Antalya

Antalya is in southwestern Turkey with 600,000 inhabitants (2004 estimate) lying on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of Antalya Province with 1.7 million inhabitants (2004 estimate).

Antalya, located in an area called Pamphylia, was founded by Attalus II, King of Pergamum, as a port city in the 2C BC. The name of the city, Antalya is derived from its founder’s name.

Antalya is the economic centre of its region, housing many small-scale manufacturing enterprises. In the recent decades, tourism has become one of the main sources of revenue; Antalya is today the main tourist resort on the Turkish Riviera, and it is the fastest growing city in Turkey.

The old town of Antalya is fortified with walls from Roman, Byzantine and Seljuq periods, and lies on the summit of a cliff overlooking the harbor. The rebuilt harbour has become the focal point of all social life in Antalya. The main landmark of Antalya is the Saat Kulesi, a Seljuq clock tower, which has been built into a section of the city walls.

It must be noted that the Archeological Museum is one of the top five in the country.

History Timeline

2nd century B.C.: Founded by King Attalus 2 of Phrygia, and named Attaleia.
1207: Captured by the Seljuqs, and becomes an important town in this part of Asia Minor.
1391: Captured by the Ottomans, but not effectively incorporated into the empire.
1919: Italy occupies Antalya and its hinterland.
1921: Turkish troops drive the Italians out.
Antalya page