ANTALYA TURKEY - TÜRKİYE

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A N T A L Y A GENERAL INFORMATION ON ANTALYA 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 to the south sea. On some parts of the coast, where the mountains plunge sharply into the sea, small natural bays and peninsulas are formed. Antalya is situated on a plain which consists of two flat areas formed of falez rock at a height of 35 m, where the mountains recede from the shore. On the first rocky plain on the coast is the town centre and on the plain behind it, named Kepezüstü, small settlement units have been established. The coast is 530 km in length and borders with Eşen in the west and Kaledran creek in the east. The province has an area of 20,820 km2. The soil of the plain is made up of conglomerate, alluvium and travertine falez rocks. The Taurus mountains, formed of limestone and serpentine lands, with karst surface formations, have many deep valleys, caves, crevices and faults. In the marshy areas at a height of 300 m from the coast scrub trees, known as maquis, are found. These include oleander, wild strawberries, sandalwood, strawberry trees, myrtle, chinaberry trees, bay, chaste trees, carob trees, broom and spurge. Thyme, sage, saffron, burdock, asphodel, asparagus, blackberry, chrysanthemum and, sparsely, oak, Oriental plane, wild pear, olive and linden trees are also found. 300 metres further on in, the red pine and oak forests, and marshes with eucalyptus trees can be seen. 1200 m further on the forests with cedar, fir trees, Scotch pine, juniper and beech begin. As the alluvial soil on the plains is suitable for agriculture, vegetables, fruit and flowers are grown in greenhouses for export. Open orange, mandarin, lemon and grapefruit gardens can be seen in the vicinity, in the warm Mediterranean winds. On the east of the Antalya plain, banana and avocado are grown. Cotton is sown as an industrial plant and cotton production, along with cotton mills and textile factories, holds great potential for Turkey. Apples, pears, quince, grapes and sesame are grown on the mountainous plateaus. The regional fauna is very good for hunting tours. In Düzlerçamı on the Taurus mountains, covering an area of 10,000 hectares, fallow deer, wild goat and roe deer hunting is permitted on a controlled basis. Wolves, foxes, brown bears, martens, wild boar, wild cats and jackals are the wild species that are often found. The Taurus Leopard was known to exist until recently. Partridge, quail, turtle dove, wild pigeon, blackbird, woodcock, francolin and wild duck can be regarded as game birds. The region is well-known for its grida fish; in addition to this, sea bream, horse mackerel, black bream, gilt-head, grey mullet, gurnard, whiting, bonito, striped red mullet, needlefish, large bonito, red gurnard and red mullet are among the major sea fish, other sea produce includes hermit crab, lobster, shrimp, cuttle-fish and mussel. In addition, cage fishing is carried out in the sea at six points on the coast where sea-bass and grey mullet are bred. Fresh water line fishing is carried out in the Eşen, Dim, Köprüçay, Manavgat, Akçay and Alara rivers. The fish restaurants established within water in the Dim Creek are particularly famous. The main fresh water fish are fresh water chub, fresh water perch, carp, mirror-carp, eel, bleak and tench. There are numerous trout production farms and restaurants in those parts of the Taurus Mountains close to water and river beds. The province of Antalya is located between the north latitudes of 36,07° - 37,29° and east longitudes of 29,20° - 32,35°. 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. In the area with sunny weather for 10 months a year the temperature climbs up to 45°C in July and August. The sea breeze and the northeasterly winds blowing from inland relieve the area under this temperature. Months Average temperature Seawater temperature January 16,5 17,6 February 16,6 17 March 18 16,5 April 20,5 18,5 May 24 20,5 June 29 24,5 July 32 28,5 August 33 29,5 September 30 27,5 October 27 25 November 22 21 December 18 18

