The popular Riviera town of Side (pronounced as See-deh) is one of Turkey’s most famous ancient sites. Restless holiday makers who are not content with endless hours basking on the beach should choose Side as their destination resort simple because it offers a wealth of historic treasures to explore once the beach looses its appeal. This attractive town offers some great shopping with plenty of designer boutiques and great entertainment with a lively club and bar scene. There are two areas of golden sandy beaches on the peninsula, which are surrounded by the glistening water of the Mediterranean Sea.
Getting There
Side lies Side on Turkey’s southern coast 75 km from the provincial capital Antalya and 20 km from the mouth of the Eurymedon River. Antalya is the nearest international airport and there are plenty of buses and dolmuses that connect with the airport.
A Dip Back in Time
Side was an ancient harbour town and its name meant pomegranate. The first settlers came from north western Asia Minor in the 7th century BC. Side’s geographical location and importance as a port made it a key centre for trade. The town had its own distinct language and several tablets have been discovered inscribed with this dialect, which still remains undecipherable. When the town became part of the Persian Empire it was allowed to mint its own coins, which shows that it was still a very powerful, independent economic region. In 333 BC Alexander the Great ruled in this area. He left a single garrison of soldiers behind who introduced the indigenous population to the Greek culture. When Alexander died, Ptolemy I Soter, one of his generals took charge of the region and also Egypt where he proclaimed himself King. Rule from the Seleucid Empire followed in the 2nd century BC, Side thrived, became a major centre for culture and maintained a degree of independence. In 190 BC the Seleucid’s were defeated by soldiers from Rhodes supported by Rome and Pergamum. Pergamum constructed a bigger harbour down at present day Antalya, which took away importance from Side. In the 1st century BC, Side became the base for Cilician pirates who used the town for their slave trade. In 78 BC, the pirates were defeated and the town became part of the Roman Empire. Side began to prosper again with its increased trade in olive oil and its population grew however the trade in slaves still continued here. By the 4th century the town fell into a steady decline. More armies invaded and in the 7th century Arab raiders burnt the town to he ground and by the 10th century it was completely abandoned for around 200 years. Archaeological evidence shows that around the 12th century Side had a strong Jewish population. The town became deserted again and it wasn’t until the development of tourism in the 20th century that Side prospered once again.
Must See
The ancient ruins that can be visited in this town are amongst the greatest in Asia Minor. Turkish archaeological teams have been active in the areas since 1947. They are situated on a large outcrop separated from the mainland by a wall and a moat. The ruins include the biggest amphitheatre in Pamphylia, seating 15,000 - 20,000 people. Whilst it looks like a Roman structure it was not built during Roman rule. The design was merely copied because Side lacked a suitable suitable, which was necessary for the construction of a Greek theatre. This was the site of many great gladiator fights, however during the Byzantine era it was used as an open-air sanctury and two chapels were built there. The Roman Temple of Dionysus is close by; it has been partially restored with a beautiful fountain adorning the entrance is restored. To the left of the temple there are the remains of a Byzantine Church. The old city walls are still very well preserved although the main gate known as the Megale Pyle is badly damaged. The main street of the old town used to contain many pillars of marble, but unfortunately they are no longer standing. On this street there are ruins of the public baths, which are now used as a museum to exhibit statues and sarcophagi from the Romans. The Agora Square contains the remains of a round 2nd century BC temple once known as the Tyche and Fortuna Temple. It contains 12 columns and when its use as a temple declined it was the place where the slave markets were held. The ancient ruins of an aqueduct, and a nymphaeum are also visible. The nymphaeum was a grotto dedicated to the nymphs because of its natural supply of water.
Out of Town
Three kilometers from the town the spectacular Manavgat Waterfall is worth seeing. It is located on the river of the same name and has a powerful flow of water over a wide area. It is best viewed from above to appreciate the full effect and there are plenty of tea gardens located around the area where you can gaze over this amazing expanse of foaming water. Further up the river, lies the 185 m high Oymapinar Dam, which is an arch dam built in 1984 to generate hydro electric power.
