Art And Culture in Antalya District

The cultural programme of the Antalya coast is almost entirely Lycian. The main route is Demre, Myra and Kekova: at Myra the rock tombs are cut straight into a sheer wall above the ancient theatre, at Demre stands the church of Saint Nicholas — the bishop of Myra himself — and on the way back a glass-bottomed boat passes over the sunken town of Kekova, whose masonry went under after an earthquake. Tours run from Side and Alanya, and the day takes about ten hours.

Closer to town there is Kaleiçi, Antalya's old quarter inside the fortress walls: Hadrian's Gate, the fluted minaret, narrow streets of Ottoman houses. Walking tours cover it, including free ones where the guide works for tips. The long run goes to Pamukkale and Hierapolis — the ancient city stands directly above the white terraces, and its necropolis is considered one of the largest in Anatolia.

Practical notes. The distant routes are full days with an early start: Alanya to Demre is over three hours each way. The church of Saint Nicholas and the ancient sites need closed shoes, as the stone is slippery after rain. In summer departures are before dawn to beat the heat; bring your own water, since it costs more along the route. And note that the glass bottom only works in calm weather — in a swell you see little.