Antalya

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This article is mostly about the Antalya City; for the province, see Antalya Province.
Antalya
Antalya's historic marina
Antalya's historic marina
Official logo of Antalya
Seal of Antalya Municipality
Antalya (Turkey )
Antalya
Antalya
Location of Antalya
Coordinates: 36°54′N 30°41′E / 36.9, 30.683
Country Flag of Turkey Turkey
Region Mediterranean
Province Antalya
Government
 - Mayor Menderes Mehmet Tevfik Türel (Justice and Development Party)
Area
 - Total 1,417 km² (547.1 sq mi)
Elevation 30 m (98 ft)
Population (2007)[1]
 - Total 775.157
 - Density 478/km² (1,238/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 07x xx
Area code(s) 0242
Licence plate 07
Website: http://www.antalya-bld.gov.tr/en

Antalya (formerly known as Adalia; from Pamphylian Greek: Αττάλεια Attália) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. It is the capital city of Antalya Province. The population of the city is 775.157 (2007 census). The population of Antalya is 798.507 (2008 estimate).

The city of Antalya corresponds to the lands of ancient Pamphylia to the east and Lycia to the west. Antalya has a hot climate.

Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Atatürk claimed that without [a] doubt Antalya is the most beautiful place in the world.[2]

Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, transformed the city into an international resort.

Contents

[edit] History

Hadrian's Gate
Hadrian's Gate
Hıdırlık Tower dating back to Hellenistic era
Hıdırlık Tower dating back to Hellenistic era

See Antalya Province#History for the history of this area in antiquity

In 150 BC Attalos II, king of Pergamon, founded the city of Attalia (present day Antalya) to base his powerful naval fleet. Later Antalya became part of the Roman Republic in 133 BC when King Attalos III of Pergamum willed his kingdom to Rome at his death and the city grew and prospered in the Ancient Roman period. Christianity started to spread in the region after 2nd century. Antalya was visited by Paul of Tarsus, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 14:25-26), (wherein Antalya is referred to as Attalia). St. Paul and St. Barnabas went to Antalya and sailed from there to Antioch after preaching in Pisidia and Pamphylia. The city later became a naval base for the Christian Crusades against the Muslims in the Levant and in Cyprus.

It was a major city in the Byzantine Empire. At the time of the ascension of John II Comnenus (1118) it was an isolated outpost against the Turks, accessible only by sea.[3]. The following year, with the aid of his commander-in-chief John Axuch, John II drove the Turks from the land routes to Antalya and recconected the city with the rest of the empire.

The city, along with the whole region, was conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the early 13th century. The Arabic traveler Ibn Battuta who came to the city in between 1335-1340 noted:

“ From Alaya I went to Antaliya [Adalia], a most beautiful city. It covers an immense area, and though of vast bulk is one of the most attractive towns to be seen anywhere, besides being exceedingly populous and well laid out. Each section of the inhabitants lives in a separate quarter. The Christian merchants live in a quarter of the town known as the Mina [the Port], and are surrounded by a wall, the gates of which are shut upon them from without at night and during the Friday service. The Greeks, who were its former inhabitants, live by themselves in another quarter, the Jews in another, and the king and his court and Mamluks in another, each of these quarters being walled off likewise. The rest of the Muslims live in the main city. Round the whole town and all the quarters mentioned there is another great wall. The town contains orchards and produces fine fruits, including an admirable kind of apricot, called by them Qamar ad-Din, which has a sweet almond in its kernel. This fruit is dried and exported to Egypt, where it is regarded as a great luxury.[4] ”
Winding Ottoman era streets of Kaleiçi
Winding Ottoman era streets of Kaleiçi

By the second half of the 17th century Evliya Çelebi recorded a city of narrow streets containing 3,000 houses in twenty Turkish neighbourhoods and four Greek. The town had grown beyond the city walls and the port could hold up to 200 boats.

In the 18th century, in common with most of Anatolia, its actual lord was a Dere Bey. The family of Tekke Oglu, domiciled near Perge, though reduced to submission in 1812 by Mahmud II, continued to be a rival power to the Ottoman governor till within the present generation, surviving by many years the fall of the other great Beys of Anatolia. The records of the Levant (Turkey) Company, which maintained an agency here till 1825, contain information as to the local Dere Beys.

In the 19th century the population of Antalya increased as Turks from the Caucasus and the Balkans moved into Anatolia. By 1911 it was a city of about 25,000 people, including many Christians and Jews, still living in separate quarters, round the walled mina or port. The port was served by coasting steamers of the local companies only. Antalya (then Adalia) was an extremely picturesque, but ill-built and backward place. The chief thing to see was the city wall, outside which runs a good and clean promenade and which survives to this day. The government offices and the houses of the better class were all outside the walls. EB1911</ref>

The city was briefly occupied by the Italians from the end of the First World War until the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923.

Looking west towards Kemer and the Taurus mountains from Antalya city.
Looking west towards Kemer and the Taurus mountains from Antalya city.


[edit] Population

Antalya has a population of 775.157 (2007 census).Which of a men 388.133 and a women 387.024.

