Antalya Culture, Heritage and Values

History


In Hellenistic times, King of Pergamum II Attalos (159-138) said to his soldiers:

"Go find me heaven on earth." Attalus II, liking the place shown by his soldiers, had a port city built here, considering the strategic importance of the region, and the city was named "Ataleia" after its founder, Attalus. Ateleia means "home of Attalos".

Antalya and its surroundings have the heritage of two lifestyles that have been floating for centuries. When the Turks first came here, they immediately adapted to the sedentary order, establishing villages, towns and communities. A part of the population, on the other hand, continued the nomadic life as before the Turks came to Anatolia.

They raised animals such as camels and sheep and made a living by bartering or selling the products they made with the settlers' products. They produced meat, milk, oil, and wove hair tents and carpets from natural madder. There were even those who grew grain and vegetables in the winter quarters in a very small space. There were even large groups of nomads (tribes, tribes) who bred horses for the Ottoman army.


Natural beauties


Manavgat Waterfall: It is located in the Manavgat district of Antalya. Various nature sports such as rafting and canoeing can be practiced on certain stretches of the river, which makes it possible to experience adventures in the natural landscapes at the waterfall, which offers a magnificent view of nature.




Saklikent Gorge (Canyon): Located between the borders of Antalya and Fethiye, Saklıkent Canyon has a total length of 18 kilometers. If you are planning an excursion intertwined with nature, you can also see forest areas consisting of red pine, cedar and black pine in Saklıkent Canyon, where you can spend a very pleasant time.




Kurşunlu- Waterfall - Natural Park: It is located within the boundaries of Aksu district in Antalya. Kurşunlu Waterfall, where 7 pools converge and gushes from a height of about 20 meters. The waterfall, which is one of the indispensable parts of an Antalya holiday with its refreshing effect and the resulting view, was opened to visitors as a nature park in 1991.




Göynük- Gorge (Canyon): It is located in the Kemer district of Antalya. It lies on the Lycian Way, which various sources have named as one of the top 10 long-distance hikes in the world. The pond forms an impressive landscape with its lush green water.




Köprülü-Canyon-Nationalpark: The Köprülü Canyon National Park in the Bozyaka district of Manavgat District is 25 km long. Impressing visitors with its natural beauty, Koprulu Canyon is the most popular rafting area in Turkey. Rafting is a fun and exciting river sport performed on high-flow rivers using boats called rafts.




Kekova- Island: It is located in Demre district of Antalya. On the island of Kekova there are no constructions where you can enjoy the sea as well as organize historical excursions during your Mediterranean vacation. Around the island, which is a very impressive sight with its turquoise sea, there are sunken ancient cities that are forbidden to enter.




Natural park Incekum: It is located in the Alanya district of Antalya. It stands out among the important natural beauties of Antalya. Located in a unique point where the green of the forest meets the blue of the Mediterranean Sea, the park is one of the ideal places to spend time away from city life and in a quiet way.




Cirali Yanartas: It is located in the Kemer district of Antalya. Located at the foot of Çataldağ, one of the natural beauties of Kemer, Çıralı Yanartaş has quite impressive features. Between the rocks where there is methane gas there is a possibility to see the flames of the fire, which is also actively burning 24 hours a day.





Düden Waterfall: Due to its mesmerizing natural beauty, Düden Waterfall is one of the most visited tourism centers in Antalya. According to a rumor from 334 B.C. The general Alexander the Great is said to have watered his horses here when he wanted to conquer the Pamphylia region. There is a possibility to visit two waterfalls like lower and upper.




Greyhound- Gorge (Canyon)(Tazı Canyon): It is a canyon valley in Manavgat District of Antalya Province. Tazi Canyon lies within the boundaries of Köprülü Canyon National Park and was formed by the erosion of the Köprüçay Stream. It is estimated that the formation of the canyon dates back to the Ice Age. It was created by creating the interior of the limestone cliffs in non-calcareous regions as a result of the separation and melting of the ice masses and erosion with great energy and released into the valleys. The length of the gorge is 4 km.





Historical places


It has many cultural heritages; Kaleici, Old Antalya Houses, Grooved Minaret, Şehzade Korkut Mosque, Karatay Medrese, Perge Ancient City, Karain Cave, Hadrian's Gate, Phaselis Ancient City, Phaselis, Aspendos Theater, Xanthos Ancient City, Alanya Castle Ancient City Myra, Temple of Apollo, Olympos.


Agriculture and animal husbandry


Various agricultural products are grown on the fertile soils of the Antalya region. Wheat, barley and oats are the most commonly grown agricultural products. In addition, cotton, sesame, onions, peanuts, chickpeas and vegetables are grown on 35,000 hectares. It is the most advanced city in greenhouse cultivation. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, eggplants, cucumbers, melons and watermelons are grown in 32,000 hectares of greenhouses. It is sold at home and abroad. Antalya is very advanced in fruit growing. Antalya is the province where most bananas and oranges are grown. In addition, apple, pear, plum, quince, peach, apricot, grape, oleaster, carob, cranberry and other fruits are grown. Tangerine, lemon, grapefruit are Antalya's main source of income, and besides citrus production, olive cultivation is highly developed. Antalya region with its climatic characteristics and rich vegetation brings with it the abundance of wildlife. Roe deer, foxes, martens, squirrels, fallow deer, wild goats, jackals, hyenas, wolves, bears, partridges, quail, pigeons, wild pigeons, snipes, blackbirds, orioles and cranes are the most important wild animals in the province.


