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| Touristic Places |
The Mediterrian
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In Antalya, The pine-clad Toros (Taurus) Mountains sweep down to the sparkling clear sea resulting in an irregular coastline of rocky headlands and secluded coves.
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| Antalya |
Set in a scenery of sharp contrast, Turkey's principal holiday resort center of Antalya is an attractive city with shady palmlined boulevards and a prize-winning marina. In the picturesque old quarter of Kaleiçi, narrow, winding streets and old wooden houses about the ancient city walls.Since its founding in the second century B.C., Antalya has been continuously inhabited. The Romans, Byzantines and Seljuks successively occupied the city before it came under Otoman rule. At Antalya, the pine-clad Toros (Taurus) Mauntains sweep down to the sparkling clear sea forming an irregular coastline of rcky headlands and secluded coves. The region, bathed in sunshine 300 days of the year, is a paradise of sun-bathing, swimming and sports activities like windsurfing, water skiing, sailing, mountain climbing and hunting. If you come to Antalya in March or April, in the mornings you can ski the slopes and in the afternoons swim in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. Important historical sites await your discovery amid a landscape of pine forests, olive and citrus groves, and palm, avocado and banana plantations. The Turquoise Coast is the tourism capital of Turkey. Its full range of accommodations, sunny climate, variety of excursions and activities, and its warm hospitality make it a sought-after venue for meetings and conferences. A Culture, Exhibition and Congress Center was opened in 1996 in the Konyaaltı Quarter. The Congress hall itself is in a glass pyramid.
Main Events: October; Altın Portakal International Festival (International Short Film & Video Contest) (info)
Major Sights İn the Environs: Archeology Museum, Hadran's Gate, Kaleiçi Harbor, Upper and Lower Düden Waterfalls, Truncated Minaret, Fluted Minaret, Aspendos, Perge, Side, Thermessos and Phaselis - more info
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Mersin (İçel)
Surrounded by densely cultivated orchards and vegetable farms, Mersin lies midway along the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Its shady, palm-lined avenues, city parks and modern hotels create a pleasant ambience, and there is plenty to visit in the way of nearby historical sites and beaches. Mersin is developing rapidly and has the largest tax-free zone on the Turkish Mediterranean. Despite its very modern appearence, the city occupies the site of an extremely ancient city. At the Yamuktepe tumulus, 3 kilometres west of the town, excavations have unearthed several successive settlements dating back to the Neolithic Age. The modern hotels in and around Mersin are well equipped to host national and international meetings. Mersin is close to the important commercial cities of Adana and Tarsus and is well situated for excursionsto the Taurus Mountains, the eastern Mediterranean coast and Antakya (ancient Antioch). The sunny climate and mild temperatures make it a pleasant venue for meetings all year-round.
Main Events: May 20-26; Silifke Music and Folklore Festival September-October; International Mersin Festival and Fair
Major Sightsin the Environs: Yumuktepe, Adana, Tarsus (Cleopatra Gate), Viranşehir (Pompeiopolis), Silifke, Kanlıdivane (Kanytelis), Kızkalesi (Korykos), Cennet, Cehennem and Narlıkuyu Caves, Uzuncaburç(Diocaesarea) - more info
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Adana
Adana, the fourth largest city in Turkey, is in the heart of the fertile plain of Çukurova (ancient Cilicia) and is a growing industrial center. Running thorugh the city is the Seyhan River which offers many a shady tea garden and restaurant for relaxing evenings. There are also a number of Roman ruins in the city an deven more in the surrounding countryside. Famous local culinary delights include spicy 'Adana Kebab' and refreshing drinks like Şalgam and 'Şıra'.
Main Events: August 3-5; International Symposium on Turkish Culture
Major Sights in the Environs: Taşköprü(Roman bridge), Ulu Cami (Grand Mosque), Eski Cami, Hasan Cami, Etnography and Archeology Museums, Bedesten - more info
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Antakya (Hatay)
Antakya (Antioch) was not only a biblical site but also a capital of the Seljuks as well. Antioch on the Orontes is on a fruitful plain surrounded by mountains. The cultural and commercial heyday of the city was under the Romans. From the mosaics left by the Romans the richest collection in the world can now be seen in the local museum . The religious history includes the labors of Barnabas and Paul, and the followers of Jesus were first called 'Christians' here.
