Home to one of the finest beaches on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, Antalya was first founded as a port city in the second century BC, and has been pleasing visitors and locals alike with its sand, sun, beautiful setting and beautiful people ever since. Greeks, Romans, pirates, modern Italians, and of course Turks have all called Antalya their own. In 130 AD the Emperor Hadrian visited Antalya, and the arch erected in his honor still stands. Ceded to Italy in 1918, the Turkish army regained control of the territory 3 years later, in 1921, and would feign ever again relinquish such a storied, remarkable and beautiful city. Antalya today is the biggest city on the coast between Izmir and Adana, where you can enjoy the luxuries of several 5-star hotels, romantic dining locales, a vibrant and varied nightlife, and close proximity to some of the best sites of the ruins of the great ancient Mediterranean cities.