Turkey Holiday Guide 2014

Both on the west and east of Alanya are there plenty of ancient sites' remains. These are sites of Pamphylia's and Cilicia's some of which are on the coast while some other are on steep slopes. The ruins reflect the charasterictics of the region. The ash pans carved in stones which are on display at Alanya Archeology Museum, also reflect the burial traditions of Cilicia region. It is free to visit some ancient sites around which archeological excavations are still being carried out and areas protected owing to their being ruins. Those who would like to sight-see the remains around had better wear clothes which are suitable for long walkings around rocky terrains and among tall bushes and keep water with themselves when it is summer. ALANYA COLYBRASSUS It is a historical site located on Toros Mountains, inherited from Romans, the northwest of Alanya, 30 kilometers far. The historical backround of this site has not been clearly found out yet, though, there are a

The azure waters of the Mediterranean Aegean Marmara and Black Sea surround Turkey to the south, west and north, making a treasure chest of coves, inlets, bays and beaches in which yachtsmen can choose a different and private anchorage each night. The sailing paradise of Turkey is also home to the Mavi Yolculuk, or Blue Voyage, an idyllic cruise which travels to the private beach of Cleopatra, the eternal fires of Mount Olimpos and the remains of thousands of ancient civilisations. Sailing in Turkey also allows visitors to experience the hospitality of the people in the coastal villages and towns. The tempered winds blowing from west and northwest make the long summers ideal for yachting, and seem to encourage an appreciation of nature. From some of the turquoise coast's unspoilt and sheltered bays you can see mountain peaks rising to almost 3000 meters above sea level. Marinas   Turkey's most established marinas lie on the southern Aegean and Mediterranea

The bronze casting sculpture, which dates back to 2nd century AD, is exclusively displayed on its own room There are four museums in Alanya. They are Archeology Museum, Ethnography Museum, Keep (İçkale) Museum and Atatürk House Museum. All of the museums are under the command of Alanya Museums Administration and they are not allowed to be visited without payment. They remain open everyday except for lunch breaks. The most precious historical artefact of Alanya is the sculpture of Hercules, which is demonstrated at Archeology Museum. Kızılkule (The Scarlet Tower), which is near the port, is designed as Ethnography Museum. The keep, which was built by Alaaddin Keykubat to construct his palace on its peak when he was restoring the town in 13th century, is visited by tourists as a museum. ALANYA ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUM: Alanya Archeology Museum was first found with the support of artefacts of Bronze Age, Urartus, Phrygians and Lydians, which were taken from Anatolian Civilizati

We are with you with pictures of the perfect pre-holiday turkey. Antalya Photo Gallery

Alanya is a beautiful holiday centre with its beautiful sandy beaches, modern hotels and motels, as well as numerous fish restaurants, cafes, clubs and bars. The cafes that ring the harbour are popular gathering places for tourists and locals. From the towns lovely park, the road runs along the coast to the harbour, lined with many small shops that offer handicrafts, leather clothes, jewellery, handbags and the amusing painted gourds that are unique to the area. There are three blue flag beaches and many sights including Damlataş Cave, Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, Dim Çayı Valley, three see grottoes: Fosforlu Mağara, Kızlar Mağarası and Aşıklar Mağarası and many more. If you like to explore caves, then you must see Damlatas Cave. Near the cave is the Ethnography Museum. By boat you can reach three other caves: the Phosphorous Cave with its phosphoric rocks, Girls Cave (Kizlar Cave), where pirates held their women prisoners, and Lovers Cave (Asiklar Cave). The cool shade

ALANYA CASTLE Alanya Castle, whose ramparts are about 6.5 kilometers long, is on the peninsula 250 meter high above the sea. The settlement on Alanya peninsula, which is also known as "Kandeleri", not only dates back to hellenistic era but also reflects the 13. century as a Seljukian site. The castle was built by Seljukian Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, who reconstructed Alanya when he conquered it in 1221. The castle has 83 towers and 140 bastions. There are nearly 400 cisterns made for fulfilling the water need of town which was inside the castle in medieval ages. Some of these cisterns are still in use. ALANYA KIZILKULE This is an octagonal building inherited from Seljukians of 13. century as well as the symbol of Alanya. It is named as Kızılkule due to its upper parts' being made of fired red bricks because of the difficulty of lifting stone blocks to higher parts. The tower, which was set against raids coming from the sea to protect the port and navy yard,

izmir history There has been a settlement in Izmir, formally Smyrna, since 3000 BC. The Trojans were the 1st inhabitants and according to excavations, the city was founded in an area known today as Tepekule in the Bayrakli district, which lies to the east of the Gulf of Izmir. Izmir is also credited with being the birthplace of the legendary poet Homer, who is believed to have lived there in the 8th century BC... The city went through a few invasions, destructions and reconstructions until Alexandra the Great began the construction of a castle on the top of Mt. Pagos (Kadifekale) somewhere around 330 BC. After Alexandra, around 290 BC, the Pergamons took over the city, which by then had expanded outside the castle walls and centered itself in the harbor region, before they handed over to the Romans around the 1st century BC. Despite burning the odd Bishop (Bishop Polycarpe 166 AD) suffering a major earthquake (178 AD) and putting off a siege by Attila the Hun (440 AD) The

