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Antalya
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Antalya (formerly known as Adalia or Attalia; from Pamphylian Greek: ?tt??e?a Attáleia) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. It is the capital city of Antalya Province. The population of the city was 775,157 in the 2007 census. Antalya has a Mediterranean climate. Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, transformed the city into an international resort.
ee History of Antalya Province for the history of this area in antiquity
It is not known when the site of the current city was first inhabited.
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Encyclopedia
Antalya (formerly known as Adalia or Attalia; from Pamphylian Greek: ?tt??e?a Attáleia) is a city on the Mediterranean coast of southwestern Turkey. It is the capital city of Antalya Province. The population of the city was 775,157 in the 2007 census. Antalya has a Mediterranean climate. Situated on a cliff over the Mediterranean, Antalya is surrounded by mountains. Developments in tourism, starting in the 1970s, transformed the city into an international resort.
History
See History of Antalya Province for the history of this area in antiquity
It is not known when the site of the current city was first inhabited. Attalos II, king of Pergamon, was believed to have founded the city around 150 B.C., naming it Attalia and selecting it as a naval base for his powerful fleet. However, excavations in 2008 in the Dogu Garaji district of Antalya have uncovered remains dating to the third century, B.C, suggesting that the city was founded earlier than previously supposed. Antalya became part of the Roman Republic in 133 BC when King Attalos III of Pergamum willed his kingdom to Rome at his death. The city grew and prospered during the Ancient Roman period.
Christianity started to spread in the region after 2nd century. Antalya was visited by Paul of Tarsus, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles: "From Perga, Paul and Barnabas went down to Attalia and sailed from there to Antioch after preaching in Pisidia and Pamphylia" (Acts 14:25-26).
Antalya was a major city in the Byzantine Empire. It was the capital of the Byzantine Theme of Carabisiani (T?µa Ka?aß?s?????, Thema Karavesianon), which occupied the southern coasts of Asia Minor and the Aegean Islands. At the time of the accession of John II Comnenus (1118) it was an isolated outpost against the Turks, accessible only by sea. The following year, with the aid of his commander-in-chief John Axuch, John II drove the Turks from the land routes to Antalya and reconnected the city with the rest of the empire.
The city, along with the surrounding region, was conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the early 13th century. Antalya was again the capital of the Turkish beylik of Teke between 1321-1423 until its conquest by the Ottomans. The Arabic traveler Ibn Battuta who came to the city in between 1335-1340 noted:
By the second half of the 17th century Evliya Çelebi recorded a city of narrow streets containing 3,000 houses in twenty Turkish neighbourhoods and four Greek. The town had grown beyond the city walls and the port could hold up to 200 boats.
In the 18th century, in common with most of Anatolia, its actual lord was a "dere bey" (land lord or landowner). The family of Tekke Oglu, domiciled near Perge, though reduced to submission in 1812 by Mahmud II, continued to be a rival power to the Ottoman governor till within the present generation, surviving by many years the fall of the other great beys of Anatolia. The records of the Levant (Turkey) Company, which maintained an agency here till 1825, contain information as to the local dere beys.
In the 19th century the population of Antalya increased as Turks from the Caucasus and the Balkans moved into Anatolia. By 1911 it was a city of about 25,000 people, including many Christians and Jews, still living in separate quarters, round the walled mina or port. The port was served by coasting steamers of the local companies only. Antalya (then Adalia) was picturesque, but ill-built and backward. The chief attraction for visitors to see was the city wall, outside which ran a promenade and partly survives to this day. The government offices and the houses of the better class were all outside the walls.
The city was briefly occupied by the Italians from the end of the First World War until the founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923.
Population
Antalya has a population of 775,157 (2007 census), of which 388,133 are men and 387,024 are women. The metropolitan area has more than a million in the winter,} and probably doubles in size during the summer months, not only as a popular locale for foreign tourists, but also as a vacation destination favored by Turks from other parts of the country.
| Population |
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| Years | City | | 2008 | 798,507 | | 2007 | 775,157 | | 2000 | 603,190 | | 1990 | 378,208 | | 1985 | 258,139 | | 1970 | 95,000 | | 1965 | 72,000 | | 1960 | 51,000 | | 1955 | 36,000 | | 1950 | 28,000 | | 1945 | 26,000 | | 1940 | 25,000 | | 1935 | 23,000 | | 1927 | 17,000 |
Geography
Antalya is in south-west Anatolia, by the Gulf of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast. It is around distant to Adana, Izmir or Ankara.
