"Funky Coastal City" Antalya Ili by JohnniOmani

Antalya is a very funky and forward thinking place located on the south coast of Turkey. It is quite a bustling, modern and liberal town but it has more to offer than its really pretty harbour. The harbour is lovely but I was more impressed with the narrow cobbled lanes in Kaleici and the old restored Ottoman town spans out from the waterfront in every direction making the whole experience of getting lost quite amusing. The wee shops with their shutters and attractive architecture entice you to wander around the old town longer than you originally planned. Antalya is a great place to slow down after the other western coastal areas in Turkey and it makes a great base for visiting some of the ancient sites including Termessos.

Great Views and Ruins

Termessos and its old site and theatre is located is a fantastic place high in the Taurus Mountains and it is worth beating the heat to see it. Alexander the Great surrounded the city in 333 BC because he thought its location was superb but he failed to conquer the heavily armed city. Historians at the time recorded that it was a reality check for the famous general and he later moved on while later downplaying the citys strategic importance. Termessos was an ally of Rome, and so in 71 B.C. was granted independent status by the Roman Senate; according to this law its freedom and rights were guaranteed. This independence was maintained continuously for a long time and the city has survived to this day. Termessos is well worth the trip :)