The Mediterranean and Antalya
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The Mediterranean and Antalya |
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The Turkish Riviera
In Antalya, the pine-clad Toros (Taurus) Mountains
sweep down to the sparkling clear sea resulting in an irregular coastline of
rocky headlands and secluded coves.
The region, bathed in sunshine for 300 days of the year, is a paradise for
sunbathing, swimming, and sports activities like wind surfing, water skiing,
sailing, mountain climbing and spelunking. Awaiting your discovery are important
historical sites set in a landscape of pine forests, olive and citrus groves and
palm, avocado and banana plantation.
The Turkish Riviera is the tourism capital of Turkey. Its full range of
accommodation, from tourist class to deluxe hotels, and the hospitable people of
Antalya will make your holiday comfortable and enjoyable.
Antalya
Surrounded by amazing scenery of sharp contrasts,
Antalya,
Turkey’s principal holiday resort, is an attractive city with shady palm-lined
boulevards and a prize-winning marina. In the picturesque old quarter of Kaleici, narrow, winding streets and old wooden houses abut the ancient walls. Antalya has been continuously inhabited since
its founding in 159 B.C. by Attalos II, a king of Pergamum, who named the city Attaleia
after himself. The Romans, Byzantines and Seljuks successively occupied the city
before it came under Ottoman rule. The elegant, fluted minaret of the Yivli
Minareli Mosque in the center of the city, Built by the Seljuk sultan Alaeddin
Keykubat in the 13th century, has become Antalya’s symbol.
The Archeological Museum, with
artifacts from the Paleolithic Age to Ottoman times, offers a glimpse of the
area’s rich history. Two colored ceramics dated at 5.400- 8.500 B.C. are worth
seeing.
On the eastern side of Can Mountain, 30 km from Antalya, the Karain Cave, which dates from the Paleolithic Age, is the site of the oldest settlement in Turkey. A single entrance, lit by the morning sun, opens onto three large interconnecting chambers. Although the little museum at the entrance displays some of the finds, most of the artifacts are housed in various museums throughout Turkey. Some of them are dated at 160.000 B.C.
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In Turkey, close to Antalya, Club Met Palmiye nestles around a vast beach between the wild peaks of the Taurus mountains and the warm, sparkling blue sea. The bungalows sit in the shade of a pine grove and the hotel looks out onto the Mediterranean: two complementary atmospheres for this great family Club Med Resort, home to a vast array of land and sea sports, with something for all ages. A dreamlike place to unwind and put yourself in the expert hands of our Club Med Spa* staff, the Resort offers a wealth of places to explore in a sun-drenched land at the gateway to the Orient. Beautiful grey sand private beach over 800 yards long; along the edge of the sea, a mixture of sand and small stones and pebbles. Defined swimming area. Equipped with zones protected from the sun, deckchairs, showers and a beach bar. Gardens consisting essentially of Mediterranean pines, palm trees, mimosa and a variety of fruit trees: banana, orange and lemon. Lots of ornamental ponds with adjustable lighting systems. The Resort
has 686 rooms, divided between the hotel and bungalows (the Villagio
area). The Villagio is on the opposite side of the Resort from the
hotel. The bungalows (one or two upper storeys) are arranged in 5
semi-circular rows around the centre of the Resort, in gardens lying
alongside the beach, with flowers and palm trees. The hotel (facing the
sea, and opposite the swimming pool) houses the Club Med Spa*. It has 4
floors and a lift. Club Rooms are located on the ground or first floor
of the bungalows, in the shade of the pine trees and close to the centre
of the Resort. Why not opt for a quiet Club Room on the sea side of the
building with a furnished balcony overlooking the Resort with the sea in
the background, or a Club Room with Sea View in a peaceful location on
the 2nd, 3rd or 4th floor of the hotel, facing the sea and swimming
pool. Alternately, for families with children at the Petit Club Med®, a
charming duplex bungalow in the shade of the pine forest is an ideal
option, offering optimal privacy for parents. You can also opt for a
suite. The most beautiful room in the Resort, with a panoramic view over
the sea and the entire site.
