Side is a rare but delightful combination of an ancient and modern- a 2500 year- old city and holiday resort rolled into one. The entrance to this fishing village is still through the original Roman Gate set in the walls. Although the area of Side has grown with the advent of tourism, the original fishing village stays untouched.The walls and towers of the ancient city area well preserved and the magnificent theatre dominates the whole area. This Hellenistic theatre, one of the biggest in the region has enviable settings close to the shore and has 17000 seating. Near the ancient harbor are temples dedicated to Apollo and Artemis, a Byzantine Basilica and the remains of Roman houses.Side is a perfect choice for beach lovers. Visitors here will thoroughly enjoy the vast stretch of beach each side of the town which is ideal for those looking for a long romantic walks along the waters edge. Also ideal for families who will appreciate sandy and the warm waters of Mediterrenean.little traffic is allowed in the narrow streets and the squares of the village which are full of local colour. Browsing among the little shops selling souvenirs, jewelers, carpets, onyx and the cafes and restaurants with their traditional Turkish cuisine, all give one a feeling of taking a step back in time.

SIDE SIGHTSEEING

ANTALYA OLD TOWN (KALE ICI)

On a gentle slope down to the harbour, you enter a protected historical zone. Gentrification has done wonders for the preservation of the Ottoman buildings with their wooden balconies, large doors and courtyard gardens. The harbour is very pretty and it was the port of Attaleia, founded by Attalus II of Pergamum in the second century B.C.

PERGE

10 miles east of Antalya, founded well before the coming of Alexander the Great (333 BC) the magnitude of its ruins conveys a sense of a whole city specifically of a Roman city. When Romans took the city in 188 BC they built a 12,000 seated stadium and it is still very impressive today. Massive twin-towered gate, is the only extant Hellenistic building, rises above a colonnaded agora.

ASPENDOS

Some 30 miles east of Antalya, much older than Perge, the best preserved Roman Theatre in the world is the ASPENDOS, which is the cities outstanding monument. What was seen 1800 years ago when it was built, you can see today. It can hold an audience of 20,000 and it is still used for shows and concerts.

WATERFALLS

All the stream of the region aim at the finding their way into the Mediterranean and they pour down the slopes of the Taurus Mountains, reaching their destinations via underground or overland resulting beautiful scenery of waterfalls. Duden- Kursunlu, Manavgat waterfalls are well worth a visit on a day trip.