You will depart early in the morning and start
the overland program for discover the most important
points of Mediterranean.
First of all you will visit Antalya city center.
Antalya located in an area called Pamphylia, was
founded by Attalus II, King of Pergamum, as a
port city in the 2C BC. Tourism has made Antalya
one of the largest beautiful spots.
First visit will be to the Antalya Archeological
Museum, which is one of the best in the country.
This modern, spacious museum has a fine collection
of finds from Antalya itself and the cities of
Pamphylia and Lycia.
After
a visit to the Antalya Archeological Museum, you
will continue to Perge Antique City. Perge Antique
Site, which is the best example of the complete
Roman City in the Pamphylian plain. It developed
from a Hellenistic hilltop settlement to a proper
Roman city. Perge is also one of the cities that
St. Paul visited with Barnabas and his cousin
John Mark.
Perge, like Ephesus, is a typical of its region
in the years of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
It was a prosperous city then : A system of large
public fountains, and the canal through the center
of town helped lower the summer heat. There is
a large theater, an equally large stadium, and
a handsome double set of city gates.
After these visits drive to one of the best resort
hotels in the area for open buffet lunch.
After the lunch you will visit one of the most
beautiful antique theaters of the world which
is Aspendos Antique Theater. It is one of the
largest ancient buildings in Anatolia and may
well be accepted as the best preserved theater
of antiquity. It was built by a local architect
Xenon during the reign of Marcus Aurelius (2C
AD). According to an inscription, it was a gift
from the two brothers, Curtius Crispinus and Curtis
Auspicatus, who dedicated this monument to the
gods of the country and to the Imperial House.
The theater’s capacity is estimated to have been
20.000 people.
Then
the guests will visit Aspendos Antique City. Aspendos
was a major port city in the Roman period with
the navigable river of Koprucay. You will also
see the aqueduct on the way and you may stop there
for taking soe photos.
After Aspendos the last stop will be at Side.
Side is located on a peninsula penetrating into
the Mediterranean. It was one of the important
civilizations and has become one of the Turkey’s
major holiday centers.
Side was founded by Aeolians of the Aegean region.
The history of the town extends back to the 7C
BC. ‘Side’ meant ‘pomegranate’ in the local language.
Until the Roman Imperial period, pomegranate was
the symbol used on the coins of Side. Here you
will see the remains of well preserved city walls,
Byzantine Basilica and Agora. The best point of
Side will be Theater with remains of a monumental
gate and a fountain at the entrance. The fountain
has been restored. The present remains of the
theater date from the 2C AD. The theater has a
seating capacity of 15.000 people and was used
in the late Roman period for gladiator fights
as well. The theater was used as an open-air church
in the 5-6C AD.
At the end of the program arrival at Alanya.
After having some free time in town of Alanya,
continue to the port in order to board the ship.
|