The highest point of the Taurus mountains is Akdağ at an altitude of 3025 metres. Located to the northwest of the city centre and at a distance of 50 km is the Saklıkent ski and recreation centre on Beydağları. Here one can ski and then go down to the shore and into the sea during the months of January-April. Thanks to this characteristic the city is called the Turkish riviera. In Saklıkent there are two teleski and ski courses along with villas and accommodation facilities available in the area. Situated on Bakırlı Hill behind Saklıkent is the Antalya National Space Observatory with a reflecting telescope 40 m in diameter and a telescope 150 cm in diameter. It is possible to watch meteor showers and shooting stars on certain days of the year. In rivers rafting and canoeing sports and on the Taurus mountains jeep safari, hunting and trekking tours are organised. Alternatively, there is rock-climbing, bird watching tourism, photo-safari, mountain tourism, line fishing and health tourism at the thalasso and dialysis centres in Geyirbayır. Holy tourism activities are organized in Myra, St.Nicholas and Patara. There are underwater diving centres on the coast, primarily in Kemer, Çamyuva, Olympos, Adrasan, Kaş, Kalkan, Üçağız, Kekova, Side and Alanya. In addition, yacht tours are organized from the port of Antalya to Düden Waterfalls-Karpuzkaldıran and Kemer, from Side to Alanya, from Demre-Çayağzı to Kekova, from Kaş to Kekova, from Kemer to Çıralı-Olympos-Adrasan and Cape Gelidonya. There are also boat tours on Manavgat creek and canoe tours on Xanthos creek. In addition, blue voyage, which covers the southwestern Anatolian coast, ends in Antalya. There are ferryboat trips from Alanya to Cyprus and from Antalya to Italy. Antalya today is a world tourism centre with its unique touristic accommodation facilities, nature and historical beauties. The city of Antalya is managed by a governor and a city council, with one greater city and three district municipalities. The Antalya port is one of the most prominent export and import ports of Turkey. The Free Trade Zone existing within the port conveniently serves the export of all types of products, primarily being textile, mine and agricultural products. HISTORY As a result of the research conducted at the Karain cavern located to the north of the city it is understood that the area has been inhabited since the prehistorical era. It is known that the Turquoise/Etruscan tribes moving southwards from the Euroasian steppes in around 3000 B.C. settled and founded their city in the Antalya region as in all of Anatolia. The area is named Ahhiyava in the Hittite in******ions. It is understood that the Luwi and Lukka tribes of the Turquoises also settled in the mountainous Psidia, Lycia and Pamphilia regions located within the city limits of Antalya. The area went under the reign of Kimmer in the 7th century, subsequently followed by Persians, Macedonians, Pers, Romans and Byzantines and, finally, was seized by the Turks in 1207. The root of the name of the city is understood to be “Attala”, that is, “the City of Hakan, son of God” in the Turquoise/Luwi language. It served as the centre of the Teke Sanjak in the lands of Karamanoğulları for a certain period of time, then subordinated to the province of Konya in the 19th century and finally became a province in 1923. The city which was “Adalia” during the Roman and Byzantine eras has been converted into Antalya today through phonetic pronunciation. DAILY LIFE, CULTURE AND ETHNOGRAPHY OF ANTALYA Thanks to its historical background the Antalya region enjoys a rich culture and ethnography. In addition to the characteristics of settled cultures, the local people also synthesised the characteristics of the yörük (nomadic) culture, thus establishing a unique culture of their own. The migration of the local people from the shore towards the uplands on the Taurus mountains because of the excessive temperature during summers created a need as such, forcing them to produce the needs of the yörük culture in addition to the products grown on the coast. These people, owning herds of sheep and goats before everything else, first produced felt tents from the wool of these domestic animals in order to shelter themselves on the uplands and, alongside this, specialised in the production of animal produce such as milk, butter and cheese. They dried various fruits in the mountains and made jams and pickles with them, and made molasses from grapes. 