For additional information, click on
Europe Palmiye |
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| Antalya - My preferred hotel chain is
Marriott |
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At the foot of 2.575 meter high Mt. Tahatali (Olympos), 15 km south of Kemer, the three harbors of Phaselis were once a major commercial center. The ruins of aqueducts, agoras, baths, a theatre, Hadrian’s Gate and an acropolis reveal the city’s historical importance. The ancient city of Olympos is situated on the southern side of Mt. Tahtali. Oleander and Laurel bushes shade the Olympos Valley, which can be approached by land or sea.
North of Olympos up from Cirali Beach is Yanartas (at a height of 300 meters) where Greek mythology tells us the Lycian hero Bellerophon mounted his winged horse Pegasus and slew the fire-breathing Chimaera. Gas which seeps from the earth burns brightly at night at this site, which the Byzantines also considered a religious area.
The ancient city of Myra, now called Demre or Kale, is 25 km west of Finike. It was inhabited as early as 500 B.C. Many splendidly carved rock tombs dating from the 4th century B.C. overlook the magnificent Roman theatre. St Nicholas, who was born in Patara, was the bishop of Myra during the 4th century A.D. and died there in 326. Every year in December the St. Nicholas Commemoration Ceremony attracts many tourists who spend their Christmas holidays on the sunny Mediterranean coast of ancient Lycia.Kekova, an island an hour from Dalyanagzi by sea, gives its name to a whole ensemble of picturesque islands, numerous bays and ancient cities. These bays provide natural harbors in all seasons, and yachtsmen particularly enjoy exploring the unspoiled landscape. Along the northern shore of KekovaIsland at Apollania, earthquakes have disturbed the land causing some of the ancient houses to sink under the clear water.
Continuing the west of Kekova, you come to Kas, a lovely spot surrounded on three sides by mountains. The friendly local fishermen are happy to run water-taxi service to take you to a favorite bay, cove or beach along the coast. The swimming and diving are excellent in the clear cool water around Kas.Perge (18 km from Antalya) was an important city of ancient Pamphylia, originally settled by Hittites around 1.500 B.C. St. Paul visited this city on his first missionary journey. The theatre stage has finely carved marble reliefs, and other carvings from around the city are displayed in the stadium. Amateur archeologists 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.
Aspendos Theatre, the best preserved theatre of antiquity, with seating for 15.000. Still used today, the theater’s galleries, stage decorations and acoustics all testify to the architect’s success. Nearby stand the remains of a basilica, an agora and one of that largest aqueducts in Anatolia.
The Eastern Mediterranean Coast
Mark Antony gave the lovely Cilician shores between
Alanya and the Syrian Border to Cleopatra as a wedding present. Also associated
with the region’s past is St. Paul, a native of Tarsus. Today the
region is known for its fertile soil which produces abundant crops, and for the
hospitality of the region’s denizens.
Mersin the provincial center of Icel, lies midway on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Its shady palm-lined avenues, the city park and modern hotels create a pleasant ambience from which to visit the nearby historical sites and numerous beaches. A rapidly developing city and the largest free-zone port on the Turkish Mediterranean, Mersin has a regular car ferry service to Gazimagusa (Famagusta) in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
East of Mersin, on the edge of the fertile Cukurova Plain, is Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. Of ancient origin, the city was invaded and destroyed on several occasions, In the past, it had served as a capital city. Archeological remains to be seen are some bronze weapons, The Cleopatra Gate through which Mark Antony and Cleopatra passed when they came to tarsus to meet, a Hittite temple, an ancient church, the Ottoman Ulu Cami.The biblical city of Antioch, lies on the Asi River on a fertile plain surrounded by grand mountains. Once the capital of the Seleucid kings, it was notorious for its wealth and luxury. In Roman times, the city continued to thrive with commerce and culture. It featured prominently in early Christianity where the name "Christian" was first coined. The Antakya Museum houses one of the richest collection of Roman mosaics in the world. These fantastic mosaics in stone were uncovered mostly at excavations in Antakya and nearby Daphne. Outside the town is the Grotto of Peter the apostle. In 1983 the church was declared as a sacred site by the Vatican.