The Taurus mountain range of southern Anatolia runs parallel to the Mediterranean in an east-west direction, resulting in the formation of narrow coastal plains, which are surrounded by mountains on three sides and open south to the Mediterranean sea. On some parts of the coast, the mountains plunge sharply into the sea, forming small natural bays and peninsulas. Antalya is situated on a plain that consists of two flat areas formed of travertine rock at a height of , where the mountains recede from the shore. The town centre is located on the first rocky plain on the coast. On the Kepezüstü Plain behind it, housing has been established.
Etymology
According to tradition, in the 2nd century BC, the Pergamum king Attalos II ordered his men to find "heaven on earth". After a long search all over the world, they discovered this land and said "This must be 'Heaven' " and King Attalos founded the city giving it the name "Attaleia" which later became Adalia and then Antalya.
Climate
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. Around 300 days of the year are sunny, the sea temperature never goes below 15°C and in summer is around 28°C. The temperature can climb into the 40°Cs in July and August but low to mid 30°Cs is more typical. The sea breeze and the northeasterly winds blowing from inland help to make the high temperatures more bearable.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | July | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Ĝ air temperature °C | 10.6 | 11.1 | 12.8 | 16.1 | 20.6 | 27.9 | 30.6 | 29.8 | 25.0 | 20.9 | 16.4 | 12.2 |
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| max. air temperature °C | 24.4 | 24.9 | 25.8 | 30.7 | 33.8 | 39.6 | 47.9 | 56.3 | 45.7 | 38.2 | 29.8 | 24.9 |
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| max. recorded air temperature °C | 30.8 | 33.7 | 37.8 | 41.7 | 48.9 | 50.0 | 53.8 | 61.7 | 53.2 | 39.9 | 31.0 | 36.8 |
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| min. air temperature °C | 6.1 | 6.7 | 7.8 | 11.1 | 15.6 | 19.4 | 22.8 | 22.2 | 19.4 | 15.0 | 11.1 | 7.8 |
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| min. recorded air temperature °C | -2.0 | -4.0 | -1.6 | 1.4 | 6.7 | 11.1 | 14.8 | 15.3 | 10.6 | 4.9 | 0.8 | -1.9 |
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| Ĝ hours of sunshine | 149 | 185 | 223 | 255 | 326 | 366 | 397 | 375 | 321 | 267 | 198 | 158 |
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| Ĝ water temperature | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 19 |
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Economy
The economy of Antalya depends on a mixture of tourism, agriculture, and commerce, with some light industry. Agricultural production includes citrus fruits, cotton, cut flowers and even bananas. Antalya is a leading agriculture center of Turkey due to its suitable ecology. Antalya Metropolitan Municipalitys covered wholesale food market complex meets 65% of the fresh fruit and vegetable demand of Turkey.
Tourism
Places to visit in the city include sites with traces of Lycian,Pamphylian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture and cultures.
Kaleiçi, with its narrow cobbled streets of historic Turkish and Greek houses is the old center of Antalya, now mainly hotels, gift shops, and bars. New hotels such as the Sheraton are along the coast above the Konyaalti and Lara beaches.
The tourism boom has brought migrant labour to the city, fueled the growth of a large construction industry and provided transportation and other large-scale infrastructure which has led to Antalya becoming the hub of commerce in this part of Turkey.
A number of tourists visit in the summer. Some have bought real estate.
Education
Antalya is one of the leading cities in Turkey in terms of educational institutions. In 2007, there were a total of 1387 schools, at the elementary and secondary level. There are a total of 12.000 teachers serving 275.000 students. The literacy level in Antalya province is over 95%. Antalya is also the home of Akdeniz University.
Culture
Cuisine
Antalyas most famous include Piyaz, made with tahini (crushed sesame seeds), garlic, walnuts and boiled dried beans, spicy hibes with mixed cumin and tahini, sis köfte, tandir kebap, domates civesi, saksuka and various cold Mediterranean dishes with olive oil. One local speciality is tirmis, boiled seeds of the lupin, eaten as a snack.