40 different types of jam are made in the region including, primarily, bitter orange, bergamot, quince, apricot, apple, eggplant, watermelon, fig, wild strawberry, black mulberry and blackberry. Moreover, besides the livestock farming, dairy produce and hunting, the local people migrating to the uplands on the Taurus mountains also valued handicrafts and mainly wove the famous Döşemealtı Carpets of the area. These medium sized carpets are dyed using natural madder and are generally red, dark blue and green. With pure wool warp and weft, these carpets feature five stone, camel’s foot, branch and cross motifs. The yörüks (nomads) adorn their houses, tents, saddle- and domestic animals and new-born babies with a blue eye stone against the evil eye according to the old Turkish rules and customs in order to protect themselves from the darkness of the night and all ill-luck. Today, in the villages on the hills of the Taurus mountains known as Döşemealtı, rugs, provisions sacks, socks and various household covers are woven along with elegant crochet-work embroidery. In Akseki small household utensils such as wooden spoons are carved out of box tree wood. All of these authentic local products are sold in restored commercial buildings and souvenir shops in the city, such as Tek Kapılı Han, Alarahan, Serapsu Han and Bedesten. As for contemporary produce, all kinds of jewellery, gold handicrafts, silver, ready-to-wear leather produce, hand-woven Turkish carpets, international textile trademarks and all kinds of souvenirs are on sale in the shopping centres around the airport and at the Festival Market, Migros and Liman Megacentres. Antalya’s most famous local dishes include Piyaz, made with tahini (crushed sesame seeds), garlic, walnuts and boiled dried beans, spicy hibeş with mixed cumin and tahini, şiş köfte, tandır kebap, domates civesi, şakşuka and various cold Mediterranean dishes with olive oil. Dönerciler Çarşısı is an authentic spot where the local dishes are found. There are fish restaurants, where all types of seafood are served, in Doğu Garajı, Meltem Çarşısı and on Lara and Konyaaltı beaches. Moreover, Döner Gazino and Restaurant located on Tünek Tepe present a splendid panorama of Antalya. Antalya folklore includes zeybek dances to music generally played on the saz, with wooden spoons, small drums and the tambourine. On parts of the Taurus mountains religious folk dances, called sema, are performed by yörüks. Yörüks also have instrumental-only folk dance tunes, called “boğaz” tunes. Antalya today is a world tourism and cultural centre with its tourism potential increasing every year. With its numerous accommodation centres, restaurants and tourism activities from Alanya to Fethiye it serves both summer and winter tourism. Various international fairs are organised in the city every year, primarily being the tourism fair at the Expo Centre and the food and beverage fairs aimed at tourism, such as Touristic Enterprises equipment. Among the important artistic and cultural activities are the international Golden Orange Film Festival organised every year, Classical Music Festivals organised at Aspendos Theatre, exhibitions, concerts, seminars, conferences and colloquiums for tourists, organised at the Glass Pyramid and the Atatürk Cultural Centre. The city also enjoys the amenities of modern life thanks to its modern theatres, art houses, exhibition halls and symphony orchestra. HISTORICAL WORKS OF ART WITHIN THE CITY OF ANTALYA Old Antalya is located in a place now known as Kaleiçi. Kaleiçi contains ruins dating back thousands of years, temples, churches, basilicas and 715 houses and 47 monuments from the time of the Seljuk and Ottoman dwellings. Most of these having been restored, they serve tourism. As a result of the efforts made, the Golden Apple, recognised as the Tourism Oscar, was awarded to Antalya Kaleiçi in 1984. The foremost work of art dating from the Roman era in the region is Hadrian’s Gate, built in 139 A.D. in commemoration of the Emperor Hadrian’s visit to the city. Also known as Üç Kapılar, this two-tier monumental gate has three arches and 8 columns with Corinthian capitals set upon pedestals at the façade and rear. There are square watch towers on either side of the gate. On the western falez rock end of the Antalya Park, the 14-metre high, two-tier Hıdırlık Tower is visible. Dating from the Roman era, it is thought to have been used as a lighthouse. The tower, with a square base and the upper part built of rounded carved stone blocks, and remains of frescoes visible on its inner walls, was later used as a basilica. The Panagia Basilica, built by the Byzantines, to the east of the Hıdırlık Tower, was transformed into a mosque upon the addition of a single-galleried minaret by the Turkish Sultan Korkut in 1467. The building consists of two sections in the shape of a double cross and is remarkable with its arched gate and reliefs on the door-window edges, and marble columns. The fire in 1896 ruined the mosque and its minaret collapsed halfway down. Therefore, it is today called Kesik Minare (The Truncated Minaret). The symbols of the city, Yivli Minare (The Grooved Minaret) and Ulu Cami Külliyesi, were built upon the remains of the Byzantine church by Sultan Alaaddin in 1230. The frame of the 45 metre high minaret, built of brick on a square stone pedestal, was erected with bracing in the form of 8 grooves, and the upper part is embellished with light blue square mosaic stones. The words God and Muhammed are inscribed on the floor surfaces with turquoise stones and tiles. The simply constructed Ulu Cami, standing adjacent to the minaret, has 6 domes covered with roof tiles, raised on 12 columns. Immediately next to the mosque stands Karatay Medresesi, which consists of small chambers. Besides technology, courses in science, philosophy and psychology were taught at the Medrese, which served as the college of its era. To the northwest of the Mosque is Mevlevihane. This 18th century square building is reinforced by cradle vaults and the dome is covered with roof tiles. To the east of Külliye is the Tomb of Mehmet Bey, an octagonal construction upon a square floor, walls of dressed stone blocks and a pyramid spire-shaped roof covered with roof tiles. To the west there is a Selçuklu Hamamı (Seljuk Hamam) with walls built of rubble stones, a steam room with a square layout and a roof made of round domes. The Clock Tower, onto which a clock was placed at a later period, is situated at a site known as Castle Gate and is one of the watch towers built on either side of the gate in order to protect it. Of these 25 metre high towers, the one to the east, which is still standing, has a square layout. Murat Paşa Mosque which was built by Kuyucu Murat Paşa in 1570 is covered with a high dome upon a ten-corner frame, with the in******ions on its inner walls running all through the internal façade in a ribbon while presenting the most beautiful example of the Turkish-Seljuk art of calligraphy. The altar next to the marble pulpit worked with reliefs is a simple construction. The last congregation place is covered with three domes rising above pointed arches of coloured stone on four round columns. In the city centre the Sinan Mosque ordered to be built by Sheikh Sinan during the 16th century with rubble stone was built single-galleried with the short minaret made of dressed stone. The Mosque has a wooden floor and is covered with a tiled roof. Sheikh Sinan’s tomb is situated opposite the mosque. Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque, located behind the Clock Tower at Kalekapısı (Castle Gate), dates back to the 16th century. The sides of the entrance gate located to the north and the window edges are made of dressed stone. There is one large and three small domes over the mosque, which has a rectangular layout. Balibey Mosque on Balibey street in the city centre was ordered to be constructed by the Cavalry Chief Malkoçoğlu Balibey during the 15th century. Mtüsellim Mosque, which was ordered to be built by Mehmet Ağa, the Head of the Palace Doorkeepers, in 1769 is made of dressed stone. At the northwest corner it has a single-galleried minaret made of brick. The mosque is covered by a large dome on drum frames in three stages, with 4, 8 and 10 corners. Ahi Yusuf Mosque, which was built by Ahi Yusuf in 1249, has a square foundation and is made of rubble stone. This little masjid is covered by a round dome with roof tiles. To the east of the city centre are Demirci Karaali Mosque, which was built during the 18th century, and KırCami, which was re-constructed with the addition of a minaret. ANTALYA ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM This is the second largest museum in Turkey, covering an area of 7000 m2. The museum was awarded the “European Council Special Prize” as a result of its activities in 1988. It has 13 exhibition halls and an open-air gallery. There are about 5000 artefacts on display. Antalya Museum is the only museum in Turkey with a section devoted to children. In the first hall of the museum, antiquities showing homework and mathematical calculations made on clay tablets by children are displayed. In the Natural History and Prehistory Hall there are fossil and mineral samples relating to the development and living creatures of the geological era. These are pine cone fossils, sea urchins and brachiopod fossils. Also on display here are hand axes, arrowheads, cutting stones, bone tools, wedges and various instruments found at Karain and Beldibi caves in the Antalya region dating from the Prehistoric, Paleolithic, Neolithic and Calcolithic eras. In