|
|
|
The
Mediterranean |
|
| South of
the majestic Taurus Mountains, lie the shores of the Mediterranean
Sea with its beaches of fine sand, its vistas of uncommon
beauty, its many ancient ruins, its hidden coves and alluring
vacation getaways. Here history and mythology are inseparably
intertwined and there are many legendary stories that prove
this fact. Let us briefly share two of them. The monster Chimera,
who spews fire out of his mouth, is supposed to have lived
in the mountains west of Antalya. The Lydian hero, Bellerofontes,
cut the monsters head of with his sword. Today, the fire which
rises out of the ground on the southeastern slopes of Mount
Olympus (Tahtalı Dağ) is still said to be coming
from the mouth of Chimera. |
|
|
The second legend is
related to one of the unlucky love affairs of Apollo, the god of all the
fine arts. Apollo falls in love with a beautiful girl named Daphne, but
the girl is unresponsive to his overtures. One day while chasing Daphne
in an area close to Antakya, Daphne's feet turn into tree roots and her
hands and arms become branches and limbs and she turns into a laurel
tree, which is called 'defne' in Turkish. According to early sources,
Saint Paul was born in Tarsus and the mythological Santa Claus was
actually born in the town of Patara and lived and died in what is today
Kale. The shores of the Mediterranean are just as full of antique
artifacts as are the shores of the Aegean. In the ancient Lycian region
west of Antalya, one may see the matchless beauty of the mountain
cities, |
|
Termessos and
Arikand, as well as the coastal towns such as Olimpos, Kale, Kekova and
Kaş. The ancient cities of Perge, Aspendos and Side are located on the
coastal plain east of Antalya, which was called 'Pamphylia'. Antalya is
one of the Mediterranean's most important cities and is Turkey's hottest
vacation spot, with the Konyaltı beaches on the west and the Lara
beaches to the east lying at the foot of Antalya's massive mountain
range. It is an attractive holiday getaway with palm-lined streets,
beautiful parks, plentiful accommodation, restaurants, lots of
night-time entertainment and a cozy marina. The symbol of this city,
founded in the 2nd century BC is the Yivli Minaret, which dates back to
the Selçuk era. |
|
 |
|
The Asağı Düden Waterfall to the east of Antalya flows over
huge boulders into the sea. West of Antalya is the cute little holiday town of
Kemer, famous for its sandy beaches surrounded by pine forests and mountains.
The next big town east of Antalya is Alanya, a panoramic port city on the
southern slopes of the majestic Taurus Mountains surrounded with orange, lemon
and banana groves. Used by the Selçuk Sultan, Alaaddin Keykubat as a winter residence,
Alanya has a shipyard that dates back to the same era and was one of the most
advanced in the world at that time. It is also famous for its 9th century castle
and its charming beaches. Near Anamur is a castle from the Middle Ages. It
is situated between two beaches and is certainly as magnificent as any of the
castles along the coast. The road from Anamur to Silifke with its endless curves
and bends follows a route studded with breathtaking coastal vistas. |
 |
The dilapidated
caves near Narlıkuyu are called "Heaven and Hell" (Cennet ve
Cehennem). The "Heaven" cave, which is quite large, also has a small
church inside it. The castle of 'Kızkalesi', which is situated in
the water across from the medieval castle of Korykos, seems to rise
out of the sea itself. Two of the surprises which lie on the road to
Mersin are Kanlıdivane and Viranşehir, two old Roman cities. |
 |
|
With is charming
parks, its beach boulevards, commercial port and free trade zone,
Mersin is ones of the most modern cities on the Mediterranean. East of Tarsus, the
'Çukurova' plain is a fertile agricultural region known especially
for raising cotton. In the middle of this plain is found the city of
Adana, a rich city with a large textile industry. East of this
region is the Dörtyol (Issos) Plain where Alexander the Great
defeated the Persian king Darius. As a result of his victory, a port
city bearing his name was established and thus we have modern day
Iskenderun. Leaving Iskenderun to the southeast, the road goes
through the Belen Pass to Antakya (Antioch). This first Christian
community founded by Saint Peter has given Antakya a special
religious significance. The
first sermons were preached in a cave outside the city. It is visited today by
many as a site of pilgrimage. Antakya also has a mosaic exhibit of unusual beauty
in its museum. |
 |
Kahramanmaras is another province of the Mediterranean
waiting "to be discovered." Though its cuisine resembles in some ways
the cuisine of the surrounding regions, the peculiar and often subtle tastes of
the Kahramanmaras cuisine with its specially made orchid drink (salep), its world
famous ice-cream of goat and cows milk and its various peppers, along with its
gilded silver, leather and copper works, which were famous throughout the Ottoman
empire, are still alive and offer a unique experience to visitors. |
|
|
|
| Antalya |
|
|
| Because of the archeological and natural riches of the area, Antalya is called
the Turkish Riviera. The sea and sun, nature and history all come together in
magical harmony here where the best and cleanest beaches on the Mediterranean
are found. The 630 km shoreline of the province is literally strewn with ancient
cities and harbors, memorial tombs and golden beaches and it is laced with charming
little coves, lush forests and streams. With its palm-lined boulevards, its
internationally acclaimed marina and the charming castle with its
traditional architecture set amidst the bustle of a modern city,
Antalya is center of tourism in Turkey. |
 |
|
Antalya
hosts are wide range of sporting events: International Beach
Volleyball, the Triathlon, Golf Tournaments, Archery, Tennis,
Canoeing competitions and many more. The Cultural Center of Antalya,
which opened in 1995 host cultural and art events like plastic art,
music, theater and a number of exhibitions. |
|
|
|
Manavgat-Side |
 |
Manavgat
of Antalya city is a tourism center, where history and nature are within eachother
and all kinds of tourism activity can be performed.
philosopher Heraclitus.
|
|
|
 |
|
