Called Attalia in the Book of Acts and today called Antalya, the capital of Antalya province is perhaps Türkiye’s most beautiful modern city on the “Turkish Riviera” and a prime destination for Turkish and international holidaymakers. It is the sixth most-visited city in the world. With prime beaches and the Taurus mountains surrounding it, during some parts of the year, you can go skiing in the morning and swim in the sea in the afternoon.
Kaleiçi, which means “inside the fortress,” is Antalya’s old town. It features traditional houses and buildings, cobblestone streets, and panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea. Kaleiçi is a pleasant place to walk while admiring the rustic scenery, shop, and dine at fine restaurants (especially seafood restaurants). In the evenings, Kaleiçi’s many bars and discos come to life. You can choose from quieter bars where you can actually have a conversation to throbbing, loud venues with excellent live performances.
Kaleiçi wraps around Antalya’s harbor. This is the same harbor where the Apostles Paul and Barnabus boarded a ship to return to Antioch at the end of Paul’s first missionary journey.
Early History of Attalia
Antalya is generally accepted to have been founded in the second century BC by King Attalus II of Pergamum. However, in 2008, during the building of a cultural center, archaeological remains dating to around 1,000 BC were found, which showed that the city was already well inhabited by that time.
150 BC: The Founding of Attalia
The city was founded by Attalus II, King of Pergamum and the Pergamene Empire, which encompassed most of Western Asia Minor. Attalus named the city “Attalia” after himself. Because of its harbor, Attalia served as a naval base for Attalus’s fleet.
133 BC: The Romans Take Control of Attalia
Pergamene King Attalus III, son of Attalus II, had no heir. To prevent wars over who would take the throne, he bequeathed his kingdom to his close friends and allies, the Romans. Attalia and its surrounding cities thrived under the Romans. The most famous monument from this era is Hadrian’s Gate, a triumphal gate built to commemorate Emperor Hadrian’s visit in 130 AD.
Attalia in the Bible
Attalia is only mentioned once in the Bible. Sometime around 48 AD, the apostles Paul and Barnabus were at the end of Paul’s first missionary journey, during which they had visited at least ten cities in Asia Minor. After revisiting nearby Perga to strengthen the church there, they visited Attalia. From Attalia, they left by ship and returned to Antioch.
Biblical References
Acts 14:25, 26
Where is Attalia (Antalya)?
Antalya, Türkiye’s capital of tourism, is southwest of Türkiye on the Mediterranean coast. It is the capital city of the province of Antalya.
Antalya Map
Important! If you’re in Antalya, you can use your mobile device with the navigable version of this map to see exactly where you are in relation to the various buildings there. CLICK HERE for the large Google map.
What to See in Antalya
The old city of Kaleiçi mostly covers Ancient Attalia. Besides the walls and Hadrian’s gate, little of ancient Attalia can be seen. The walls were first built during the Hellenistic period, with some remnants dating to Roman and Seljuk times. The Antalya Museum displays finds from Attalia and the surrounding cities and has one of the world’s best collections of Roman statues.
Hadrian’s Gate
Hadrian’s Gate is next to Attatürk Caddesi, the main street of Antalya, which runs parallel to Kaleiçi. It is a typical Roman triumphal arch built for the visit of Roman Emperor Hadrian in 130 CE. The road that once ran under it went to Perga. Today, Hadrian’s Gate is one of the main symbols of Antalya and is a good place to get a commemorative photo of your visit.
The gate is more than eight meters (25.5 feet) high and has three passageways, each measuring 4.15 meters (13.6 feet) wide and 6.18 meters (20.3 feet) high. Ancient wagon wheels still rut the pavement under the passageways.
Two towers flank the gate. The southern tower (on the left if viewed from Atatürk Caddesi) dates to Roman times. It is called the Tower of Julia Sancta, after one of the city’s benefactors who paid for it. A plaque bearing her name is near the top of the tower.
The northern tower, on the right, has a Roman base, but the rest of it was rebuilt during the Seljuk era, in the first half of the 13th century AD. It bears an Arabic inscription.
Defensive Walls
The defensive walls were built by Attalus II during the Hellenistic period, when he made Attalia a port and naval base for the Pergamene Kingdom. They were later reinforced and expanded during Roman times. To the north, they run along Atatürk Caddesi, Cumhurriyet Caddesi, and the northern edge of Kaleiçi.
Kaleiçi
Kaleiçi is a warren of narrow streets that radiate from its ancient harbor and that are lined with Ottoman-era houses. Here, you can find excellent boutique hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops. A walk around Kaleiçi is a pleasant way to spend a few hours. You’ll likely get pleasantly lost! Just remember that if you’re walking downhill, you’re going toward the harbor.
Ancient Harbor
Called the “Yat Limanı” by the locals, this is the place from which the Apostles Paul and Barnabus sailed when they left Asia Minor to return to Antioch. It is filled with excellent restaurants (especially seafood restaurants) with affordable prices and views of the harbor, where you can spend a few hours people-watching.
Hıdırlık Kulesi (Tower)
Just after entering Hadrian’s Gate, turn left on Hesapcı Sokak and walk toward the sea. You will see Hıdırlık Kulesi near the shoreline, a second-century, 13.4-meter (44-foot) tall stone brick structure with a square base and cylindrical tower surmounted by a wall around the top.
The purpose of Hıdırlık Tower is uncertain. Because of its commanding view of the sea, it is thought to have been a lighthouse or watchtower, but it also may have been a tomb for an important person, evidenced by fragments of frescoes on the inside and stylized carvings of axes on both sides of the entrance.
