The town of Side

The Side area has become one of the high places of seaside tourism, because of the presence of fine sandy beaches in this part of the coast.

Tourism has developed there, and you will find a large number of hotels here.

The town of Side has grown through tourism, and the streets of the town centre are today invaded by souvenir shops, restaurants and tourist bars, at prices sometimes comparable to those of a European capital…

Its discovery remains nevertheless a very pleasant moment, and a must.

Its rich archaeological heritage, the charm of the remains by the sea and the beauty of the sea are so many reasons to come and stroll there.

Practical information:

The town of Side lies halfway on the road from Antalya to Alanya (74 km from Antalya and 63 km from Alanya) by the D400 road.

If you are travelling by car, the most practical thing is to park outside the town, in the large free car park (Otogari). Bus shuttles, also free, provide the link with the town centre.
GPS coordinates of the car park: N36.772146, E31.396116

If you are staying near Side, a taxi or the bus will allow you to reach the town centre easily.

Although it lies outside the modern town, we recommend that you start the visit from the car park indicated previously. Indeed, the first remains of the ancient city are visible here, and you can reach the town centre by walking through them, on a very pleasant walk.

Allow at least 4 hours to go through the ancient town, the theatre and the modern town, taking a break to eat an ice cream or have a drink.

If you wish, several public beaches are accessible all around the town.

Admission to the archaeological site and to the museum is charged. Open every day. From 1 April to 30 September, 8.30 am to 7.00 pm. From 1 October to 31 March, 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.

History of Side:

Side was founded in the 7th century BC by Greeks who chose this ideally situated peninsula on which to found a harbour. Side quickly became one of the most important towns of Pamphylia.
Like the rest of the region, Side passed under Persian rule before being conquered by Alexander the Great in 334 BC. The successors of Alexander dominated the region until the Romans took control of the town in 67 BC, which allowed them to drive out the pirates long established here.

The city, which has an important harbour, prospered under Roman rule and became the capital of the region. Christianity developed early at Side, which became the bishopric of Pamphylia. The town continued to prosper during the Byzantine period, before declining from the 7th century because of the Arab raids. The town was abandoned when the Seljuk Turks took control of the region in the 13th century.

The site was reoccupied at the end of the 19th century by Turks who had fled Crete following the revolts of the Greek populations against the Ottomans.

A mere fishing village until the 1970s, Side developed strongly with the growth of tourism in this region.

Worth a visit

Begin the visit at the large car park situated outside the town.

Below the car park you will find the remains of a monumental fountain (nymphaeum). Built in the 2nd century AD outside the walls and opposite the gate of the town, the fountain comprised 3 semicircular parts that held basins into which the water flowed. The façade comprised 3 storeys, adorned with columns, with Medusa heads and with fish. A parapet, for its part, was decorated with mythological scenes.

Cross the street leading to the car park and pass through the former ramparts of the city to reach, on your left, a colonnaded street. Go up this fine paved way, which was richly decorated with columns and mosaics, some elements of which are still visible. In the Byzantine period this way led to the baptistery as well as to the episcopal palace and to a basilica.

Halfway along the street, take the street that leaves diagonally on your right. This street, also paved, is bordered by the walls of former residences and leads to the State agora.

This agora, a broad rectangle of 88 metres by 69, brought together the political institutions of the town. On the east side are the remains of a building that comprised a broad façade decorated with imperial statues. The agora was bordered by a stoa (covered gallery) with columns, and had a building at its centre.

Continue the visit by passing the second wall of the town, and follow the seashore. Various Byzantine remains punctuate your walk.

The path will lead you to the end of the promontory, the most photogenic place in Side, with its remains of the temples of Apollo and of Athena.

A few columns of the temple of Apollo stand on this spot, and blocks of stone, sometimes carved, litter the ground.

Elements of the temple of Athena are also visible.

These two temples, of the 2nd century AD, were probably destroyed during the Christianisation of the region in the 5th century.

The stones were, moreover, used for the construction of the basilica situated behind the temples, which presents well-preserved remains.

This site is particularly romantic at sunset; many wedding photographs are taken here.

Continue on your way along the harbour, lined with many bars and restaurants.

Go up the main street, Liman Caddesi, very commercial, as far as the exit from the pedestrian zone. You come out opposite the ancient theatre, the best-preserved monument of Side.

At this point you can take again the free bus shuttle that returns to the car park (Otogari), or continue the visit.

This large theatre, well preserved, was built in the 2nd century AD. Of typically Roman architecture (it is not set against a hill, and its structure is supported by powerful arcades). It could hold up to 20,000 spectators, who came to enjoy traditional theatre but also circus games.

The elements of the wall of 2.5 metres protecting the spectators are still visible all round the orchestra. The stage wall, 63 metres long, was richly decorated with columns, niches, statues and reliefs on 3 storeys. The stage, for its part, was 20 metres long by 10 wide.

At the end of the 5th century the theatre was transformed into an open-air church. Two chapels, as well as inscriptions on the seats reserved for the priests, are still visible.

Continue to follow the road on leaving the theatre. You will first pass the remains, hard to read, of the temple of Dionysus. Continuing, you will pass through the Gate of Vespasian, decorated with Corinthian columns framing niches that were to hold statues of the emperor as well as female statues.

Past the gate, you will find on your right the commercial agora, a vast square surrounded by stoas (covered galleries) with granite columns, which sheltered shops on 3 sides. Many blocks of ancient stone, decorated or not, as well as columns, are stored here. Note the one depicting Victories bearing a laurel wreath.

In the centre stand the ruins of a remarkable round temple, of white marble, consecrated to Tyche, goddess of Fortune and of the Destiny of a city. In the north-west corner, between the theatre and the road, you will glimpse the former latrines.
The commercial agora was linked to the State agora by a street bordered with columns.

Cross the road to reach the small archaeological museum of Side, laid out in the former baths of the city, dating from the 5th century AD.

There you can discover a very fine collection of ancient works found at Side and in the region.
In the garden a set of tombs and decorative sculpted elements are displayed.

Inside, you will find a set of bronze objects, weapons or decorative objects, including a pretty door element with a lion's head. Small statues are also visible here.

Further on, a remarkable sarcophagus of the 2nd century. The lid is decorated with lion heads, and on the front a Medusa head. Statues of Eros decorate the whole perimeter of the sarcophagus. In this same room you will find a set of ancient statues.

In the last room, amphorae, bas-reliefs and coins are displayed.

On coming out of the museum, cross the road again and continue towards the way out of the town. You then pass, on your right, along the ruins of the shops of this important axis of the ancient city, and behind them the dwellings. Set off to explore this area, still little excavated, to discover for example the house with corbels, which comprises a set of rooms arranged around a central court. Floor mosaics, a fountain and pipes are still visible. The corbels, which give the house its name, supported the 1st floor.

Behind this house you will see the peristyle house, built around 2 inner courts. Pillars supported an upper floor, and remains of mosaics are still visible. The system of pipes indicates that the house had private lavatories, a rarity at that time!