the section to the west of the hall, the antiquities and cubic and brick tomb samples found during the excavations at Elmalı Semahöyük and Karataş are displayed. Various types of baked earthenware vessels, seals, brush stems and dead skeletons discovered in these tombs are displayed within the original Cubic tomb in Hucker form, that is, in the position of an unborn baby. In the Gallery of Gods section there are various forms of black varnished figureless vessels, bellcraters depicting the battle between the amazons and the griffons, lekythoi and black and red vases discovered in Aspendos, which are decorated with three young figures dancing and holding a red vase, displayed in the showcases. In the hall where sculptures of gods are on display, there are the sculptures of Zeus, father of gods, Artemis considered as the guardian of Perge and successor of the main goddess, Leto, Fortuna, Goddess of Luck, Nemesis, Goddess of Fate, Aphrodite, Demeter, Goddess of Earth and Fertility, Serapis, Underground God, Isis, Goddess Controlling the Elements, and Hermes, guardian god of thieves-merchants. In the hall containing Small and Underwater Artefacts, the first piece was found in Foça which is a bronze statue of Herakles, the symbol of power and strength, resting on his sceptre on a bull’s head. The statue of Atis with a Phrygian conical hat, bronze busts of Athena, goddess of intelligence and wisdom and of a negro, figures of Hermes, a bronze statue of the god Apollonius found in Seleukea, a plate displaying Athena in relief, made of solid silver, rings, earrings, bracelets, brooches, medallions, necklaces and fibula made of gold and precious stones, ceramic and bronze oil lamps, in******ions and vessels with figures in relief as well as various jewellery and glass articles are on display. Underwater findings, on the other hand, mainly consist of various anchors made of stone and iron, antique amphorae, used for carrying liquids and various vessels. The other showcases display stone statuettes and unguentaria. In the Emperors Hall, in addition to the large size statues of the emperors such as Traian, Hadrianus and Augustus of the Roman era, there are also the statues of the empresses Sabina, Lulia Donna and Plancia Manga. The statues of the famous Three Beauties and the female dancer made of black and white marble are interesting examples. In the Tomb Cults Hall, sarcophagi and reliefs depicting the burial tradition are displayed. The first sarcophagus in the sarcophagi hall belongs to Damitlas Filskas and his family. It consists of a massive coffin and its lid. On the lid the husband and wife are depicted lying on a klinidion (small bed). The sarcophagus with a medallion is immediately to the left of this sarcophagus. There is a medusa’s head in a wreath at one end of the sarcophagus, in the centre, and Eros figures on the sides. The scenes on the sarcophagus symbolise a life filled with success and happiness. To the rear of the hall, there are two sarcophagi ornamented with figures illustrating various moments from the mythological life of Herakles. Additionally, there are 2 sarcophagi from Girland. One of the most striking mosaics on display in the Mosaic and Icons Hall is undoubtedly the Mosaic of Philosophers found in Seleukia around the edge of which the most reputed thinkers, orators, historians and mathematicians of the Antiquity such as Salon, Tykydires, Lykuyrgos, Herodotos, Hesiodos, Demostenes and Pytagoras are included together with their names. Moreover, the Akhilleus Mosaic found in Xanthos is well worth a visit. At the rear part of this section is the treasure of Korydalla/Kumluca. The Icons compiled from various churches primarily being St. Nicholas in Demre are displayed in the southern part of the hall. The icons here include instants from the lives of Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary, Genesis, The Last Supper, Day of Judgement, Death of Holy Virgin/Koimesis, Christ Almighty, 12 Apostles, Baptism, Crucifixion, Miracles and two portraits of Father Christmas and the relics alleged to contain his bones. In the Coins Hall, the Anatolian Minting tradition, technique and economy of 2500 years dating back from the 6th century B.C. until the present day are observed in an educational sequence. Furthermore, Phrygian and Lydian coins as well as Elmalı coins found in the area and in Western Anatolia are displayed in the coins hall. In the Ethnography Hall, various artefacts such as regional art, clothing, handwritten books and weapons and vessels from the