Antalya

Antalya is a city where three out of four seasons are spring and the other is summer, where you can ski on a magnificent mountain in the moorning and swim in the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean in the afternoon. When King Attalos first set eyes on Antalya he called it ''Paradise on Earth''. Its fertile soil and natural harbour made it favourable for settlers throughout the ages. Therefore Antalya has a rich cultural heritage with many remains of an outstanding history. The Persians, Alexander the Great, the Romans, the Arabs and many more have left their mark on the area over the centuries, but no one more than King Attalos of Pergamon who in 159 B.C., gave the region its name Attaleia, which leaded to the modern name Antalya. Side and Aspendos in the east and Phaselis, Olympos and Xanthos in the west, reflect Antalya's golden era during the first and second centuries A.D.

Today the city of Antalya is a cultural and tourism hub with much on offer to satisfy the discerning visitor. The region attracts nearly half of the tourists coming to Turkey and the hotels are new and of high standards. The tourism areas, to the east and west in Antalya feature different concepts, there are the two beaches of Antalya itself; Lara and Konyaaltı, the Kundu area is popular for Theme Hotels and Belek, with its 11 golf courses, has become an important golf destination for the Mediterranean. Alanya is well-known for its nightlife ande choice of entertainment facilities and Kemer, a small resort west of Antalya, makes its visitors fall in love with magnificent surroundings and beautiful landscape.