Visit The Historic Kaleici With Cheap Holidays To Antalya

By Author: Amanda Sutcliffe
Total Articles: 85
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One of the largest cities of Turkey, Antalya is considered as one of the country's most important coastal cities and is well-known for its natural beauty and culture. More than 10 million tourists visit this part of the world every year to escape their hectic lifestyles and explore the city's wonderful offerings. Antalya enjoys the typical Mediterranean climate, which is characterised by dry summers and rainy winters. You can experience a pleasant weather during the months of April, May, October, and November. With the comfortable daytime temperatures in these months, you'll be able to enjoy your time outdoors, exploring the popular attractions in the city.

Among the places you can visit during your Antalya holidays is Kaleici, which is the 'old town' or historic centre of the city. In the past, the whole of Antalya was housed within its walls. As you begin to get around in this old neighbourhood of the city, you'll come across structures and monuments dating back to the ancient times. However, most of the buildings in Kaleici are from ...
... the 18th and 19th centuries. while taking a stroll in this neighbourhood of Antalya, you'll also find Ottoman-era mansions. Many of them have been converted into shops, restaurants, or boutique hotels in recent times.

During your cheap holidays to Antalya, you can explore the Yivli Minare Mosque, which is the most popular landmark in Kaleici. This mosque has been named after its magnificent minaret, which has a height of 38 metres and has 8 fluted sections. It is a free-standing structure, built on a square base made of stone. This fluted minaret called 'Yivli Minare' is not only the landmark of the old town but also of Antalya city. The mosque was first built in the early 13th century and was reconstructed fully towards the end of the 14th century. It is also home to the Antalya Ethnographic Museum.

Yet another fascinating mosque you can visit during your cheap holidays to Antalya is the Tekeli Mehmet Pasha Mosque, which has been named after the Ottoman military commander and minister, Lala Mehmed Pasha. Constructed in the 18th century, this mosque is among the most significant structures in the city. Its main dome is supported by three small domes and the tile panels have been decorated with verses from the Holy Quran. The mosque gets many visitors owing to its impressive design and tile work.

While exploring the old neighbourhood of Kaleici, don't forget to visit Hadrian's Gate. It was built in the name of a Roman emperor known as Hadrian, who made a visit to this region in the year 130. The gate was discovered in the early 19th century by Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, an Irish-British hydrographer. It comprises two collonnaded facades, a tower on either side, three entry arches, and four pylons. The gate was considered to be one of the most beautiful structures built in Pamphylia, a former region in Asia Minor's southern parts. When this gate was discovered and restored, many bronze letters were uncovered from the foot of the structure.