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Cities and Sites
Antalya is
one of the Mediterranean’s most important cities and surrounded by beautiful
beaches, such as Konyalti to the west and Lara beach to the east, enjoys a
reputation as Turkey’s hottest holiday destinations. Antalya offers
sophistication and entertainment with its palm-lined streets, picturesque marina
and ebullient nightlife. The symbol of Antalya, founded in the 2nd century BC is
the Yivli Minaret, which dates from the Selçuk era.
To the west of Antalya is the pretty holiday town of Kemer surrounded by pine
forests and mountains. East of Antalya, the Asağı Düden Waterfall flows over
huge boulders into the sea. Also to the east is Alanya, a bustling port on the
southern slopes of the majestic Taurus Mountains, flanked by orange, lemon and
banana groves with a 9th Century castle. One of the most impressive castles in
Turkey can be found on the coast close to Anamur, perched between two beaches.
The road from Anamur to Silifke offers breathtaking views along the coast.
Near Narlikuyu are the Heaven and Hell caves (Cennet ve Cehennem). Heaven, the
larger of the two, houses a small church. A must-see is Kizkalesi castle, which
rises from the water across the sea from the medieval castle of Korykos.
Mersin, with well-groomed parks, beach boulevards, commercial port and free
trade zone, is one of the most up-beat cities on the Mediterranean. By contrast,
close to Mersin are the old Roman cities of Kanlidivane and Viransehir.
The Cukuroya plain, cotton growing agricultural region east of Tarsus, is home
to the wealthy city of Adana with its large textile industry. Further east again,
is the Dortyol (Issos) plain where Alexander the Great defeated the Persian king
Darius.
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