Side Ancient City

The road east from Antalya leads through cotton and orange country, but aside from the ancient sites at Perge, Aspendos and Selge, there is ultimately little to delay the traveller until one approaches the peninsula town of Side.

According to historians, Side was founded in 1405 B.C.and the city was under the rule of Lidians, Persians, Alexander, Antiogonos starting with 6th B.C. Side lived its most magnificient days while it was the bishopric center in 5ht and 6th centuries.

Side has undergone perhaps its most startling transformation over the past 15 years. until recently it was fishing village; most of today's pension and restaurant owners were yesterday's fishermen. Tourism, in fact has become big business in Side, and the ruins of the Greek, Roman and Byzantine eras are almost overshadowed tourist oriented setups. Responding to demand and supply, the entire area has seen a recent mushrooming of hotels, holiday villages and hostels, with accompanying restaurants, carpet shops and snack abrs. Still, between the discos and cafes stuffed between ancient columns, Side retains its charm, and is unique in Turkey as being a living open-air museum in a spectacular setting.

Side Theatre

Side theatre with 20,000 viewers capacity has a historic architectural importance because it was not located on a slope of a hill like other Roman theaters and its structural characteristic was arches over the walls and columns. Consisting of three parts, cava, orchestra and skene, the theatre is the biggest of Pamphilia theatres. This theatre in particular was used as an arena and gladiator and wild animal challenges took place here during late Roman period, and then it was used as an open-air church during Byzantium period. There are monumental gate and fountain remains that draw attention around the entrance of this theatre. The fountain was restored. But the stage area of the theatre is destroyed. the remains of the theatre date back to 2nd century A.D.