Side - The Turkish Riviera
(65 Km
from Antalya on the east.) One of the best-known classical sites in Turkey, was
an ancient harbor whose name meant pomegranate. Today a pretty resort town, its
ancient ruins, two sandy beaches, many shops and extensive tourist accommodation
attract throngs of visitors. There are numerous cafes and restaurants with a
view of the sea, and the shops that line the narrow streets sell typical Turkish
handicrafts including leather goods and Turkeys famous beautiful gold jewelry.
Side holidays
Side was
the most important port in Pamphylia, the Mediterranean region whose name meant
Land Of All Tribes. Side itself was named after the pomegranate, a symbol of
fertility in ancient Anatolian culture. Side was for centuries a magnet for
people forced to leave their native land due to natural sdisaster or war. As you
approach Side ruins appear in every direction: walls, aqueducts, agora, baths,
theatre, temples, nymphion and tombs. the wave of tourism which began in the
1960 with lcal people renting rooms to visitors is today one of tidal
proportions, carrying the resort into an unknown future. The modern history of
Side begins in the late 19th century when Turkish migrants from the town of
Khania in Crete arrived. They established the village of Selimiye amongst the
ruins. Balancing the interests of tpurism and conservation is today the most
urgent question facing Side if this fascinating and unique place is to preserve
the character which attrects people here. Ancient writers tell us that
successive streams of migrants forgot their own languages efter settling in
Side. Although nor did they learn the language of the originial inhabitants, who
spoke an ancient Anatolian language. In 547 - 546 B.C. when side was under
Lycian rule, the region was invaded by the Persians. Two centuries later, in 334
BC, Alexander the Great arrived and Side surrendered without a fight. Alțexander
set up his mint here. After the death of Alexander Side was ruled successively
by the Ptolemations and Seleucids, later winning independence which continued
after Pamphylia became part of the kingdom of Pergamum in 188 BC. As well as
being a wealthy sea port, Side was a centre of culture and scholaeship. In 78 BC
it became part of the Roman Empire, although retaining an extensive degree of
self-government. During this period it added the slave trade to its already
considerable sources of wealth. In the second half of the 3rd century attacks on
Pamphlyia by the mountain peoples to the north waekend the city's economy and
new walls were built to protect against these incursions. Under the Byzantines
Side enjoyed final burstof prosperity before the combinationof earthquakes,
piracy and Arab incursions eventually caused the city to be entirely abandoned
in the 10th century. According to the Arab geographer Idrisi writing in 1150,
the people of Side migrated westwards to New Antalya.
Theatre: Has a capacity of 15 000 seats. The audience
section is divided in half by means of a diazoma. Orchestra in a semi-circle
curve. Stage building is two or three storey. Late Empire Period gladiator
fights and animal fights were made here. In A.D. 5-6 th centuries
during Byzantine Period it was used as an open air church. The theatre is dated
from middle of A.D. 2nd century. The Apollo Temple is located within
Byzantine Basilica together with the Athena Temple. In Corinthian style and
peripteros design. From Roman period. Dates from A.D. 150's. A section was
restored in 1983-1990 and recovered.
Despite
several earthquakes, Side has preserved the majority of its buildings. One of
the most important is the one erected in honor of the Emperor Vespasian and his
son Titus. When it was restored, it was transformed into a fountain. The
magnificent theater of the ancient city, built on colonnaded arches, is the
largest in the whole area. (Closed for restoration) Other monuments include the
Agora, the Apollo Temple that is situated near the
sea, a Fountain and Necropolis. The extensive Roman baths, now a museum, houses one of Turkey's finest
archaeological collections.
Antalya Region holidays
Turkey holidays
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