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BEYDAĞLARI
Beydağları
Mountains are located in the west of Antalya and run
along the sea. They are part of the Taurus
chain. These mountains are covered with thick pine forests,
and also with cedar trees in some places. It is possible to
reach nice places by main roads, but an off road circuit in
4X4 (1, 2 or 3 days sleeping for example at local people's
house) with the assistance of a guide (who can also be the
driver), is the best way to discover the gorgious landscapes,
the roads used by the nomadic caravans, transhumance plateaus
(yayla) and also some unaccessible archaeoligical sites such
as Idebessos.
The small winter resort of Saklıkent is located only
50 km / 31 miles away from Antalya.
The Karain Caves, dating back to the Paleolithic
Period, are located 30 km / 19 miles north-west of Antalya.
The interesting findings made during the excavations are displayed
in the Karain Caves section of Antalya Archaeological Museum.
TERMESSOS
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Located
34 km /21 miles north-west of Antalya, the ancient Pisidian
city of Termessos, perched at 1050m/3450 feet on a plateau
between two peaks of Güllük Mountain (ancient Mt Solymos),
is part of Güllük Dağı National Park. Its exceptional
location makes it the most spectacular ancient city
in Turkey. From the parking lot, the site can be reached
by walking uphill along a steep trail, and as this requires
time, it is recommended to start the visit early in
the morning and bring a bottle of water.
Not much is known of the foundation of Termessos only
that its inhabitants, who were of Anatolian origin,
referred to themselves as Solymians. They lived in a
walled city and it seems that they were warlike and
fought often against their neighbors. In fact, what
is known of their history begins in 334-333 BC when
Alexander the Great,
daunted by this impregnable eagle's nest, raised the
siege of their stronghold. In retaliation, he burned
down the Solymians' olive groves around the city.
The important ruins reveal that Termessos enjoyed two
periods of prosperity, a first one during the Hellenistic
period, and a second one during the Roman period
when the city was granted a relative independence by
Rome as it took up arms against
Mithridates VI. Severely
damaged by an earthquake, Termessos gradually declined
until it was completely deserted in the 5th century.
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Among
the most significant remains which date back mostly
to the Roman period, there are:
Hadrian's Gate, a monumental gate in the walls,
provides access to the site.
The cisterns: there are five huge underground
cisterns.
The gymnasium,
which include baths, is completely covered except for
the northeastern section.
The theater
is the best preserved and the most attractive building
on the site. It had a seating capacity of only 4,200
spectators indicating the limited number of inhabitants.
The theater, hewn out of the rock, is an Hellenistic
structure to which a skene was added in Roman times.
It offers spectacular panoramic views as far as Antalya.
The bouleuterion
had walls covered with polychrome marble.
The temple was dedicated
to a peculiar version of the Zeus cult. Fragments of
reliefs depicting scenes of the gods fighting monsters
have been found lying around. Nearby, another small
Roman temple stood on a high podium, but it is not known
which deity was worshipped here. The ruins of two other
Corinthian order temples from the Late Roman period
can be seen in further places.
The agora, which
is in a very ruined state, was surrounded by a stoa.
The western portico was offered by Attalus II (160 -
138 BC), the founder of Attalaia (Antalya), while the
northern portico, built in the 1st century, was offered
by a certain Osbaras.
The heroon, a monumental tomb reserved for a
hero, is located southwest of the agora.
The Founder's House is a Roman house whose name
comes from an inscription on the left jamb of the door
which refers to his owner as the founder of the city.
The colonnaded street was a broad promenade bordered
on either side by porticoes and shops.
The necropolis: among the tombs and sarcophagi
(one is beautifully decorated with a lion) which are
scattered far and wide, the most remarkable is the Tomb
of Alcetas with a relief depicting the general of Alexander
who, in 319 BC having taken refuge in Termessos, chose
to commit suicide when he was about to be handed over
to Antigonus.
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BURDUR
Burdur is located 120 kms / 75 miles north of Antalya,
in the mountainous Lake Region (Göller Bölgesi)
reputed for its natural beauty, flora and fauna. Carpets
and kilims weaving also contribute
to the reputation of Burdur. The city provides good examples
of Ottoman architecture with the Taşoda, Kocaoda-Çelikbaş
and Mısırlılar "konaks" (mansions) which
date from the 17th century.
