Antalya, one of the tourism capitals of Turkey and the world, is a modern city with broad boulevards decorated with palm trees, an international award-winning port, and a mixture of charming vernacular architecture and modern shopping centres.

The special atmosphere of the narrow thoroughfares and antique buildings of Kaleiçi (the Old Town) brings the relics of the history of Antalya up to the modern day. Kaleiçi, with its restored hotels, restaurants, bars and shops, is a unique mixture of modernity and antiquity. Even so, there is no less fascination in the 'new' Antalya than there is in the old town.

The natural environment of Antalya is extraordinarily generous. Spring water gushes out from between the rocks, and the sweet perfume of orange blossom pervades the city in the springtime. From the sea cliffs, you cannot gaze long enough at the deep translucent blue of the Mediterranean, and the purple silhouettes of the surrounding mountains spreading before the evening sun.

Antalya region, known as Pamphilia in ancient times, has also witnessed many civilizations since the era of the primitive men in the Carain Cave, starting as Psidia and Lykia, and passing through the centuries with the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Selchuk and Ottoman Empires. Antalya, growing under Modern Republic and Atatürk's principles, is a city of culture with its ten thousand years of recorded history and a symbol of beauty in the sun, the sea and nature. Since ancient times, it has been a centre of education, science and culture, and nowadays it continues this story through the modern university. Akdeniz University, against the background of a steadily increasing city population, carries on its tradition of education and training with nearly thirty thousand students. The university also offers a wide range of facilities for social, cultural and sporting activities where students can develop their own skills and talents, and share their achievements with like-minded colleagues and local community.

GETTING AROUND IN ANTALYA

Near Campus

Beach Park is a well-designed facility 5 kilometers long with a pebble beach where you can swim, stroll or be entertained in one of the bars, restaurants or discos. It is just two kilometers from the main campus entrance.

Meltem is the district opposite the main campus entrance. You can get there by footbridge over the main road. There are supermarkets open from 09:00 to 22:00 and smaller shops open all night. There are snack bars and restaurants with lower prices than the Beach Park. There is a cinema, the Megapol, at the city end of Meltem.

Every Thursday there is a big street market in Meltem. You can get excellent fruit and vegetables or look for a bargain t-shirt.

The Migros shopping centre is half way between the university and the sea if you are desperate for shopping malls, supermarkets, designer clothes or airconditioning. There is an eating area with wide selection of international and Turkish food and drink. There is a multiscreen cinema and a large supermarket.

Two kilometers away from the campus by the Mediterranean, Konyaalti Beach provides 8 kilometers of cafes, bars, shops and other entertainments.

The Old Town, look for "kale içi" on the bus or dolmuş, is a good place for a stroll. Enter by the Clock Tower and walk down to the yacht marina, look at the city walls or Hadrian's Gate and take in the views of renovated buildings. The Suna ve İnan Kıraç Museum, newly opened, is worth a visit. Outside the Old Town just north of the clock tower is a small bazaar area. West of the Old Town there is a large park with spectacular views across Antalya Bay.

ANTALYA CUISINE

As we start to discover our treasures we notice how rich we are. While the world has acknowledged the position of Turkish cuisine among the best the world can offer,  Turkey's regional cuisines have yet to be recognized for their true qualities, as rich and old as the civilizations from which they spring, and which have moulded the traditions of Anatolia for 2000 years.

Food symbolizes the culture of its society. The way food is prepared is a fundamental treasure of any culture, and food cannot be seen only as something to be cooked in the kitchen and then eaten, it also shows the life-style and tradition of societies.

Gokcen Adar, a researcher on gastronomy says "a culture which combines olives, wheat and grapes exists only in the Mediterranean area. Olives as oil provide the taste, wheat as bread provides satiety, and grapes as wine provide the pleasure." Yogurt, a taste from nomadic society is added to these in the cuisine of Antalya, as well as sesame and garlic which are typical elements of Arabian cooking.

The debate about healthy eating puts the food of Antalya, with its mainly vegetable-based dishes, and its variety of sea food and citrus fruit preserves, at the forefront of modern thinking throughout the world.

The Herb dealers of Antalya are enjoying a growing reputation for their use of medicinal plants. Thyme, which grows wild on the Taurus Mountains, is used as tea, and thyme oil is used for its anti-cholesterol qualities. The powder obtained from the shells of the bergamot fruit, when mixed with black tea, gives the aromatic flavor known around the world as "Earl Grey" tea.

In Antalya one can find restaurants for every taste and in every price category serving both local dishes and international cuisine.

Days Out

There are many places of interest 1-4 hours away from Antalya worth a weekend visit.

Phaselis/ Olympos/Demre/ Kaş. Opposite the Falez Hotel take a midibus. The destinations are clearly shown on the front of the bus, but it is best to ask too.

Phaselis: the journey takes one and a half hours and costs about 5YTL. The driver will drop you at the gates to the park, which has an admission fee. Then you stroll through pine trees down to the beach where you will find the remains of no less than three ancient harbours and a beautiful ruined city.

Olympos (also known as Çıralı): the journey takes half an hour longer. The attractions here are a beautiful green environment, long beach, ruined city, plenty of beach bars and the lair of the Chimera, a fire breathing monster from ancient times. Reality is almost as interesting, as the rocks there burn because of naturally-occurring gas. It's quite a walk to the Chimera, so is more suitable for very early mornings in the summer. There are plenty of places tos tay in Olympos, prices start from Around 40YTL for a double room.

Demre is another hour further on. Saint Nicholas was bishop here in Byzantine times.

Kaş is about 4 hours from Antalya, so is better for an overnight stay. There are some inexpensive places tos tay in the town. It is a small place, not too crowded but quite lively. The views along the rocky coast are beautiful. The town beaches are small, but you take a small boat for a few YTL from the harbour to one of the nearby beaches. There are lots of other attractions near Kaş, but you won't have time for them during the EILC!

Perge: Look for a midibus from Meydan junction. It will take about 30 minutes from Meydan and costs about 3.50YTL. It is a spectacular ancient city just outside Antalya.

Side: Wait for a passing coach at Çallı junction, the journey takes a couple of hours and costs about 7YTL. It is a major tourist resort but you can still enjoy strolling through the narrow streets strewn with ancient columns, swim on the sandy beach or watch the sunset from the Temple of Appollo where Antony and Cleopatra enjoyed their romantic tryst.

MAIN BEACHES

Antalya is famous for its long stretches of beach, most of which have been awarded the Blue Flag. Patara in the east is the longest natural sandy beach in the area, while Phaselis and Adrasan are also highly regarded for their natural beauty, and their ancient ruins. Within the city boundary Konyaalti beach, which is mostly pebbles, has not only been awarded the Blue Flag, it has recently undergone a transformation and is now a popular hotspot for beach clubs and bars unique in Turkey. Outside Antalya, Side Incekum in the west is a very well-known sandy beach.
• Beaches to the east are: Patara, Kaputas, Çayagzi, Finike, Kumluca, Çirali, Adrasan, Tekirova,Phaselis,Çalticak,Topçam,Sarisu,Konyaalti
• To the west are: Lara, Belek, Kumköy, Kadriye, Ahmediye, Alara, Incekum, Alanya, Kaledran, Biçki, Koru Meydani, Hacimusa