at the village of Dag turn left and Ariassos is 1 km. further on. A city of antiquity, Ariassos was built in a valley and could survey its surroundings. The gate, the baths, the rock tombs and the mausoleum are almost intact.
- Perge: 18 km northeast of Antalya. The ruins are spread on two hills, the theatre on one and the acropolis on the other. According to the legend the city was built by three heroes from Troy.
SHOPPING IN ANTALYA
Antalya has many shopping centers with world famous brands. For tourists, some of the best shopping for gold, carpets and leather may be found in the Kaleici district (also known as the old city ) near the city walls. Also Cumhuriyet, Gulluk, Ataturk and Isiklar are the main shopping avenues. There are also colourful daily open air vegetable and fruit markets.
NIGHT LIFE IN ALANYA
Antalya pulses after dark with what is undeniably the Turkish south coast's liveliest and craziest nightlife, centred on a wide variety of clubs and bars. Most bars double as discos, and most of the hotels offer floor shows, usually with belly-dancing, that are open to non-guests.
The biggest spots for all night dancing are Club Ally, Club Arma (old Club 29) and Club Ceila but those who just want a quiet, cool drink gravitate to the waterfront bars in Kaleici or elsewhere to catch a sea breeze and have a beer or raki in the open air.
Konyaalti Beach Park and Lara Beach - The Beach Park is close to the city centre and is lined with clubs and bars. The daytime beach clubs turn into night clubs at sunset.
CLIMATE
The mild weather conditions of this part of the Mediterranean attract holidaymakers in all seasons. 300 days of the year are sunny and in Antalya solar systems provide energy for most buildings. Since the area is closed to the cold northerly winds, it is characterized by the typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and moderately warm and rainy winters.
Apart from a few wet weeks in winter, one can swim in the sea all year round; the sea temperature never goes below 15oC and in summer is around 29oC. In the area with sunny weather for 10 months a year the temperature climbs up to 45oC in July and August. The sea breeze and the northeasterly winds blowing from inland relieve the area under this temperature.
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
- A number of sports championships including motor rallies.
- Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival Turkey's largest film festival. Last week of September
- Antalya Festival September
- Mediterranean International Music Festival October, 6 days
- Antalya Honey Festival Gundogmus, August
- Antalya International Folk Music and Dance Festival Competition - Last week of August
- Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival - June and July
- Antalya Piano Festival October
- Antalya Painting Festival September
- Beachpark Rock Festival October
- Kas-Demre Festival December
- Mediterranean Golden Orange Wrestling Kumluca, May
Retrieved from Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia.
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Sunset in Antalya
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