Clock Tower (Saat Külesi)
Located in the Kalaekapası (Fortress Gate) section of Kaleiçi, the clock tower is another of Antalya’s iconic landmarks. It is situated atop a pentagonal defensive tower base from the Hellenistic era, with a square turret section on the top built during the Byzantine era. It was converted to a clock tower in the early 1900s during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamit III, who believed that clock towers symbolized modernization and progress.
Fluted Minaret Mosque (Yivli Minare Camii)
Also called the Alaaddin Mosque of the Grand Mosque, the Fluted Minaret Mosque was first built in 1230 during the Sejluk period as part of a complex of buildings. Its single, oft-photographed minaret is also one of Antalya’s iconic structures.
The Minaret stands 38 meters (125 feet) tall and is freestanding, with a square stone base and eight flutes, with blue tiles for further decoration. It is next to the clock tower.
Statue of Attalus II
Across the street and tramway from Kalekapası, at the entrance to a shopping area, is a statue of King Attalus II, the King of Pergamum and founder of Antalya.
Antalya Museum
Antalya’s 30,000-square-meter museum is one of the best in Türkiye. Its displays are in Turkish and English, and an audio guide in various languages is available.
Room 1: A children’s room with archaeological and ethnographical displays that would interest children.
Room 2: Devoted to Antalya’s natural history and prehistory dating back to the Paleolithic Age.
Room 3: Displays examples of red-figured pottery from the Greek classical period and numerous Phrygian artifacts.
Room 4 (The Gallery of the Gods): This room displays magnificent statues of ancient gods and goddesses in amazingly good condition. Most are from the second century AD and from nearby Perga. The collection includes statues of Zeus, Artemis, Apollo, Athena, Hermes, Aphrodite, Dionysius, Serapis, and others.
Room 5: This room displays hundreds of small objects and statuettes of gods found in the region, including some recovered from the Mediterranean Sea.
Room 6 (The Gallery of Emperors): This room displays large, extremely well-preserved statues found at Perga. It includes statues of Emperors Trajan, Hadrian, and Septimus Severus, a priest of Apollo, an imperial priest, a priestess of Artemis, and the Three Graces.
Room 7: Displays impressive sarcophagi with elaborate frieze decorations, mainly from Perga. There are also grave stelae and other items from Perga’s necropolis.
Room 8 (Gallery of the Icons): This room contains 19th and early 20th-century icons depicting the Life of Christ, the evangelists, John the Baptist, and Mary with the baby Jesus. Most interesting is a reliquary containing bone fragments said to be those of Saint Nicholas.
Room 9: Displays mosaics from Seleucia and Xanthos, along with sculptures, coins, and jewelry.
Rooms 11, 12, and 13: These rooms contain ethnographic exhibits of life in Antolia from the more recent past.
Virtual Tour of the Antalya Museum
The website of Türkiye’s General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums has an excellent virtual tour of the Antalya Museum.
Antalya Museum Opening Hours
The Antalya Museum is open every day.
Summer (1 April to 30 September): 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM.
Winter (1 October to 31 March): 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Note: The ticket sales office closes 30 minutes before the museum closing time.
Address: Bahçelievler Mahallesi, Konyaaltı Caddesi, No 88, 07050 Antalya
Telephone: +90 (242) 238-5688
E-mail: antalyamuzesi@kultur.gov.tr
How to Go to Antalya
By Air
Antalya International Airport has two international terminals and a domestic terminal. Many airlines, especially Turkish Airlines, offer direct flights to Antalya. After your flight arrives, exchange 10 or 20 Euros or US dollars for Turkish Lira (exchange the rest in the city because the exchange rates are much better). Walk to the Antray tram and use the Turkish Lira to buy an “AntalyaKart” from one of the vending machines and add some credit to it. Board the Antray Tram. To be near Kaleiçi, get off at the Doğu Garajı or the İsmetpaşa stops.
Note: When you take the Antray back to the airport, be sure to board the tram with the sign on the front reading “Havalımanı” (Airport). Do not board the tram going to the Expo because it will bypass the airport.
By Car
Antalya is on Highway D400, which runs east-west parallel to most of the Mediterranean coast from Marmaris to Alanya. With this highway, you can get to all Mediterranean coastal towns.
By Bus
Bus stations around Turkiye provide regular service to the Antalya bus station. From the bus station, you can take the AntRay to the city center.
Getting Around Antalya
The AntalyaKart
Antalya’s trams and buses use the AntalyaKart. You can buy one (and top it up) at vending machines next to any tram stop or business displaying the AntalyaKart sign. If you buy one from a market, the price will be slightly higher because the merchants buy them at the normal price and mark them up a little to make some profit.
Swipe the card over the sensor at the turnstiles to board the tram. For buses and the Antique Tram, swipe it over the sensor as you board. Taxis don’t accept AntalyaKart.
Here is the AntalyaKart Website (Turkish only). It provides information about the Antray Tram and the Antique Tram. You can also download an app for smartphones from your smartphone store.
The Antray
The Antray is a modern tram system that runs through and radiates from downtown Antalya. Routes and maps are available at the stops and on the tram itself.
AntRay Website (Turkish only).
Antique Tram (Nostaljik Tramvay)
The Antique Tram has a single track with two tram cars. In the middle of the route, the track splits into two so the two cars can pass each other. The cars depart terminals at the ends of the track every half hour. Schedules are posted at the stops. The stops include one across from Hadrian’s Gate (Üçkapılar stop), the clock tower and fluted minaret, the statue of King Eumenes II opposite them (Üçkapılar stop), and the museum (Müze stop).
Ken Grubb
I’m a retired US military investigator and crime scene specialist who has lived in Türkiye for over twenty years. I love learning about and investigating Türkiye’s ancient Christian sites. My archaeologist friends tell me that my old job is much like theirs!
