SİDE

Side is situated on a peninsula that is a kilometer long and four hundred meters wide. The word Side in the indigenous Anatolian Language means "pomegranate". the fruit symbolizing abundance and fertility.
By 1000 BC Side had its first settlement. But it was in the 7th or 6th centuries BC when Greek settlers established a colony and built a harbour here, and the town began to prosper. Like the other Pamphylian cities in general, Side was ruled by Lydia in the sixth cent. B.C. and Persia after 547 B.C. The coins minted in here prove that Side had at least an internal independence.

During the Roman era this was an important commercial centre and it was only when the harbour began to silt up that the town was eventually abandoned (between the 7th and 9th centuries AD). At the tip of Side's peninsula are the remains of the ancient town's two principal temples, dedicated to Athena and Apollo. The Temples of Athena and Apollo is beautifully placed on the harbour with the standing columns majestically looking out to sea. If you climb to the top tier of seating in the vast Roman Theatre at the other end of town, though, you'll get a magnificent view of the stately Taurus Mountains. More than anything else, Side is a place to relax and enjoy the sunshine. Side used to be one of the most important trade centers in the antiquity and now it is one of the most popular holiday resort in Turkey.

Attractions in Side

Roman Ruins
Temples of Apollo and Athena
Roman Amphitheatre
Byzantine Churches
Manavgat Waterfall
Hiking, Trekking and Rafting opportunities in the region
Side Museum
Parasailing
Scuba Diving
The Beaches
Excursions
Jeep Safari
Turkish Cuisine
Shopping