Population
Years City
2008 798.507
2007 775.157
2000 603.190
1990 378.208
1985 258.139
1970 95.000
1965 72.000
1960 51.000
1955 36.000
1950 28.000
1945 26.000
1940 25.000
1935 23.000
1927 17.000

[edit] Geography

Lower Düden Fall and Lara in the background
Lower Düden Fall and Lara in the background

The city of Antalya is situated by the Gulf of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast. The Taurus mountain range of southern Anatolia runs parallel to the Mediterranean in an east-west direction, resulting in the formation of narrow coastal plains, which are surrounded by mountains on three sides and open south to the Mediterranean sea. On some parts of the coast, the mountains plunge sharply into the sea, forming small natural bays and peninsulas. Antalya is situated on a plain which consists of two flat areas formed of falez rock at a height of 35 m, where the mountains recede from the shore. On the first rocky plain on the coast is the town centre and on the plain behind it, named Kepezüstü, small settlement units have been established.

Port of Antalya and the coastal town of Kemer on the Kitab-ı Bahriye (Book of Navigation) of Piri Reis from 1525
Port of Antalya and the coastal town of Kemer on the Kitab-ı Bahriye (Book of Navigation) of Piri Reis from 1525

[edit] Etymology

In the 1st century BC, the Pergamum king Attalos II ordered his men to find "heaven on earth". After a long search all over the world, they discovered this land and said "This must be 'Heaven' " and King Attalos founded the city giving it the name "Attaleia" (Greek: Αττάλεια) which later became Adalia and then Antalya.[5]

[edit] Climate

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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. Around 300 days of the year are sunny, the sea temperature never goes below 15°C and in summer is around 29°C. The temperature climbs up to 45°C in July and August. The sea breeze and the northeasterly winds blowing from inland relieve the area under this temperature.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Ø air temperature °C 10.6 11.1 12.8 16.1 20.6 27.9 30.6 29.8 25.0 20.9 16.4 12.2
max. air temperature °C 15.0 15.6 17.8 21.1 25.6 30.0 33.9 33.3 30.6 26.7 21.7 16.7
max. recorded air temperature °C 22.0 23.4.6 28.2 33.2 37.6 41.0 45.0 43.3 41.2 37.7 33.0 25.4
min. air temperature °C 6.1 6.7 7.8 11.1 15.6 19.4 22.8 22.2 19.4 15.0 11.1 7.8
min. recorded air temperature °C -2.0 -4.0 -1.6 1.4 6.7 11.1 14.8 15.3 10.6 4.9 0.8 -1.9
Ø hours of sunshine 149 185 223 255 326 366 397 375 321 267 198 158
Ø water temperature 17 17 17 18 21 24 27 28 27 25 22 19

[edit] Economy

The clock tower in the city center
The clock tower in the city center

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 fresh fruit and vegetable demand of Turkey.[6]

[edit] Industry

There is a military base in the city.

[edit] Tourism

Places to visit in the city include sites with traces of Lycian,Pamphylian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and cultures.

Kaleiçi, with its narrow cobbled streets of historic Turkish and Greek houses is the old center of Antalya, now mainly hotels, gift shops, and bars. New hotels such as the Sheraton are along the coast above the Konyaalti and Lara beaches.

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 city
Antalya city

In summer tourists include Turkish, British, Israelis, Arabs Germans and Russians.

[edit] Government

The city of Antalya is managed by a governor and a city council, with one greater city and three district municipalities. Current mayor of Antalya is Menderes Türel from Ak Party.

[edit] Budget

The budget for 2005 was YTL 210 million.[7]

[edit] Education

Antalya is one of the leading cities in Turkey in terms of educational institutions.[citation needed] In 2007, there were a total of 1387 schools, at the elementary and secondary level.[citation needed] There are a total of 12.000 teachers serving 275.000 students. Antalya has had the highest number of people winning the university exams since 2004.[citation needed] The literacy level in Antalya province is over 95%.[citation needed] Antalya is also the home of Akdeniz Üniversitesi (Mediterranean University).


[edit] Culture

[edit] Cuisine

Antalya’s most famous include Piyaz, made with tahini (crushed sesame seeds), garlic, walnuts and boiled dried beans, spicy hibeş with mixed cumin and tahini, şiş köfte, tandır kebap, domates civesi, şakşuka and various cold Mediterranean dishes with olive oil. One local speciality is tirmis, boiled seeds of the lupin, eaten as a snack.

[edit] Festivals and events

Lara district of Antalya
Lara district of Antalya
Konyaalti Beach Park
Konyaalti Beach Park

[edit] Fairs

Antalya has beaches like Konyaaltı, Lara and Karpuzkaldıran. Antalya also has waterfalls such as Düden, Manavgat and Kurşunlu waterfalls are major attractions for both local and foreign tourists. For winter sports, Beydağları and Saklikent are both natural beauties of the city.

There are a large number of mosques, churches, madrasahs, masjids, hans and hamams in the city. Kaleiçi, the harbor which the city walls enclose is the oldest part of the city. In Kaleiçi, Yivli Minare, Kesik Minare and historic houses are to be found. In Kaleiçi, there is traditional Turkish architecture which strives for harmony with the nature.

