City Walls of Antalya

Until the 50s of the 20th century, the word Antalya was understood as only one part of today's city, that being its oldest district, known as Kaleiçi. Karol Lanckoroński, who visited Antalya in the late 19th century, described this area in the following words: "The city outlines a horseshoe shape around the angle of the bay and lies on the ground significantly higher up from the coast platform. Its part is closed tightly by the ramparts, with narrow streets and single districts divided by other walls. [...] The only thing that remained on its original place, as far as we know, are the city walls around the city, although often rebuilt and restored over the centuries". Next Lanckoroński presents a plan of Antalya, where two lines of city walls are visible: one in the form of a semicircle around the port, and the second, much larger, around whole Kaleiçi district.

City Walls of Antalya
City Walls of Antalya

The aqueduct and nymphaion of Side

In a large and prosperous ancient city, and Side was undoubtedly one of those, a system of supplying water to its inhabitants played a very important role. The water brought to the city was supplied to the baths and private residences. In the Roman period the problem of providing water of appropriate quality to the cities was solved by building aqueducts and city residents obtained drinking water from public fountains. The wealthiest citizens had running water and a sewer system at their homes, so that they did not need to use the fountain at all.

The nymphaion of Side
The nymphaion of Side

Xanthos

The ancient site of Xanthos, modern Kinik, lies 63 km south-east of the well-known tourist resort of Fethiye, on a hillside overlooking the Eṣen River in the Xanthos Valley, surrounded by the Taurus Mountains. Xanthos, meaning yellow, administered the sacred Letoon cult center 8 km to the south.

Xanthos
Xanthos

Patara

The large ancient site of Patara lies 70 km south-east of the well-known tourist town of Fethiye and was a leading Lycian port located in a coastal valley with a harbor protected from onshore winds by the surrounding hills. Patara was also home to the main Lycian League meeting hall with an archive at the temple of Apollo.

Patara
Patara

Myra (Demre)

Myra was an ancient town in Lycia where the small town of Demre is situated today. It was located on the river Myros, in the fertile alluvial plain between Alaca Dağ, the Massikytos range, and the Aegean Sea. Saint Nicholas lived in Myra at a time when the region was Greek in its heritage, and politically part of the Roman diocese of Asia.

Myra
Myra

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