Festivals and events
Tourist sites
Antalya has beaches including Konyaalti, Lara and Karpuzkaldiran. Antalya also has waterfalls such as Düden, Manavgat and Kursunlu waterfalls are major attractions for both local and foreign tourists. For winter sports, Beydaglari and Saklikent are both natural beauties of the city.
There are a large number of mosques, churches, madrasahs, masjids, hans and hamams in the city. Kaleiçi, the harbor which the city walls enclose is the oldest part of the city. In Kaleiçi, Yivli Minare, Kesik Minare and historic houses are to be found. In Kaleiçi, there is traditional Turkish architecture which strives for harmony with the nature.
Historic Sites in the city center
- Kaleici: the historical center of the city; now restored as the touristic centre of the city with its hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping. Kaleici retains much of its historical character and the restoration won the Golden Apple Prize, the Oscar of tourism.
- Ancient monuments include the City Walls, Hidirlik Tower, Hadrian's Gate and the Clock Tower.
- Hadrian's Gate: constructed in 2nd century BC by the Romans in honour of the Emperor Hadrian.
- Kesik Minare (Broken Minaret): Once a Byzantine Panaglia church, later converted into a mosque.
- Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret): It was built by the Seljuks. Decorated with dark blue and turquoise tiles, the minaret eventually became the symbol of the city.
- Karatay Medresesi, Ahi Yusuf Mescidi, Iskele Mosque, Murat Pasa Mosque, Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque, Balibey Mosque, Musellim Mosque, Seyh Sinan Efendi Mosque and Osman Efendi Mosque are other Islamic buildings in the city.
- "Han"s are Seljuk or Ottoman inns which have architectural significance. Examples in Antalya include Evdir Han, Kirkoz Han, Alara Han and Castle and Sarapsu (Serapsu) Han.
Museums
- Antalya Museum: Prize winning archaeology museum.
- : Opened in 2007 by the Mediterranean Civilizations Research Center (Akdeniz Medeniyetleri Arastirma Merkezi) see also .
Sites of interest
Transportation
Main transportation to the city is by air and land. Sea routes are still under development.
In 2007, the airport added a new terminal. The city is improving land and sea transportation as well.
The city has a main port at the south of the Konyaalti. It is planing to launch local routes to Kemer.
Public transportation
Antalya Bus Station (Otogar) through E87, D400, D650 routes.
There is a local bus system operated by a private corporation of the greater municipality.
The dolmus consists of municipal minibuses that travel a prescribed route.
Taxis are available.
A rail connection is in the planning stages.
The tram system runs from Antalya Museum and the Sheraton Voyager and Falez hotels, along the main boulevard to the city center at Kalekapisi, Hadrian's Gate, Karaalioglu Park, and ending at Talya Oteli. Trams depart on the hour and half-hour from the terminal (east and west), and reach Kalekapisi between 10 and 15 minutes later. The one-way fare is under $1.
Currently an light rail line is being built from one of the main city public bus hub northwest to the Zoo and beyond to suburban areas. The line is due to open in December 2008.
Major routes
The infrastructure such as roads and drains are struggling to catch up with the increase in population and tourists.
Airports
In 2007, Antalya Airport's number of passengers on international flights surpassed the total number at Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport for the first time, officially earning the title of "the capital of Turkish tourism".
Sister cities
Antalya has 8 sister cities (aka "twin towns"):
Bat Yam, Israel
Cheboksary, Russia
Famagusta, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Kazan, Russia
Nürnberg, Germany
Rostov-Na-Donu, Russia
Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan
Notable people from Antalya
* Cafercan Aksu, football player
- Coskun Gögen, film actor
- Deniz Baykal, leader of Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP)
- Deniz Seki, pop musician
- Levent Yüksel, musician, composer
- Michael Attaliates ("Attaleian" in Greek), Byzantine lawyer of 11th Century AD.
- Onat Kutlar, writer
- Özgürcan Özcan, football player
- Rüstü Reçber, football player
- Saint Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, lived in the ancient town of Myra
- Sümer Tilmaç, actor
- Tarik Akiltopu, architect, historian, poet, writer
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