[edit] Historic Sites in the city center

The Yivli Minare, the symbol of the city
The Yivli Minare, the symbol of the city
  • 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, Hıdırlık Tower, Hadrian's Gate and the Clock Tower.
  • Antalya Museum: Prize winning archaeology museum.
  • Kaleiçi Museum: Opened in 2007 by the Mediterranean Civilizations Research Center (Akdeniz Medeniyetleri Araştırma 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, Ahi Yusuf Mescidi, Iskele Mosque, Murat Paşa Mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque, Balibey Mosque, Musellim Mosque, Seyh Sinan Efendi Mosque and Osman Efendi Mosque are other Islamic buildings in the city.
  • "Han"s are Seljuk or Ottoman inns which have architectural significance. Examples in Antalya include Evdir Han, Kırkoz Han, Alara Han and Castle and Sarapsu (Serapsu) Han.
Scene around Kaleiçi
Scene around Kaleiçi

[edit] Sites of interest

[edit] Historic sites

See Antalya Province for information on historic sites and places of natural beauty elsewhere in the province. Those near the city include
  • Aspendos: A Pamphylian city, 50 km (31 mi) from Antalya city on the Antalya-Alanya highway.
  • Termessos: A Pisidian 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 (22 mi) northwest of Antalya.
  • Ariassos: 48 km (30 mi). along the Antalya-Burdur highway and before arriving at the village of Dag turn left and Ariassos is 1 km (1 mi). 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 (11 mi) 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.
  • Olympos / Cirali areas; Two small rural villages located just over 80 km southwest from Antalya and boasts a beautiful 3.5 km secluded beach, the ruins of Olympos, the flames of the Chimaera / Yanartaş, as well as being a protected area by the WWF for the nesting of the Caretta Caretta or also known as the Loggerhead Sea Turtles.
  • Phaselis is an ancient Lycian city in the province of Antalya in Turkey. It is located between the Bey Mountains and the forests of Olympos National Park, 16 km west of the touristic town of Kemer and on the 57th kilometre of the Antalya–Kumluca highway. Phaselis and other ancient towns around the shore can also be accessed from the sea by daily yacht tours.
Antalya city
Antalya city

[edit] Transportation

Main transportation to the city is by air and land. Sea connection lines are newly developing and the city has no railroad. Due to Antalya's continuing development trend, the airport capacity is increased with the newly opened terminal and land and sea transportation is being developed.

  • Sea: The city has a main port.
  • Public transportation: Antalya Bus Station(Otogar).
    • Bus: There is a city bus system.
    • Dolmuş: White municipal minibuses that travel a prescribed route.
    • Taxis
    • Tram system: From Antalya Museum, Antalya Beach Park (at Konyaalti Beach), and the Sheraton Voyager and Falez hotels, along the main boulevard to the city center at Kalekapisi, Hadrian's Gate, Karaalioglu Park, and ending at the deluxe Talya Oteli. It is planned to end near Lara Plaj (Beach) to the east in the future. Trams depart on the hour and half-hour from the termini (east and west), and reach Kalekapisi between 10 and 15 minutes later. The one-way fare is under $1.

[edit] Major routes

The infrastructure such as roads and drains are struggling to catch up with the increase in population and tourists.

[edit] Airports

In 2007, Antalya Airport's number of passengers on international flights surpassed the total number at Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport for the first time, officially earning the title of "the capital of Turkish tourism".[8] [9]

[edit] Sister cities

Antalya has 6 sister cities (aka "twin towns"):

[edit] Notable people from Antalya

Sunset at Antalya
Sunset at Antalya

alphabetical order

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Organizasyon - Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Offical Web Site
  2. ^ http://www.terra-anatolia.com/eng/turkey/antalya.htm accessed September 15, 2007
  3. ^ Norwhich, John Julius. Byzantium: The Decline and Fall. (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1996) p. 68.
  4. ^ See The lemon is still called Addaliya in Egypt.
  5. ^ Quoted from Web page: [1]
  6. ^ Quoted from Web page: [2]
  7. ^ Antalya city official website accessed February 19, 2008
  8. ^ World Bulletin - Turkey press September 16th
  9. ^ Hürriyet

[edit] See also

[edit] External references

[edit] Hardcopy

  • This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
  • XVIII. International symposium on excavation, research and arkeometry , The importance of Anatolian Peleolitic under the light of 1985-1995 Karain excavations , Dr. Kadriye ÖZÇELİK, Işın Yalçınkaya and others. (27 May 1996)
  • XXVI. International symposium on excavation, research and arkeometry , 2003 Karain excavations , Dr. Kadriye ÖZÇELİK, Işın Yalçınkaya and others. (24 May 2004)

[edit] Web

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v • d • e
First Journey of Paul the Apostle
1. Antioch · 2. Seleucia · 3. Cyprus  · 3a.Salamis  · 3b. Paphos · 4. Perge · 5.Antioch in Pisidia ·
6. Konya (Iconium) · 7. Derbe · 8. Lystra · 9. Antalya · 10. Antioch (returns to begining of journey}
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