Side, Antalya is an ancient Greek settlement which lies on the southern coast of Mediterranean Turkey. The name of this historical port town means pomegranate in the Luvi language. It is unique in terms of managing to protect its language and culture against the conquests of Alexander the Great which aimed the Hellenize the territories he controlled.
Technically it’s a city, but it has somehow clung to its small-town atmosphere despite the advance of civilization. This is partly due to its cobbled streets and Roman ruins but also because of other better-known attractions in Antalya.
Due to this resistance, today the excavation still is unearthing new founding written in the Luvi language. Recent excavations executed in the area are indicating and early history of the city dating back to 2nd century BC. With the help of its good harbor, it was not only a trade center but also a focal point for the slave market.
It boasts the second longest beach in Turkey as well as the Temple of Apollo where, according to a local legend, Antony and Cleopatra met. The Old Town and harbor are favorite haunts of those looking for authentic Turkish fare and refreshing cocktails.
Today, it is a great beach resort destination visited by a couple of hundred thousand people for its unique remaining as well.
Day trips depart from Side to all the nearby attractions making it a perfectly peaceful hub from which to launch your explorations.
What to See in Side
- The Temple of Apollo: its few raised columns at the tip of the peninsula, with the sea behind, are the most photographed sight of Side, especially at sunset.
- The theater: one of the largest of the region, built in the 2nd century AD.
- The Side Museum: housed in the Roman baths, with fine statues and sarcophagi found in the city.
- The city walls and the monumental gate, with the colonnaded street leading to the old town.
Around Side
Side is a good base for the classical sites of Pamphylia: Aspendos, with the best-preserved Roman theater in the world, Perge, and the waterfalls of Manavgat. Antalya and Alanya are about an hour away. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to explore the ruins, when the days are warm but not too hot. See the Mediterranean region.
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