Antalya

A place in the sun of your own

The property around sunny Antalya is the topwish of many Europe residents. Especially the region Kemer-Antalya is much in demand, and many Europe residents already own a “tapu”, that´s the Turkish title-deed.

Almost permanent fine weather, low livingscosts and attractive prices are the reason for more and more visitors from all over Europe to choose their own holidayresort or even their second home in the region of the Turkish Riviera.

Both fashionable boulevards and fascinating countryside are to be found in and around Antalya.

In addition, yacht tours are organized from the port of Antalya to Düden Waterfalls-Karpuzkaldıran and Kemer, from Side to Alanya, from Demre-Çayağzı to Kekova, from Kaş to Kekova, from Kemer to Çıralı-Olympos-Adrasan and Cape Gelidonya.

Antalya today is a world tourism centre with its unique touristic accommodation facilities, nature and historical beauties. The city of Antalya is managed by a governor and a city council, with one greater city and three district municipalities. The Antalya port is one of the most prominent export and import ports of Turkey. The Free Trade Zone existing within the port conveniently serves the export of all types of products, primarily being textile, mine and agricultural products.

The highest point of the Taurus mountains is Akdağ at an altitude of 3025 metres. Located to the northwest of the city centre and at a distance of 50 km is the Saklıkent ski and recreation centre on Beydağları. Here one can ski and then go down to the shore and into the sea during the months of January-April. Thanks to this characteristic the city is called the Turkish riviera.

It is possible to watch meteor showers and shooting stars on certain days of the year. In rivers rafting and canoeing sports and on the Taurus mountains jeep safari, hunting and trekking tours are organised. Alternatively, there is rock-climbing, bird watching tourism, photo-safari, mountain tourism, line fishing and health tourism at the thalasso and dialysis centres in Geyirbayır.

Holy tourism activities are organized in Myra, St.Nicholas and Patara. There are underwater diving centres on the coast, primarily in Kemer, Çamyuva, Olympos, Adrasan, Kaş, Kalkan, Üçağız, Kekova, Side and Alanya. There are also boat tours on Manavgat creek and canoe tours on Xanthos creek. In addition, blue voyage, which covers the southwestern Anatolian coast, ends in Antalya.

Weather

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. In the area with sunny weather for 10 months a year 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.

History

As a result of the research conducted at the Karain cavern located to the north of the city it is understood that the area has been inhabited since the prehistorical era. It is known that the Turquoise/Etruscan tribes moving southwards from the Euroasian steppes in around 3000 B.C. settled and founded their city in the Antalya region as in all of Anatolia.

The area is named Ahhiyava in the Hittite inscriptions. It is understood that the Luwi and Lukka tribes of the Turquoises also settled in the mountainous Psidia, Lycia and Pamphilia regions located within the city limits of Antalya. The area went under the reign of Kimmer in the 7th century, subsequently followed by Persians, Macedonians, Pers, Romans and Byzantines and, finally, was seized by the Turks in 1207. The root of the name of the city is understood to be “Attala”, that is, “the City of Hakan, son of God” in the Turquoise/Luwi language. It served as the centre of the Teke Sanjak in the lands of Karamanoğulları for a certain period of time, then subordinated to the province of Konya in the 19th century and finally became a province in 1923. The city which was “Adalia” during the Roman and Byzantine eras has been converted into Antalya today through phonetic pronunciation.