Manavgat

The foundation of Manavgat is not known certain, but estimated at B.C. 200-150. As understood from the early documents, cargo and human transportation had been made on the river, from the very first centuries till recent years. Manavgat has become a village of Turkish Republic at 1913.



The town Manavgat, which is 76 km far from the province Antalya. was founded on the plain that lies on both sides of the River Manavgat. The city center is 4 km far from the shore of the Mediterranean. The Northern part of the town is bordered by the Taurus Mountains covered with beautiful forests. The river Manavgat, which flows through the town, givesthe plain fertility and richness. The Manavgat Waterfall and its delta are the most important natural richness of the town. The other natural beauties of the region in the South are the Sorgun Forest with pine trees and the lake "Titreyengöl", which was formed by alluvions that filled the delta of the River Manavgat.

In the Northern part of the river Manavgat there is the Lake of Oymapınar Dam. It was built in the deep valley of the river in the Taurus Mountains. The Dam and its surroundings have a unique beauty. The region is one of the places for Jeep Safaris the plain of Manavgat, which is 2500 m2. is the most fertile plain of the province Antalya and is suitable for growing cotton, wheat, barley and 45 different kinds of fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables growing in greenhousees in an important from of farming in the region. Greenhouse flowering has also improved recently. In the far East of the plain bananas are grown in the gardens. Trout and shrimps are bred in some parts of the river. During the recent years parallel to the growth of tourism, losts of modern hotel motels and holiday villages have been built in the region o Sorgun and Titreyengöl. The history of the town is known to be very old and it is believed that the name Manavgat comesfrom the word "Munouwa" in the old language of luwi, meaning temple of matrilineal Goddess.

The place was supposed to be used as the sacred area of the Antique cities Seleukeia and Side in different periods.


Manavgat Waterfall

Return to the junction on the E24 for Beşkonak. From here it is c 23 km to manavgat, a pleasant market town on the Manavgat Çayı, the ancient river Melas, which has the usual complement of shops and banks. On the outskirts of Manavgat a road to the left goes first to (4 km) Manavgat Şelale (Manavgat waterfalls), a beauty-spot much favoured by Turkish as well as foreign visitors. Here under the pine trees, it is possible to enjoy an excellent lunch of freshly grilled trout washed down by a dry white wine. Approximately 3 km further is Şıhlar. From there is is an easy hour's walk to the site of Seleuceia in Pamphylia. 




Side

When you turn South at the 75 th km. of Antalya - Alanya main road a nice avenue winding through hotels and hauses for about 3 km will lead you to Side, the furthest city in the east of historical Pamphylia. Situated on a peninsula about 1000 m long and 400 m. wide, it fulfilled its duty as a commercial port.Naturally, Side used to be one of the most important trade centers in the antiquity and now it is one of the most popular holiday resort in Turkey.

According to Strabon the ancient geographer, side was first established in the 7 th cen. B.C. as a trade colony of the Aegean city Kyme near İzmir But the merchants took up the local language, Side tan the name "Side" meant pomegranate, the fruit symbolizing abundance and fertility.
Like the other Pamphylian cities in general, Side was ruled by Lydia in the sixth cent. B.C. and Persia after 547 B.C. The coins minted in here prove that Side had at least an internal independence.

Alexander the Great conquered Side in the first year of the great campaign on Asia in 334 B.C. and was introduced to Hellenistic culture. After his death the empire was shared by generals. The Southern Turkey, including Side changed hands quite often , especially between the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt ( 3 rd cent B.C ) and the Seleucid dynasty of Syria ( 2 nd cent B.C ) after the apameia peace agreement between the Romans and thedefeated Syrian kingdom, but Pergama could not gain a complete control over Side. King Attalos of Pergama founded a new city, Attaleia ( Antalya ) as a commercial rival to Side and others on the South coast. At the turn of century Side was a slave-trade center in the hends of Pirates. It was only the Romans who stopped piracy on the eastern Mediterranean and let the southern Anatolian cities in ( Cilicia, Pamphylia and Lycia ) prosper again in peace and safety 78 B.C.

Pamphylia was attached to the provice of Galatia by emperor Augustus in 25 B.C. when all the provinces in the Roman empire were re-organised. Side lived its second birth and wealthy period until 3 rt cend. A.D as a Pamphylian city that was placed sometimes in Galatia, sometimes in Lycia. Especially its active role in the slave trade enabled this semiindependent city to gain wealth and most of the structures in ruins at present were built during this period of time. Side felt the necessity of repairing the defensive walls in the second half of 3 rd cend. A.D because of the successive attacks by the highlanders from the north. Furthermore, they built an inner wall right through the city in 4 th cent A.D. Unfortunately these precautions were not enough to secure those great days again and Side started declining.

Köprülü Kanyon

Northeast of Antalya, taking the turn off for Tasagil and Beskonak, is scenic route that leads to the 14 km Köprülü Canyon National Park. The road crisscrosses over the clear, flowing water of the mountain river and passes through virgin forests, by rippling waterfalls. Reaching the park, 92 km from Antalya, you will encounter a valley of wild beauty rich in flora and fauna. The canyon streches for 14 km along the Köprü River and is 400 meters deeps in some places. At the rest area there are fish restaurants offering delicious selections. The Roman Oluk Bridge, which spans the canyon, and the Büğrüm Bridge over the Kocadere stream, were engineering feast in their time.From this park you can take two possible excurtions to the ancient city of Selge or to the Dedegöl Mountainst, highest peak at 2,992 meters. Mountainers will be unable to resist climbing, exploring and camping in this rugged, scenic spot.


Aspendos

On returning to the E24 continue in the direction of Alanya. After c 13 km a left-hand turn leads to the market town of Serik. This as supermarkets banks a-post office, chemist shop and a number of small restaurants, where simple meals may be obtained. A signpost to the left, 4 km of Serik marks the road to the site (5km) of the ancient city of ASPENDUS, which is near the modern village of Belkis.

Not far from the road junction there is a fine 13C Selçuk bridge over the Köprüçay the ancient Eurymedon. This structure which is still used, replaced a 2C Roman bridge, whose ruins may be seen in the river-bed a few meters to the N. In ancient times the Eurymedon was navigable as far as Aspendus. At the approach to the site, on the right, are the substantial remains of a roman baths complex, which dates from the 3C AD. This rectangular structure had die usual arrangement of apodyterium, tepidarium, caldarium and frigidarium The foundations and upper walls were made of shaped blocks of the local pudding stone, while the vaults were of brick. Note the terracotta pipes running through the dividing walls. Approximately 50 m SE of the baths are the ruins of the gymnasium, which was also constructed in the 3 C AD. The main entrance on the S led to the palaestra.

Behind this was a long, narrow rectangular hall used for ceremonial purposes. On the E wall there were statues of the emperor and loc able dignitaries. The other rooms were probably used for bathing and for instruction purposes, but, as the building has not been excavated, it is not possible to state this with certainty.