Antalya, a gentle touch of ancient Rome.

Kaleiçi Old Town

Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, the old town of Kaleiçi is one of the must-see attractions when visiting Antalya. Ancient, peaceful, and colorful, Kaleiçi is picturesque, offering a completely different side to modern life.

Sipping coffee or a glass of apple tea in a small café in Antalya's Old Town, it's hard to believe this is part of a bustling city with over 2.2 million inhabitants and a favorite destination for millions of tourists during the summer months. As you stroll along the narrow, winding cobblestone streets of Kaleiçi, admiring the restored old houses, classic hotels with their original stone walls, and quiet cafés, it's equally hard to believe that Kaleiçi has existed for over 2,000 years, since the time of ancient Greece.

Not only are there houses, but so many historical relics are still preserved intact in this area, giving me a wonderful feeling; walking through the streets feels like walking in a living museum. Leading into the old town is Hadrian's Arch – an elegant triumphal arch with graceful columns, three arches, and a marble frame built by Emperor Hadrian in 130 AD. A little further on, you'll find the ruins of Kesik Minare Cami, an old Roman temple built in the 2nd century, later becoming a Byzantine church and then a mosque in the 13th century. The Saat Kulesi clock tower, built during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Abdül Hamid II, still stands in the city's main square. Nearby is a statue of King Attalus II of Pergamon, who founded the city around 150 BC.

Another legacy of ancient Rome is the harbor adjacent to the old town of Kaleiçi. Leaving the narrow streets, I descended a 44-step stone staircase built by the Venetians in the 15th century to reach the harbor. This harbor was an important trading hub for Antalya from the 2nd century BC until the 20th century, when a new port was built near Konyaaltı beach. Today, it's a small marina where gulets (boats) are moored to welcome visitors who want to take a boat trip and view Kaleiçi from a different angle. The harbor is surrounded by small shops and vendors selling grilled mussels, making it a wonderful place to relax.

After all, if you want to spend some time in the open, head towards Karaalioğlu Park on the southwestern edge of Kaleiçi or the viewpoint located between Hıdırlık Kulesi Tower and Karaalioğlu Park to watch the sunset, enjoy a romantic dinner, or find shade in the park on a hot day.

Antalya Archaeological Museum

As one of Türkiye's largest and most important museums, the Antalya Museum houses 5,000 works of art displayed across an area of 7,000 square meters.²and houses nearly 30,000 archaeological artifacts that cannot be displayed. These relics have told me the story of Türkiye's human and natural history over millennia, illuminating my unanswered questions with authentic evidence that can be seen and admired.

Here, I had the opportunity to observe fossils and bones of prehistoric animals, primitive artworks and tools from the Bronze Age, Neolithic and Early Bronze Ages, Byzantine mosaics, collections of everyday objects from the Mycenaean, Greek and Islamic periods, and coin collections from the Greek to Ottoman eras…

But what impressed me most strongly and profoundly were the sculptures of mythological figures dating from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD (Roman period) found in recent excavations in Perge. These works depict numerous figures from mythology such as Minerva, Zeus, Artemis, Harpocrates, Aphrodite, Asclepius, Tyche, Meleager, Hecate, Hermes, and Marsyas… with incredibly beautiful and lifelike sculpting, comparable to the hand of creation. Looking at each detail on the statues, from the eyes, the lines of the lips, the waves of hair, or the folds of the clothing…, I felt as if they would immediately step down from the display shelves, speak, laugh, and walk like real gods.

Meanwhile, the sculptures of legendary emperors who once ruled this land, such as Emperor Hadrian, Emperor Septimus Severius and his wife, Alexander the Great, and many other important figures from the Roman era, gave me a clearer view and a more authentic feeling about history. And the collection of beautifully sculpted sarcophagi depicting mythological stories like the Twelve Labors of Hercules further enhanced my understanding of the luxurious and aesthetically refined lifestyle of the Roman aristocracy.

