Side Attractions
South coast (Eastern Mediterranean)
Nearest town: Selimiye (pop. 4,000)
The remains of the once important Hellenistic city of Side lie about half-way between Antalya and Alanya on a rocky peninsula in the Gulf of Antalya. The peninsula reaches its highest point a little way inland at the bare limestone crag of Ak Dagi, while on either side of this point, lines of hotels overlook the broad and long sandy beaches of the gulf. In the heart of the ancient city, now much overgrown and covered by drifting sand, lies the charming little fishing village of Selimiye which has developed into a busy holiday resort. Many of the inhabitants are the descendants of Cretans who settled here about 1900. The little town amid the ruins has grown into one of the most important resorts on the Turkish Riviera and boasts numerous hotels and clubs as well as splendid beaches including the Sorgun Plaji.
History
There was already a settlement on the Side peninsula by 1000 B.C. In the seventh or sixth century B.C. Greek settlers from the city of Kyme on the west coast of Asia Minor established a colony here and built a harbor. After a period when it was a pirates' lair and a slave market Side developed in Roman times into an important and prosperous commercial center. As at Perge and other ancient coastal cities, coastal currents gradually caused the harbor to silt up. This, combined with the collapse of Roman rule led to the decay of the city and it was finally abandoned between the seventh and ninth centuries.
Nearest town: Selimiye (pop. 4,000)
The remains of the once important Hellenistic city of Side lie about half-way between Antalya and Alanya on a rocky peninsula in the Gulf of Antalya. The peninsula reaches its highest point a little way inland at the bare limestone crag of Ak Dagi, while on either side of this point, lines of hotels overlook the broad and long sandy beaches of the gulf. In the heart of the ancient city, now much overgrown and covered by drifting sand, lies the charming little fishing village of Selimiye which has developed into a busy holiday resort. Many of the inhabitants are the descendants of Cretans who settled here about 1900. The little town amid the ruins has grown into one of the most important resorts on the Turkish Riviera and boasts numerous hotels and clubs as well as splendid beaches including the Sorgun Plaji.
History
There was already a settlement on the Side peninsula by 1000 B.C. In the seventh or sixth century B.C. Greek settlers from the city of Kyme on the west coast of Asia Minor established a colony here and built a harbor. After a period when it was a pirates' lair and a slave market Side developed in Roman times into an important and prosperous commercial center. As at Perge and other ancient coastal cities, coastal currents gradually caused the harbor to silt up. This, combined with the collapse of Roman rule led to the decay of the city and it was finally abandoned between the seventh and ninth centuries.
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Theater
(Aspendos)
In the lower town of Aspendos is the restored 2nd C A.D. theatre. It can hold up to 20,000 people and is sometimes used as a venue for drama and music festivals.
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Agora Baths
(The site)
The Agora Baths at Side now contain an impressive museum displaying finds from the site.
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Aspendos
The ancient city of Aspendos was founded around 1000 B.C. The site is most well known for the well preserved theater.
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Selge
The ruins of Selge are near the village of Altinkaya Köyü and feature a stadium that once held 10,000 spectators.
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The site
The archeological site of Side features serveral interesting items including an aqueduct, an agora, and a theater that once accomodated 15,000 people.
Cevizli, Turkey
(Near Side)
Düdencik Magarasi, the deepest cave network in Turkey (330m/1,082ft) can be found in the upper valley of the Manavgat Çayi close to the town of Cevizli (1,050m/3,444ft;). One underground river which dries up during the summer months emerges as a karst spring near Pamukluk Köprüsü close to the source of the Manavgat Çayi.
Manavgat Waterfalls, Turkey
(Near Side)
8km/5mi northeast of Side, a little way in from the coast, lies the town of Manavgat on the river of the same name (Melas in antiquity). It rises in the Seytan range (Seytan Daglari) of the Taurus. The beautiful Manavgat Falls (Selalesi) can be reached 5km/3mi upstream via an access road. The area is laid out as a garden and visitors can make their way on various paths and gangways to the immediate vicinity of the falls, the roar of which can be heard a long way away.
Naras Köprüsü
A mile or two northwest of the Manavgat waterfalls at the point where the track crosses the Naras Çayi, a Seljuk arched bridge over the Manavgat Çayi leads downstream. It was built on Roman foundations.
Seleukeia in Pamphylia
About 5km/3mi north of Naras Köprüsü above the village of Bucak Seyler, which can be reached from Side via the Manavgat Selalesi amid an area of pine forest, lie the fine remains of the Seleukid town of Seuleukeia in Pamphylia. Little is known of its history and its exact identity is still not certain despite the existing remains. Excavations in the 1970s unearthed a large baths complex, a well-preserved agora with store-rooms, colonnades and rows of shops, a Byzantine church, a heroon, an odeion and a mosaic of Orpheus.
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