The picturesquely situated capital of the Turkish Riviera is the largest city on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Surrounded by a mountain range, in many places descending almost vertically into the sea, it tempts with a huge number of monuments and wonderful hotels on a wide, sandy beach. It is also famous for the beautiful Konyaaltı district, a long boulevard with palm trees waving in the wind.
The city of Attalia was founded in 150 BC by King Attalus II of Pergamon. After Attalus III’s death in 133 B.C.E. the city fell to the Romans. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the west, Antalya remained within its eastern part, later known as the Byzantine Empire. The city flourished during this period. At the end of the 11th century, the city was occupied by the Seljuk Turks. However, the Byzantines managed to regain the power thanks to the successes of the First Crusade. After the conquest of Constantinople by the Crusaders, the city was temporarily occupied by the Italians. Since then, Antalya has been under the rule of many nations until Sultan Murad II finally incorporated it into Ottoman Turkey in 1423.
A trip to the old town of Kaleiçi, where you can admire Ottoman buildings and numerous monuments, is highly recommended. In the Kaleiçi district there is one of the symbols of Antalya – the so-called Broken Minaret, known in Turkish as Kesik Minare. The biggest attraction are the numerous historic Ottoman houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, many of which are nowadays used as expensive boutique hotels and guesthouses. In the very center there is also the monumental Hadrian’s Gate built in 130 AD, the famous Yivli Minare which is the symbol of Antalya and many other breathtaking places.
LARA- KUNDU
The newest and most modern hotel district where you can find top-class hotels located on a beautiful, wide beach with bars, taverns and shopping centers rapidly developing. It is famous for its exquisite concept hotels such as Topkapı, Kremlin or Venezia.