A favorite beach destination for residents of Antalya is Konyaalti, a long stretch of pristine pebble beach backed by a meandering promenade chock full of activities, including playgrounds and Aqualand, Antalyas' largest water park. Kids will particularly enjoy Dolphinland, where for $10 per person you can smile in wonder along with your little ones, and for an extra $60, you can swim with the dolphins. The whole complex has been dubbed Antalya Beach Park (www.beachparkantalya.com); at press time, it featured about 13 beach establishments -- swaths of waterfront brightly equipped with lounges, umbrellas and serviced by cafes, restaurants, changing cabins, and showers.  Beach admission fees vary from about $3 to $7 per day and include use of the facilities. Most of the beach establishments have a water sports center, with jet skis ($29 for 15 min.); parasailing ($29 for 15 min.); ringo rides ($17 per person), water-skiing ($17 per tour); kayaks ($5.75 per hour); sea bikes ($8

Antalya, the Turkish Riviera is the most stunning part of Turkey's Mediterranean coast. It is typical of Turkey, a thriving modern city, with a historic heart in the centre of Kaleiçi within the old city walls. This area has seen something of a renaissance in recent years, with many of the wooden Ottoman mansions being restored and turned into boutique hotels. No cars are allowed in the narrow streets of the old town so it is a good place to soak up the atmosphere around the charming harbour. The symbol of Antalya is the fluted minaret or Yivli Minare built by the Seljuks in the 13th century. There are plenty of interesting pieces in the Archaeological Museum, from the Palaeolithic Age right through to Ottoman times. Antalya  has a backdrop of stunning mountain scenery, and the city is set high on cliffs, with many of its grandest hotels overlooking the sea on the outskirts of the town. The beach area of Lara, approximately 12 km to the east is home to the best beach in the

Alanya's beaches are very wide and blue flagged. Blue flag is an international symbol that indicates clearness and suitability to the beach standards of swimmable seas, which also checks these. If a sea has these features, it will be blue flagged just for one year. Every other week, the sea's microbiological and physicochemical specialities are reanalysed In Alanya, the sea's colour turns into turquoise from blue aside the coasts. You are likely to see fish with naked eye when the weather is calm. Alanya's downtown's west and east coasts are beaches. On the west there are Damlataş and Cleopatra and on the east there are Keykubat and Portakal beaches. Out the town, there are Ulaş, Konaklı, Fuğla, İncekum, Mahmutlar beaches. Other than international regulations, there are other regulations approved by local administrations at beaches. According to these ones, it is free to enter beaches and have a shower there. Sunbed and parasol charged, but these services are not co

No vacation to Turkey is complete without going to a Turkish Bath. The Hamam is the place where you can totally relax both body and mind, do not try to rush though, allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy and revitalize both your body and mind. Every Turkish town will usually have a “Hamam” and in the Cities you will find many. The public bath in Çesme is close to the caravansary and many of the larger hotels also have private baths. However note that most public baths segregate the sexes, although in many of the larger hotels mixed sessions are normal. Either way you should check before you visit. The origin of the Turkish bath is Roman and was later refined by the Ottomans and normally has 3 rooms for you to experience. A steamy hot room, for a warm up and a scrubbing. Taking away any ingrained dirt and any layers of dead skin from your body. A warm room, for soaping, washing and perhaps a massage. A cool room, for resting, recuperating or just glowing. As you f

MUSEUM, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ITEMS Antalya Museum :  Founded in 1922 by Süleyman Fikri Erten and housed first in the Alaaddin Mosque in the old city and then in the Yivli Minaret, the museum was later moved to its current location. The museum consists of 12 exhibit rooms and its gardens and open galleries. In these halls the history of Antalya is given in a chronological and instructive fashion starting with the first humans and continuing without interruption to the modern era. Kaleici :  Today the historical old city of Antalya known as Kaleici (the inner castle) is surrounded by two walls, most of which have fallen down. The inner wall encloses the harbour in a semicircle. As a result of restoration, Kaleici has turned into a major tourist centre with guest-houses, bars, shops and restaurants, and the Roman harbour has been turned into a modern, well-equipped marina. As a result of the restoration work, the Ministry of Tourism was awarded the Golden Apple (To