Antalya
This walk can be completed in a morning
or afternoon, or as long as you want it
to take!
Start at the Kaleichi (Old Quarter) and
walk down to the marina or, if you wish,
start at the marina itself.
The marina was once a fisherman's wharf
but is now a busy port with many yachts,
schooners and motor boats. Try some
ajur, locally produced long, juicy
cucumbers, or frenk yemesi, a refreshing
cactus fruit that tastes like a cross
between water melon and cantaloupe. It
is said it can help dissolve kidney
stones.
Walk uphill from Iskele Caddesi, a
narrow, winding street with many
souvenir shops. One shop sells handmade
carpets and you can see the young girls
at work on the looms. You may see a man
selling locally produced teas, spices
and foodstuffs. Try some of the aromatic
ada cay (island tea)?(sage tea), dag cay
(mountain tea) or papatya cay (dandelion
tea). Or why not buy a tirmis, an edible
that looks like corn but tastes like
hazelnuts.
Soon you will arrive in one of Antalya's
main squares, the Kaleichi Square, with
its Clock Tower, which was once part of
the city walls. To your left is the
Yivli Minare (Fluted Minaret), a
red?brick tower that is, today, the
symbol of Antalya. The 37?metre high
tower was built in 1230 by Alaeddin
Keykubat, a Seljuk Sultan. The original
mosque, of which it was originally a
part, was destroyed and replaced in 1373
by the Alaeddin Mosque.
Just to the south of the Fluted Minaret,
towards the marina, is the Karatay
Medresesi, an Islamic religious school
constructed in 1250. Close to it, but on
higher ground, are two tombs:
Zincirkiran Mehmed Pasa Turbe, bult in
1378, and the Nigar Hatun Turbe,
constructed in 1502. The nearby Islamic
theological seminaries, Atabey Armagan
Medresesi and the Ulu Cami Medresesi,
are now ruins.
Now walk back to the Clock Tower and
immediately behind it is the
17th.'century Tekeli Mehmet Pasa Mosque.
This mosque is unique because the Son
Cemaat Yeri (the last assembly place) is
covered by domes inside rather than
outside. Foreigners are allowed to enter
the mosques, but must remove their shoes
before doing so. Women must also cover
their hair and arms.
Cumhuriyet Bulvari, which eventually
becomes Orgeneral Kenan Evren Bulvari,
runs east-west through the city. Turn
left at the Clock Tower and walk along
this street, which is the main shopping
area, lined with designer clothing
stores and fancy seafood restaurants. To
your left is the Mediterranean Sea, with
the Beydaglari on the horizon. As you
continue, you arrive at Cumhuriyet
Meydani (Republic Square), with the huge
equestrian statue of Kemal Ataturk, the
founder and first President of the
Turkish Republic.
About 4km. down this street (on
Orgeneral Kenan Evren Bulvari), near the
Konyaalti Beach, is the Antalya Museum.
Return again to the Clock Tower and
continue to Ataturk Caddesi, an avenue
that cuts across Cumhuriyet Bulvari on a
north?south axis. There are a number of
lokanta (small restaurants) in the
alleys near the crossing.
Turn right at Ataturk Caddesi and you
quickly come upon Hadrianus Kapisi
(Hadrian?s Gate), a magnificent
three-arched marble gate erected in
AD130 in honour of the Roman Emperor's
visit to the city.
Continue along the street to the
Belediye Sarayi (Town Hall) and enter
Karaalioglu Park, which is lined with
palm trees and offers pleasant coffee
houses and stunning views.
Walk to the eastern end of the park and
you come to the Mermerli Coffee House
and the Hidirlik Kulesi, a round tower
that is believed to be the tomb of a
Roman senator from Antalya. Walk up the
street that intersects the tower to the
Kesik Minare (Broken Minaret). This
unusual structure stands next to the
Korkut or Cumanin Mosque, now a ruin. It
was originally built in the 5th. century
as the Panaghia Church, then converted
into a mosque and finally destroyed in
the 19th. century.
From the Kesik Minare, retrace your
steps for refreshments.