From Susamlık Hill, the panorama over Burdur Lake and
the city is beautiful.
10 kms / 6.3
miles south of Burdur are the 597 m / 653 yds long İnsuyu
Caves. They contain nine undergroud lakes and halls full of
stalactites and stalagmites.
SAGALASSOS
Between Burdur and Isparta, 7 km/ 4.5 miles from the village
of Ağlasun lies the ancient Pisidian city of Sagalassos
situated on Mount Akdağ, at an altitude of about 1500m/ 5000
ft. Sagalassos reveals traces of settlement going back to
3000 BC but what is known of its history begins with the arrival
of Alexander the Great
in 334 BC. Its inhabitants, like those of Termessos,
were courageous and warlike people, however their city was
finally conquered during a battle which took place on a hilltop
facing the city. Sagalassos enjoyed a first period of prosperity
throughout the Hellenistic
period. From the 1st century AD, when it became part of
the Roman Empire as well as the
foremost city in Pisidia, Sagalassos enjoyed a golden age
and many magnificent buildings were constructed here. In 518,
the city was struck by an earthquake and was subsequently
rebuilt. But in the 7th century, another earthquake destroyed
not only the city but its water sources. Lack of water, disease
and also the Arab incursions hastened the desertion of the
city which fell into oblivion. Because of landslides, Sagalassos
was gradually buried and laid concealed until it was discovered
in 1706 by the French traveller Paul Lucas who described it
as a place of enchantment. In 1824, the British cleric Francis
Arundell discovered the city's true identity. From 1985 British
researcher Stephen Mitchell and Belgian archaeologist Marc
Waelkens carried out the excavations of the site remained
remarkably intact. Since 1990, they are carrying further excavation
and reconstruction work of some buildings with the support
of Leuven Catholic University in Belgium together with experts
from Turkey and various countries.
The main structures uncovered are:
The Doric Temple (1st
century BC).
The late Hellenistic Fountain House was built in the
1st century BC as a U - shaped portico. The back wall was
rebuilt during the second half of the reign of Hadrien (117
- 138 AD) and the south side was closed off by a wall with
a stairway. Later the fountain house was incorporated into
an esplanade surrounding it on three sides. After the earthquake
of 518 AD, the courtyard was partly filled and the water distributed
by terracotta pipes over the city.
This beautiful spring fed fountain house has been entirely
restored and the water source has been unblocked. This is
the first time in Turkey that the original function has been
restored to an antique structure.
The Neon Library (2nd century AD) with the mosaic pavement
in front of it.
The Bouleuterion
with a seating capacity of 200 people (125-100 BC).
The Upper and Lower Agoras (2nd century BC - first
quarter of the 1st century AD).
Antonines Fountain (161-180 AD) is located on the north
side of the upper agora which
was the heart of the city. The façade of this imposing fountain
is like a theatre proscenium, with niches containing statues
made in Aphrodisias. Two splendid
statues of the god Dionysus,
2.65m/ 8.7ft and 2.45m/ 8ft high respectively, and statues
of various sizes representing august citizens of Sagalassos
discovered during excavation of the fountain, are today exhibited
in Burdur Museum. When the restoration work is complete,
replicas of these statues will be placed on the fountain,
and the water main linking it to the Hellenistic fountain
restored, so that the water will flow here again.
The Heroon, a 14m/ 46 ft high hero's memorial, is thought
to commemorate Alexander the Great. It has a Hellenistic frieze
depicting women dancing in a trance, wearing draped cloths
and holding musical instruments. It dates from the reign of
Augustus (25 BC - 14 AD).
The Temple of Apollo Clarios, erected during the reign
of Augustus, was restored and dedicated to Apollo and the
imperial family (103 - 104 AD).
The Temple of Antoninus Pius was started under Hadrian
(117 - 138 AD) and completed under his successor Antoninus
Pius to whom it was dedicated (138 - 161 AD). This was the
second imperial cult temple in Sagalassos.
