Turkish Riviera with Antalya, Alanya, Side and Cleopatra
The Turkish Riviera is the southern coastal strip of Turkey and one of the most popular summer holiday destinations. The region is particularly popular among all-inclusive vacationers. Between sun, sea and beach, the region between Antalya and Alanya also has numerous ancient sights and natural spectacles to offer.
While the Turkish Riviera is flat and has long sandy beaches, the Aegean coast is characterized by mountainous landscapes and romantic bays.
The city of Antalya also has a beautiful old town to offer - this is called Kaleiçi. The clock tower is located on the edge of the old town, which is why we started our exploration tour from there. Near the clock tower is another attraction, the Yivli Minare - a mosque, which the locals often refer to as the city's landmark. The best views of this impressive structure are from nearby Republic Square. Other sights in the city include Hadrian's Gate, the marina and the Archaeological Museum.
If you are looking for peace and relaxation, Belek is ideal for it, it is also wonderful to hike in the pine forests around Belek. If you want to experience something more than Side has a lot more to offer.
Antalya, on the other hand, is known for its historical and cultural wealth, its magnificent beaches and its luxurious resorts.
Alanya is the epitome of a relaxed and carefree tourist attraction. The choice between Side and Alanya ultimately depends on your personal preferences. If you are interested in history and archaeology, Side might be a better choice. On the other hand, if you prefer a livelier holiday with beautiful beaches, Alanya might suit you better.
In Side, which is characterized by tourism, there are numerous restaurants and cafés as well as many colourful shops and souvenir shops that invite you to stroll around. In particular, the pretty old town and its ancient ruins, along with the picturesque beaches, are among the city's best-known and most popular sights.
Manavgat without a waterfall - but with a lot of water!
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Manavgat Waterfall - We were on the way to a friend in Manavgat / Oymapinar when we noticed, while driving through the village, the high water level of the Manavgat River, because the meadows and shore fortifications left and right of the river were completely flooded.
Manavgat Waterfall - in spring time with plenty of water
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Manavgat Waterfall - The various watercourses, which finally form the Manavgat River from the Taurus foothills and the two reservoirs, are fed by many further inlets and underground springs, forming an imposing waterfall before the river flows into the Mediterranean at Side.
Altinbesik Cave - up in Taurus - an Excursion
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Altinbesik Cave - The short holiday visit of Brita and Peter with family appendix in Alanya brought, beside delicious Nuremberg bratwurst and various types of cheese as a souvenir, the idea of a short excursion into the Taurus Mountain, which should be started with a hearty breakfast at Ömer at the lower part of the artificial lake at the Manavgat river, the Manavgat Baraji.
Alara Caravanserai - Seljuk Han on the Alara River
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The Seljuk Caravanserai Alara Han is located just 45 kilometres from Manavgat, on the border between the districts of Alanya and Manavgat, directly on the Alara River.
Side - Unique Beauty in the Museum and Open Air
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The road that turns towards South will take you to Side Museum at kilometre 72nd of the main road from Antalya to Alanya direction after about 6 km. Side is one of the most famous holiday resorts nowadays. It is supposed that Side had been founded by the Kymellians in the 7th Century B.C., settled on a small peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean.
The Viaduct of Aspendos next to Side
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Shortly after our return to Turkey for going to Aspendos, after an extensive round trip through Germany, our friend Detlef from Halle announced that he would be visiting us for the coming weekend.
With Wolfgang Dorn in Aspendos at Köprü Cay
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Last Saturday we spent a few hours with our co-author Wolfgang Dorn in Aspendos for a meeting at Köprü Cay that was limited in time but nevertheless, or perhaps precisely because of that, very interesting.
Olympus - picturesque tree houses along the creek
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In different, international travelogues of users of the Lycian trail and backpackers we have repeatedly heard about the "tree houses" at Olympos, which are made of simple, nailed boards lodgings offering cheap accomodation.
Phaselis Antalya – port and trading centre in Lycia
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Phaselis was one of the most important trading centres in the Mediterranean for several centuries in ancient times. Goods such as Lycian cedar wood and rose oil were shipped from here to Egypt and the Middle East.
About the History of Side - Goddess of Fertility
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According to legend Side is named after the goddess of fertility and nature, Side, which also means pomegranate. The story goes that Side was walking along the Manavgat River with her little daughter and her nymphs.
Water supply of Ancient Metropolis Side
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On a beautiful summer evening I set off in order to examine the Roman aqueduct that extends from Oymapınar Dam Lake of Dumanlı Spring, which is a technical masterpiece of ancient age and which has supplied water for public and private water facilities, nymphe pools, fountains, spas and houses, to the walls of Side.
Antalya - Trolley from Nuremberg as Attraction
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Besides the historical structures with Hadrian city gate and the city walls, there are three traditional old trolley´s at work in Antalya. These trains belonged to the former Nuremberg trolley.
Saint Nicholas of Myra - a Christian Character in Demre
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Each year between 4th and 6th December, the village of Demre (whose historic name is Myra), well known usually for the quality and the taste of their delicious tomatoes and oranges, faces an invasion of scientists and amateur historians.
St. Nicholas in the church of Myra
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Myra, located in the south-west of Turkey, in the magical landscape of Lycia, was the city where St. Nicholas had worked as a bishop in the fourth century.
Kaputas Beach next to Kalkan and Kaş
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Kaputas beach is a truly wonderful spot on earth, almost untouched by tourist influences, and when we discovered it, we weren't aware that it was already an insider tip among some "permanent Turkiye holidaymakers" who live in Kaş or Kalkan.
Pedestrian crossings in the focus of the Vali of Antalya
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Good luck to those who have been able to cross one of the busy streets in Turkey, even on the pedestrian crossing! A statement that Europeans receive with great surprise in their ears.
Italy contacts - camper visit from Pinneberg in Germany
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We met Silvia and Anselm at a campsite near Venice as part of our project "Comprehension and Cultural Trip along Roman Roads" and were able to experience their experience and knowledge of the city of Venice on a shared city tour. For the first time with the two of them, the idea of wintering for campers on the Turkish Riviera was pushed so strongly that we subsequently looked more and more into this possibility.
Dağ Pazarı - Lebanon Cedars and basilica from Roman times
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We drove through the foothills of the Taurus over wonderful pass roads near Ermenek to the apricot town of Mut and then continued our way towards Karaman. Patrick, our paragliding friend from Strasbourg, had reported courageously about the ruins of a basilica and a wonderfully shimmering lake during a sightseeing flight in the region, which he had seen from the air near the town of Dağ Pazarı.
Cistern "Illos" in Akkale, the "White Castle" near Kizkalesi
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Kumkuyu, the modern Turkish name of the ancient settlement area of the semi-nomadic Tirtar ethnic group, is located in the south of Erdemli County on the D-400 highway, about 15 kilometres southwest of the district town of the same name and about 50 kilometres southwest of the provincial capital Mersin.
Yilan Kalesi at Ceyhan close to Adana
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On the way to Sanliurfa we first passed Adana on the toll road E90 towards Ceyhan.