Seljuk, Ottoman and Republican eras are on display. In addition, chinaware, porcelain, religious artefacts, padlocks, long dresses with floral decoration and Yörük items are exhibited. In the middle of the Perge Hall, adjacent to the cinevision hall which has 4 Niches on the right and 3 on the left, is the Marsyas statue on a revolving pedestal around which are statues of gods, unearthed at the Perge theatre. The upper part of the wall displays friezes found at Perge theatre. At the furthest end is the Lycian Hall, with an outer façade built in the architectural style of the Lycian sarcophagi, in which findings from the Lycian era are displayed. Large pieces, such as sarcophagi, tombs, tombstones and statues which cannot be displayed inside, are displayed in the Open Air Gallery. The SUNA-İNAN KIRAÇ MEDITERRANEAN CIVILIZATIONS MUSEUM, Ayayorgi Church, built during the 17th century by the Karamanids, who were of Turkish origin and adopted the Orthodox faith, has recently been restored and transformed into a museum complex consisting of an ethnography museum, research library, photograph, document, archive and conference hall. The ATATÜRK HOUSE MUSEUM is the house which was allocated to Atatürk when he visited Antalya on March 6, 1930 and subsequently transformed into a museum where furnishings of that period as well as articles belonging to Atatürk were preserved. DÜDEN WATERFALLS AND ESTUARY These are located 12 km from the city centre. The waterfalls, formed by a karstic depression, are 20 metres high and also spring from underground at the point where the water falls. By entering into Dilek Mağarası (Cave of Wishes) located underneath the waterfalls it is also possible to pass to the rear side of the water. The location of the waterfalls has the appearance of a botanical heaven thanks to the rich variety of plants. In the deep valley formed by the falling and flowing water of the waterfalls there are promenades and trout restaurants. The rock tombs observed around the valley bring to mind that the area was a sacred place in ancient times. After 8km the water from the falls forms a small creek, creating a magnificent spectacle as it cascades over the 40 metre high falez rock into the sea in the Lara region. There are restaurants and picnic areas on the falez rock with a view of the sea and waterfalls. Touristic boat tours are organised to the waterfalls from the Marina. KARAİN CAVE Karain Cave is located about 30 km northwest of Antalya at Yağcı Village, subordinated to the settlement unit of Yeniköy. It is a prehistoric cave, located at a height of about 370 metres from the sea and about 80 metres up the slope, where the Western Taurus calcareous zone borders on the travertine plain. It was Professor I. Kılıç KÖKTEN, Professor of Prehistory at the Ankara Faculty of Language, History and Geography who began the research on Karain Cave in a systematical manner from 1946 up to 1973, when the layer of compact earth at the entrance to the cave was excavated. Excavations are still underway. According to findings revealed, it was understood that Karain Cave was continuously inhabited in the Middle Paleolithic (Stone) ages. It is possible to understand from the in******ions and monograms on the outer walls that this inhabitation also continued during the classical ages and that the cave was used as a sacred votive and worshipping place. Cultural findings in Karain Cave include hand axes, various scrapers, jewellery and arrowheads made of flintstone, in addition to bones of animals such as hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses and elephants; pieces of fossilised bones belonging to homo sapiens, humans of the middle paleolithic era. Most of the findings unearthed at Karain Cave are displayed in the small museum located where the slope borders on the plain and some of them at the Prehistory Hall of the Antalya Museum. To the east of the cave are Kırkgözler Sazlığı (Reedbed), formed by the water of Düden and renowned for its wild duck hunting, and Kırkgöz Han (Inn), measuring 25x45 metres, built by the shore of this reedbed during the 12th century. The only pass in the area located to the North of the Inn going through the Taurus mountains and connecting Central Anatolia with the Mediterranean is Çubuk Pass at an altitude of 924 metres. The ancient road joining Pamphilia with Pisidia starts in the villages of Döşemealtı, east of the Pass, and climbs North, connecting to the Kremna/Bucak settlement. This antique road, paved with stone blocks during the Roman era, was in use until