The Theatre, built
in the 2nd century AD, is the highest in the world. It had
a seating capacity of 9,000 spectators. The theatre offers
panoramic views over the wild region.
The Baths, dating from
the 2nd century BC, were remodelled in the 6th century AD.
The public lavatory accommodating forty people.
The Honorific Gate erected during the reign of Tiberius
(14 – 37 AD) and partially restored in the 6 C AD.
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Antonines
Fountain
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The
Fountain House
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ISPARTA
Isparta is located in the center of the Lake
Region (Göller Bölgesi) on the
high plateaus of the Taurus Chain (Toros Dağları).
The fame of Isparta comes from the rose oil
obtained from the roses called summer damasks (Rosa
Damascena) which are extensively grown in the region
in the gardens and terraced fields on the lower slopes
of the mountains. Roses are picked in early morning,
while they are still half open and the scent is at
its strongest. Rose oil is produced by distilling
the petals in a copper vat by passing hot steam over
them. The steam is condensed into large bottles, producing
mainly rosewater, but a thin layer of yellowish oil
called "gül yağı" in Turkish, or attar of
roses, floats on the surface. This most valuable oil
is used in the cosmetic industry. Most of it is exported
to Grasse, in France, a town of perfumeries and blending
factories. Isparta is also renowned for its thickly
piled carpets.
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After
the collapse of the Seljuk Sultanate
of Rum, Isparta became the capital of the Hamitoğlu
Principality which was delimited by the four great lakes
of the region. In 1381 Isparta was sold to Ottoman Sultan
Murat I.
The old monuments of the city are the Seljuk Castle
(14C), the Ottoman Ulu Mosque (1417), the Ottoman Covered
Bazaar (1561), the Firdevs Pasha Mosque built by Sinan.
South of Isparta Gölcük Lake which rests at an
impressive 1,405 m / 4.6 feet, is encircled by aromatic
pine forests.
Isparta Carpet and Rose
Festival takes place every year in July
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EĞİRDİR
Eğirdir lies in the south of Eğirdir Lake
in a beautiful natural scenery. The Eğirdir Castle,
first built by Lydian King Croesus,
was later renovated and enlarged in turn by the Romans,
the Byzantines and the Seljuks.
The Seljuk Kemerli Minaret strangely enough stands
in the middle of a road.
Eğirdir Island is connected by a boardwalk
to the shore: a visit to the weavers working at their looms
outside their houses should not be missed.
Kovada National Park, 30 km south of Lake Eğirdir,
surrounds Kovada Lake, a pristine and cool mountain getaway.
YALVAÇ
North-east of Eğirdir Lake and west of Akşehir,
near Yalvaç, stands the ancient city of
Antioch of Pisidia which was founded by
Antiochus I in 280 BC, and named after him like Antioch
on the Orontes (Antakya).
In 25 BC Antioch of Pisidia became a Roman military colony
known as Colonia Caesareia Antiocheia. St. Paul and St.
Barnabas came here in 46 A.D.. Antioch became one of the
first Anatolian cities to accept Christianity
. The first and largest church dedicated to St. Paul was
later constructed on the site where St
Paul gave his sermon. The city was razed by the Arabs
in 713. Attempts were made to rebuild the city, but it never
regained its former splendor. It was finally abandoned when
the settlement of Yalvaç was established in the second half
of the 13th century.
The most significant ruins of the ancient city are:
St. Paul's Church: most of the walls have
disappeared, only the superb mosaic floor and inscriptions
have been preserved but they cannot be seen because they
have been recovered for their protection.
The Aqueduct
The Public Baths
The Theatre
The Temple of Augustus: the temple dedicated to
Augustus, the founder of the Roman colony, was built at
the highest point of the city, in a rock-cut area where,
in early times, stood a sanctuary of the Mother Goddess
Cybele, and in Hellenistic times, a temple consecrated to
the Moon – God Men.
The Archaeological Museum in Yalvaç displays
important findings from the excavations led in Yalvaç and
in the region.
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Giant cedar trees grow in
Kızıldag National Park, south of Yalvaç,
amid one of Turkey's most splendid landscapes.
 
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