Main Events June 29; St. Peter's Day Jully 23; International Culture and Tourism Festival
Major Sights in the Environs: St. Peter's Grotto, Bazaar, Habib Neccar Mosque, Mosaic Museum
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| Kemer |
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Kemer is an important tourism center with green and blue met qualified, resort, restaurant and beach facilities, yacht ports and historical cities. One of the leading attractivenesses of Kemer is its natural beauty. Sea, forest and mountains are joining at one point. For example, reaching sea waves till pine trees and usage of pine trees as shady spots at beaches is very attractive. Clearance of the sea, green of forest is another beauty in Kemer. Presence of Faselis, Olympos like antic regions near to it is another attractiveness. It is possible to reach Faselis and Olympos from Kemer by maritime lines and road. Recently organized safari tours to Sögüt Cuması, Altinyaka Dere Village like high places can also be mentioned among regional attractiveness. Caverns are also other attractiveness within the region. One of these caverns, Beldibi cavern is 27 km south west of Antalya, and at shore. Ruins of prehistoric ages are found. Another valuble to see cavern is Molla Deliği cavern, and present on eastern slope of Mount Tahtalı, which rises at west of Kemer. You can only reach to this cavern by foot from Aşağı Kuzeydere or Tekirova villages on Kemer - Kumluca highway. You should walk 3.5 - 4 hours from both villages |
Main Events: Visiting Beldibi Cavern, Faselis and Olympos antic city, Staying in wooden houses in Olympos, Seeing the fire burning for centuries in Çıralı, Participating to Jeep safari and Blue Tour, Going for swimming in their beautiful beaches.
Major Sights in the Environs: Phaselis, Olympos - more info
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Fethiye
The beautiful and unspoiled coastlines are ideal for water sports and nature lovers. The calm, crystal clear water of the Ölü Deniz lagoon is justly famous. Set in a lovely bay, the popular resort of Fethiye is built around a charming town full of restored houses and local bazaars. A hill crowned by the ruins of a crusader fortress built by the Knights of Rhodes overlooks the little port. Above the town numerous Lycian rock tombs, reproducting the facades of ancient buildings, are cut into the cliff face. First-class hotels in the nearby resorts, especially the ones in Sarıgerme, offer excellent possibilities for meetings and conventions.
Main Events: December; St. Nicholas Symposium and Commermoration
Major Sights in the Environs: Archeology Museum, Lycian rock tombs, Kayaköy, Cadianda, Pınara, Tlos, Letoon, Xanthos, Patara, Kaunos, Sidyma, Ölüdeniz, Gemili Island, Çalış Beach, Twelve Islands, Günlük, Katrancı, Göcek, Saklıkent (info).
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Side
Side, an ancient settlement dating back to 1000 BC, was a small fishing village until the early 1980s. Today, it is one of the most charming resorts on the southern coast of Turkey, It offers modern hotels on the swipping sandy beach, lively cafes, discos and restaurants, in addition to colorful shops. The impressive ancient theater is the only one in Turkey which is not built into a hillside. Sorgum and Titreyengöl to the east of Side, as well as Kumköy and Çolaklı on its west, are inviting resort areas with modern hotels.
Main Events: June 10-25; Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival (info) Major Sights in the
Environs:Ancient Theater, Agora, Archeology Museum, Manavgat Waterfalls, Seleucia, Etenna, Selge, Köprülü Canyon National Park (info)
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Alanya
Alanya has been a favorite holiday center, especially as a winter resort, since the Seljuk reign. The symbol of the town is its Red Tower (Kızıl Kule), dating from Byzantine rule. Both as a holiday town and as a convention location the possibilities of Alanya are numerous. The shopping is fun and includes some items that are unique to Alanya. There are also a number of day-trips possible to the various caves found in the area.
Main Events: June; Beach Volleyball Tournament August; International Folklore Festival September; International Tourism and Music Festival October; International Triathalon
Major Sights: Alanya Citadel, Kızıl Kule, Damlataş Cave, Phosphorus Cave, Aşıklar Cave (info), Archeology Museum, Atatürk Park, Dimçayı Valley
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