Turkey

Side

In the southern park of Turkey, the coastal town of Side offers a unique opportunity to immerse into history. Its proximity to Antalya from where it can be reached by a one-hour bus ride (the distance is roughly 80 km), and that it can be visited in one day or even less, makes Side an unmissable spot for the curious. A historical area lies on a small peninsula where it is easy to walk around. There are quite significant historical archaeological remains. Parts of the city wall which protected this area still exist. Which is small by today’s standard, nevertheless it encompassed a colonnaded main street, around which there were many houses, small shops, several churches and a colossal theater which could host almost 20 thousand people.

Then...

The history of Side is somewhat typical for the whole region. The town, whose history dates back to the 7th century BC was founded by the ancient Greeks. Through centuries, different conquering nations gained control until Side became part of the Roman Empire. As part of the giant empire surrounding the whole Mediterranean Sea, the town experienced a stable and prospering period operating as a local hub of the commerce and as an important port. And this period, the first four centuries AD, was when the edificies were built which can be seen today in ruins.

After the fall of the western part of the Roman Empire, Side lived on inside the Byzantian Empire. But finally, when that one fell too, this town was the prey of all kinds of peoples to become raided, ruined and unpopulated. After centuries of abandonment, only at the end of the 19th century was it repopulated by the Turks. A small town developed next to the ruins.

...and now

The seaside resort tourism gave a rebirth in the 20th century to the whole coastal area in the south of Turkey. Side is now like an archeological park, and because most of it is untouched we can feel its atmosphere. We can freely wander among the two thousand years old ruins, to wonder about the transience of cultures. Finally arriving to the tip of the peninsula where some colonnades are standing still. Although the Temple of Apollo is broken and destroyed, its remnants are looking at the sea, silently daydreaming about past flourishing period and waiting that the ships will arrive again.