Side
Side is located only 15 km east of Antalya on a 800 meters long small peninsula. According to the ancient historian Strabon, Side (pronunced See-Deh) was built by the Cymians in the 7th century BC and was a seaside of the Pamphylia. Side means pomegranate in the ancient languages. Having an ideally sheltered port for small boats, Side was a very important city of the Pamphylia region. Side was under the dominance of many civilizations throughout its history. Built by the Cymians, Side then was dominated by Lydians, Persians, Alexander the Great, Seleucid Empire (supported by Hannibal), Rome, Byzantine Empire and Turks.
The ancient city of Side is about 2 km away from the modern city. You can enter Side antic city from the ancient gate located between the well preserved walls. The Side theater is not as well preserved as Aspendos but it is as large as Aspendos with 15.000 spectators. The Roman baths of the Side ancient city is used as a museum today presenting the statues and the sarcophagi of the period. Next to the Side museum you can see the agora where the slaves were sold. Also be sure to visit the early Roman temple Dionysius and the remains of the Basilica built in the Byzantine period. Excavations in the ancient city of Side have been lasting since 1947.
A must see only 3 km to Side is the Manavgat Waterfall. The magnificent and wide waterfalls can be best viewed from the cafes built on wooden platforms next to the Manavgat Waterfall. The water from the Manavgat River was brought to the ancient city of Side after a long journey of more than 30 kilometers on partly aqueducts and partly through channels carved in the cliffs. After that the water was collected in the city cisterns and distributed via clay pipes to Side.
Today Side is a small but cosy holiday resort with extensive accommodation and entertainment facilities. Side's streets leading down to the sea are filled with souvenier shops selling traditional Turkish carpets, leather and jewellery.