Protected plant and animal species

Mediterranean monk seal, sea turtle and caretta caretta are protected in these regions.

In addition, plant species such as cyclamen, irises, sand lilies, daffodils and crocuses are among the protected species.


National and religious values


Our national anthem, which is celebrated on enthusiastically celebrated national holidays such as April 23, National Sovereignty Day and the Child, May 19, Ataturk Commemoration, Youth and Sports Day, August 30, Victory Day and the October 29, with a minute's silence sung, is among our national values. Sugar feast and slaughter feast belong to the religious values.


Behavior in religious places

 We are obliged to follow some rules in the mosques where we hold our religious services.

  • Entering the mosque with shoes/slippers etc. is not permitted.
  • For women, the hair is covered with a hat/muscle etc. and care should be taken to ensure that the clothing covers the body
  • It should not be spoken loudly,
  • Other people should be respected.


National anthem

 Rules to be followed when singing/listening to the national anthem,

  •  If we have a hat on our head, we should take it off.
  •  If we are sitting, we should stand up and show respect.
  •  We should not leave our seat until we hear the end of the hymn.
  •  We should not be occupied with anything while singing and listening to the national anthem.
  •  We shouldn't laugh or be disrespectful while singing the anthem.


Rules to be followed in archaeological sites, historical sites and museums

  •  Do not touch or write on the works exhibited in the museum, the ruins or their safes (plinths).
  •  Do not make noise,
  •  Listen carefully to what is being said, ask your guide and museum educator (if available).
  •  Heed the warning notices in the museum/excavation site.
  •  Do not eat anything in the museum / archeological site.
  •  Do not litter.
  •  Follow the rules of the museum you are visiting for taking photos inside the museum.
  •       Do not climb/touch historical ruins in open-air museums/architectures.

Traditional handicrafts in Antalya
Antalya, which has been a cultural basin throughout its history and has preserved this characteristic to this day, also attracts attention with the variety of traditional handicrafts. Some of the crafts identified as a result of field research conducted in our province at different points in time can be listed as follows:

  • Coppersmith
  • Wooden boat building
  • Knife making
  • Instrument making
  • Bell making
  • Production of dowry boxes
  • Knit socks
  • Blacksmithing
  • Glass Wicke glass manufacture
  • Gilamik Weaving
  • Carpet weaving
  • Silk weaving
  • Plumbing
  • Spoon making
  • Carpet weaving
  • Scope (multiplier) weaving
  • Needle knitting
  • Pumpkin processing
  • Steppes
  • Folk dances

Folk dances of Antalya region have a regional feature called "Teke Folklore". The influence of the Yörüks (Normads) is predominant in the folk dances in the region as well as in the field of music. dances of the region; It consists of dances such as mengi, samah, teke, spoon dance and zeybek in which the dancers perform without holding onto each other. In the districts east of Antalya, Konya, Bosphorus, Serenler Zeybeği, Anamur Roads, Silifke's Yoghurt, Algeria dances. These dances can be punched individually or together.


Traditional dishes

The basis of the diet of the nomads is determined by the food obtained from cattle and wheat. Although a small amount of fresh vegetables are produced on the coast, wheat and dried vegetables gain weight as you advance into the interior regions. It is possible to find all the world's cuisines in Antalya in tourist hotels and restaurants. Local dishes unique to the region are as follows: Saç kavurması (meat and vegetable roast), tandoori kebab, kölle (stew with wheat, beans, chickpeas and broad beans), tomato juice, hibeş, arapaşi


Sports / Leisure activities

Within the provincial borders there are many registered sports clubs and around 200,000 licensed athletes. Activities in many sports are carried out in these clubs, in particular football, basketball, handball, volleyball, athletics, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, tennis, table tennis, water polo and swimming. Nicknamed the Scorpions in football, Antalyaspor represents the city at the highest level in Turkish football. Antalyaspor plays its games in Antalya Stadium with 33,032 seats.


Celebrations and Festivals

Festivals and celebrations take place at different times in Antalya. These festivals are generally summer festivals in Antalya highlands (like Feslikan Plateau Festival, Söbüce Plateau Festival, Alanya Festival). In addition, people of Alevi-Bektashi-Turkmen culture in Elmalı region also organize festivals (such as Abdal Musa festivals). The biggest festival at national level is Antalya TV Awards, organized since 2010. Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival takes place every year in October on an international scale. In addition, the Antalya International Sand Sculpture Festival is among the largest traditional sand sculpture events in Turkey and among the largest in the world.