Manavgat

Manavgat is famous for its horseshoe-shaped waterfalls on the Manavgat river. The falls are not very high, but are wide, with milky white water foaming over the rocks. Next to the falls are shady tea gardens and fish restaurants, making Manavgat a cool refuge from the summer heat. It is not certain when it was first settled, but early documents show that the river has been used to transport cargo and people at least since 150 BC.

How to Get There

There are coach services from all areas of Turkey to the main coach stations in Antalya to the west and Alanya to the east and there are regular buses to Manavgat from these. Bus companies in Manavgat and Side coach stations step up their services during the summer months to cater for the large number of tourists. There are also many minibus trips to Manavgat from the surrounding tourist resorts.

Coach Station Tel: (90 242) 753 13 67

Where to Visit

Manavgat Waterfall

The waterfalls are a spectacle well-worth seeing, with a huge volume of water plummeting over the edge. Here you can picnic in beautiful surroundings, have tea in the tea-gardens or eat freshly-caught fish in the nearby restaurants.

MUSEUMS

Side Museum
The seaside town of Side (pronounced SEE-DEH) is about 7 km from Manavgat. There are many impressive ruins of ancient structures, around which the modern town has been built. The museum is housed in the restored Roman agora baths dating from 600 AD.
Most of the exhibits in the museum are artefacts found by Turkish archaeologists during excavations from 1947-1967 in the ancient city and include portraits, reliefs, inscriptions, weapons, sculptures, columns, tombs and amphorae.

ANCIENT CITIES

Side

The city of Side, 7 km from Manavgat, was founded by Ancient Greek colonists in the 7th century BC. A great seaport in those days, Side derived much of its wealth from piracy and slave trading. These activities ceased under Roman rule, but the city remained prosperous due to its huge commercial fleet and the traffic through its port. The Roman amphitheatre, built in the 3rd century AD, was one of the largest in Pamphylia, with seats for more than 15,000 spectators and is unusual for being free-standing, rather than built into the side of a hill, as were the majority. Gladiator and wild animal contests were held here during the Late Empire period. You can still see much of the remains of the Agora (market area) with several streets and shops, the large Nymphaeum (fountain), Gymnasium, temples, city gates and walls, Necropolis and numerous columns and arches. There is evidence that Mark Anthony and Cleopatra met several times in Side for secret romantic rendezvous.

During the Byzantine Empire, Side was an important center for Christianity, becoming a Bishopric and headquarters of the church for Eastern Pamphylia. The Roman theatre was used as an open air church during this period.
The decline of Side began with attacks by the Arabs, when most of the citizens fled. In the 14th century, Side became part of the Ottoman Empire and its decline continued until it was nothing more than a fishing village.

Side has grown in recent years and there are now many hotels, bars, restaurants and shops.

Side Aquaducts

On the west bank of the Manavgat river are Roman aquaducts which carried water over 30 km, from just south of Sevinç village to Side. Most of the aquaduct structures and tunnels remain intact.

Selge
 

The Roman city of Selge is set high on the southern slopes of the Taurus mountains, above an impressive gorge cut by the swiftly flowing Köprüçay Stream.The Turkish village of Altinkaya has grown up amongst the ruins of the Roman theatre, city walls, the agora, temple of Zeus, and a Byzantine church. At various times, it has been ruled by Lydia, Persia and Alexander the Great, amongst others.If you take a day trip to Bridged Canyon National Park (Köprülü Kanyon Milli Park), you may want to go another 12 km (7.5 miles) to Selge to enjoy its beautiful mountain scenery, explore the Roman ruins or go for a hike into the hills.

Etenna

Etenna, which is 29 km. north of Manavgat, is situated on a hill, above what is  today's Sırt Village. It is thought to have been a bishopric during the Byzantium period. You can still see the Acropolis, which is composed of terraces surrounded by ramparts in the best preserved area on the highest slope. There is also a Herron  (tomb for an exalted person) at the southern end of the city. Basilica, agora, church, baths and cisterns can also be seen.

INNS

Alara Han

9 km. to the west of Manavgat, Alara Han was constructed in the 13th century, by Seljuk Turks, as a secure and comfortable overnight resting place for caravansaries and merchants travelling between Alanya and Konya.

High Plateaus (Yayla)

There are many plateaus with grassy meadows and forests high up in the Taurus Mountains. There is a long tradition of villagers driving their cattle and goats to these summer pastures, and living in their yazlik (summer house) during the hot weather, only returning to the lower regions when the weather is cooler, and this continues to this day. Several colourful festivals are held on the yayla during the summer months. Some of the main plateaus are: Güğlenpınar, Beloluk, Avanos and Beliği. In the Tefekli region are Gücer, Kesikbeli, Akçaalan, Topalceviz, Alıç, Demre and Dumanlı Plateaus.



NATIONAL and NATURAL PARKS

Köprülü Canyon National Park

The swift-flowing Köprüçay (Bridge) Stream which runs through the National Park, takes its name from a Roman bridge, still in use, across the aptly-named Bridged Canyon.

The river is a favourite of white-water rafters because of its relatively easy rapids (Class 1 & 2) along a scenic course through the impressive gorge.

Bridged Canyon National Park (Köprülü Kanyon Milli Park) makes a good day out from Manavgat, whether you go rafting, hiking, explore the ruins in the ancient town of Selge (Altinkaya), or just have a picnic and enjoy the spectacular  scenery.

SPORTS ACTIVITIES

Jeep Safari

Companies in Antalya, Kemer, Side and Alanya organise Jeep Safari tours to the Taurus mountains. Daily tours begin in the early hours of the morning and take you to  beautiful offroad locations, otherwise accessible only by tractor!

Horse Riding

There are plenty of opportunities for horse riding in the area. Some hotels organise their own riding classes and there are centres where you can ride on an hourly or daily basis. There are also 3 and 7 day riding excursions along the river or up into the mountains.

Rafting

The Köprüçay, Manavgat and Dragon rivers, and the Cehennem Stream are perfect for rafting and there are several companies which organise raft-trips.