The ruined ancient city of Termessos

When I initially planned this trip, with the only exploration point in Antalya being the Kaleiçi Old Town, my first thought was to add more attractions. Termessos was one of my two additional choices. Honestly, I don't know why I chose Termessos, as there were very few pictures and even less information online, but what I did find gave me the firm belief that this place would be incredibly fascinating. Fortunately, that unfounded belief proved correct. Even more special, we were the first group of Vietnamese people to set foot in this ancient ruin, as the journey there was quite difficult.

Termessos consists of the ruins of an ancient city-state of unknown age. Built entirely of stone by the Pisidian people at an altitude of over 1,000 meters above sea level, it is now located within the Gulluk Mountain Termessos National Park, 30 km northwest of Antalya. Hidden by pine forests, with a peaceful and pristine appearance, this destination possesses a unique, mysterious, and impressive atmosphere. To this day, no research has been able to pinpoint Termessos's exact location. Why was such a remote location chosen for its construction? Where did its inhabitants quietly disappear to? Or was there some terrible cause that reduced this place to ruins? Earthquake, volcano, war, or disease? How did their civilization develop?... No one can answer these questions. What is known about the history of Termessos begins primarily with the siege of the city by Alexander the Great in 333 BC. This great emperor likened the city to an eagle's nest and suffered a defeat in his attempt to conquer it. Arrian, one of the ancient historians, mentioned this event and highly valued Termessos's strategic importance. He noted that, thanks to the impenetrable natural barriers surrounding the city, even a small army could easily defend it against attacks.

Based on the massive stone ruins, the relatively well-preserved central theater built in the Roman theater style, the sturdy city walls, temples, cemeteries, and the preserved aqueduct system, one can only surmise that this was once a glorious and magnificent city-state. But times have changed drastically; now, the city is ruined and its people are gone. In the mist, wind, and clouds of that afternoon, I stood there in stunned silence, gazing at each stone of the theater, my mind filled with countless questions and emotions. But to describe my feelings at that moment, only "WOW" is the most accurate word.

Additional information:

- Visa:Türkiye is not part of the EU, so tourists need to apply for a Turkish visa. The processing time is 15 days if applying in person at the embassy. If you have a valid European, American, or Irish visa, you can apply for an e-visa with a very quick procedure, receiving your e-visa in just 2 hours.

- Trip: From Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City, you'll need to take an international flight to Istanbul and then a domestic flight from Istanbul to Antalya. It's recommended to use Turkish Airlines – Turkey's national airline – to avoid the hassle of transferring luggage during your transit in Istanbul. Furthermore, Turkish Airlines is a high-quality airline with ideal flight times from Vietnam to Europe, departing in Vietnam in the evening and arriving in Turkey in the morning.

- Time:Antalya is a seaside city, so summer is the ideal time to explore it and immerse yourself in the crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

- Accommodation:Antalya has a wide variety of hotels. For just over $100, you can easily find a great place to stay.

- Cuisine:Seafood is a signature culinary feature of Antalya. In addition, you can try dishes such as grilled chicken wings, kebab, paça soup, and ice cream for dessert.

- Means of transportation:Public transportation is very popular in Antalya. You can get around the city by bus, tram, or taxi. You can also hire a horse-drawn carriage for a tour of Antalya's old town.

- Weather:In summer, Antalya usually has clear blue skies and warm, pleasant sunshine. However, Antalya has low humidity, so don't forget to bring moisturizer and sunscreen.

- Currency:Türkiye uses the lira, with 1 lira being approximately worth 4,000 Vietnamese dong.

AMAZING TOUR

"Türkiye - A Legend Come True" is a series of programs promoting destinations for Vietnamese tourists, launched by Travellive magazine. It's the 4th Amazing Tour exploring four legendary cities of Türkiye, organized with sponsorship from Nokia and Turkish Airlines.