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.

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.

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.

Side’s ruins outside Selimiye are best reached by using the parking area by the Roman theatre, which is the minimum you should visit. The theatre was erected in the 2nd century BC on top of a former Greek theatre. 

Selge as being an old mountainous city in the vicinity of Köprüçay, about 35 km north of Serik and on the southern slopes of the Taurus Mountains, is reached by following the 14 km stabilized road with sharp bends after the Köprülü Canyon National Park. It is supposed that Selge was built by Kalishes.

Our program would be taking us to XC paragliding event once more on Sunday. However, we were to meet with Beate whom we knew from West Virginia Ranch. We knew that she was taking a group of riders to İbradi uplands.

Without any doubts – using an Enduro motorcycle in the Taurus mountains along the Turkish Riviera is a paradise for bikers.

It is often possible to come across amusement rides named “Jeep safari” on board Jeeps in the tourism centers along the Riviera coast.

The ancient Seleukeia City which is also known as Lybre, even it is not proved is located in the borders of Bucakşeyhler (Şıhlar) village, which is 12 km away and north-westward, towards the Taurus Mountains, from Manavgat center.

Emerging from the Taurus Mountains and running through a number of amazing canyons, Köprüçay flows into the Mediterranean to the South of Serik, Antalya.

The classsical Greek theatre was built with seats (cavea) in a curve, a bit bigger than a semicircle, around the circular floor (orchestra) where the play was performed. The place was chosen so that the natural gradient of a slope could be used, often with a wonderful view of the landscape.

The tourist town Side is on the tip of the peninsula on top of the souternmost part of the ruins of the antique town. Before tourism came to Turkey it was a sleepy fishing village, today it is car-free and a real Turkish tourist town with basically only shops, restaurants and small hotels. 

The road that turns towards South by 72nd km of the main road from Antalya to Alanya direction, will take you to Side after 6 km. Side is one of the most famous resorts in nowadays. It is supposed that, Side had been founded by the Kymellians in the 7th Century B.C., on a small peninsula that extends through the Mediterranean. 

Oymapınar Dam, being 18 km away from the Centrum, is the third largest dam of Turkey.  It is one of the two dams that are built on Manavgat River (the other one is the Manavgat Dam). It has been constructed between 1977 and 1984 for the purpose of electricity energy generation. 

The museum where the finds from the excavations are exhibited is situated in the agora thermae, a restored Byzantine bathhouse on the columned street opposite the agora. The entrance was from the north west towards the water where there also was a columned sportsground, now a garden.

This river, which is also called as Melas, draws eastern border of the ancient Pamphylia region. The length of the river which rises from eastern slope of the western Taurus Mountains and that has a steady flow velocity is 93 km. This is the biggest river located in the Antalya region. 

The place where the Manavgat River embraces with the Mediterranean is called as the Manavgat Channel. Especially during weekends this is the frequented place of the locals and the fishermen. While on one side the cool turquoise waters of the river flow, on the other side the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean gleam. 

The Town of Manavgat, being 76 km away from Antalya, is founded on the fertile plains on both sides of the Manavgat River and carries the same name.  

What a coincidence – while arriving at Kargıhan Caravansary from ancient city of Etenna together with Author Wolfgang Dorn we met Kaimakam Mr Hacı İbrahim Türkoglu from Manavgat together with his staff and couple of mayors from neighbouring towns to inspect Kargıhan Caravansary for later restoration and for small picnic at the complex.

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. They picked flowers and passsed a tree with thin branches, shiny leaves and colourful flowers.