recently, thus the villages established in the area were called Döşemealtı (under-pavement) villages. It is thought that the building ruins found at the beginning of the antique road are the remains of the depot, customs building and garrison of that period. The Turkoman yörüks who have settled in the area today weave the famous Döşemealtı carpets. TERMESSOS 22 km northwest of Antalya, south of the Antalya-Korkuteli motorway on the slope of the 1650 m high Güllük/Solymn mountain, at an altitude of 1050 m, lie the remains of the antique city of Termessos. The area was declared “Güllük/Termessos National Park and Protection Area” due to the best examples of its regional flora, flowers and maquis vegetation, and unique fauna, primarily wild goat. In the Luwi/Etruscan language the word “Terme”, included in the root of the name, means “Pass/Mountain Pass” and “Assa” means “High Fort”, and as such, it was named Termeassa, meaning “Fort City on the Mountain Pass”. The area was also called “Termila”, that is, “Terme Pass” which then became “Dirmil” through a different phonetic pronunciation in today’s Turkish. The area is known to have been a human settlement since prehistoric times and was a part of the Etruscan/Luwian settlement unit around 3000 B.C. Due to the immigration of the Nordic tribes, that is, Turquoise/Isocates, which continued from around 3000 B.C. until around 700 B.C., urbanization began in the small Luwian settlement units in Anatolia and they came on the historical scene. One of the foremost cities established on the Pisidian-Lycian-Pamphilian border by the Termil clan is Termeassa. Termessos, which started to urbanize and flourish after the 6th century B.C., opened onto the sea by joining Phaselis, which was another coastal Lycian city, located to the South of Mount Solym. Excavation research carried out in the area revealed canals carved in rocks running southwards from the hillsides of mount Solym towards the city of Phaselis. Through these canals, the wine and olive oil produced in the area were poured to Phaselis on the coast where jugs were filled and shipped to other countries. In the 5th century B.C., although almost all of Anatolia was occupied by Persians, Termessos was not seized by the Persians. The Macedonian King Alexander who besieged Termessos in 337 B.C. met with the defense of the locals of Termessos and, seeing that he would not be able to capture it, turned towards the shores of Pamphilia. Termessos was the only city in Anatolia which Alexander could not capture during his trip to Asia. Termessos, which had established good relations with the Pergamonians who subsequently came to the area, developed these relations also with Rome which was the heir of the Kingdom of Pergamum, signing an agreement in 72 B.C. after which the city was enriched with various buildings and started flourishing. The city of Termessos, which fell in ruins and was destroyed as a result of the earthquakes which took place in the 5th and 9th centuries A.D. and could not be captured by any army whatsoever in its history, could not find any means for reconstruction and the city folk emigrated to the other cities of Pamphilia and Lycia by the seaside. Thus, the city remains have survived to this day. Tekeoğlu Turkomans who came to the area built a Caravanserai named Evdir Han at the Byzantine sacred site Eudokias situated in the valley in the east of the city. On the King’s Road leading to the antique Termessos remains there is firstly a main entrance gate with a Gymnasium Complex to the east of it. In the complex where, in addition to the teaching of philosophy and positive sciences, all kinds of physical sports activities and competitions were performed, it is understood that the most important lessons were war games and wrestling. Built leaning against the hillside, next to where the inner city walls face the Gymnasium square, Galleries can be seen, and it is understood that these used to have tiers of Stadion seats. Southeast from the front of the Gymnasium there are 26 tiers of seats and a theatre which is thought to have a seating capacity of 6000 people. There are three temples in front of the Odeon and it is understood that the one in the West is Zeus Solymeus, the small one in the middle is Artemis and the one in the East is the Great Artemis Temple. There are shops behind the columns. One of the most important tombs there is the house type tomb with lion’s head relief constructed in the Lycian style and a large number of Lycian type sarcophagi are visible. KURŞUNLU WATERFALLS