Antalya City in Turkey
Antalya is known as the "capital of Turkish tourism" due to the presence of three important elements: sea, sand, and sun.
Antalya hosts more than 100 ancient cities that have accommodated various civilizations throughout history.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism allocated 145 million lira this year to support excavation and exploration activities in Antalya.
The "Old City Passage" project will support cultural tourism activities in several historical cities, including Olympos and Vasilis.
Among the significant archaeological discoveries in Antalya this year are two statues of the goddess of victory, "Nike," dating back to approximately 1800 years ago.
Archaeological investigations have uncovered rich and different cultures in Antalya, which the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has begun to demonstrate through the creation of a route that highlights the state's historical hosting of many civilizations.
Antalya, known as the "capital of Turkish tourism," attracts millions of local and foreign tourists alike, featuring three essential tourist elements: sea, sand, and sun, along with its ancient cities, archaeological sites, and cultural heritage.
Antalya, described as an "open-air museum," embraces around 100 ancient cities that have hosted different civilizations throughout history, including Perge, Aspendos, Patara, Xanthos Vasilis, Myra, Limyra, Side, Termessos, Selge, and Olympos.
Excavation and exploration activities continue in 19 of the ancient cities and archaeological sites in Antalya, allowing visitors to explore areas where nature and history blend with artifacts, attracting history enthusiasts.
Old City Passage
Jandemir Zoroglu, the Director of Culture and Tourism in the province, stated that the Ministry prioritizes the cultural and historical heritage of the city, considering it a fundamental element supporting the tourism sector in the region.
He highlighted the Ministry's launch of a pilot project aimed at expanding tourism and cultural activities throughout the year, promoting the cultural and historical aspects of the province. The project, named "Old City Passage," aims to support cultural tourism activities and implement cultural projects in various historical cities, notably Olympos and Vasilis, in conjunction with supporting entertainment tourism projects focusing on tourist elements (sea, sand, and sun).
Cradle of Civilizations
The current administrative boundaries of Konyaaltı district (Antalya) include the city of Patara, bearing witness to the past heritage and featuring prominent artifacts that shed light on essential details of human civilization.
Experts in the region work on restoring the wireless telegraph station and transforming it into a museum. The work also continues on the Patara lighthouse built by the Roman Emperor Nero, standing 26 meters tall and about two thousand years old.
In this context, the ancient city of Side, located in the Alanya region and dating back to the ninth century BCE, has been the subject of excavation work for 76 years.
Due to its historical importance, Side receives support from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, especially in 2023, to uncover the cultural and historical treasures beneath its ruins.
Freshet Alanyalı, the head of the excavation and exploration team in Side, stated that excavation work in the city has been ongoing since 1947.
She explained that the historical city, including the ancient theater and the port, is considered a third-degree protected area according to the classification of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Olympos Mosaic
In a similar vein, a team of archaeologists continues its work in the ancient city of Olympos, considered one of the most important areas of ancient civilizations in southern Anatolia.
Kökçen Öztaşçıkan, the head of the excavation department at Pamukkale University in Turkey, stated that work in the city gained momentum this year thanks to the financial support provided by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
She added that archaeologists are working in eight different excavation areas, and their efforts in Olympos have led to the discovery of mosaic floor panels, along with other archaeological finds in the Bishop's Palace, Cemetery Street, theater areas, burial grounds at the port entrance, and the Roman temple area.