From EXPO 2015 Milano to EXPO 2016 Antalya..

As you know, next year the EXPO 2016 will be held in Antalya. Before EXPO 2016, Antalya City Blog visited EXPO 2015 Milano. Let's see photos..

From EXPO 2015 Milano to EXPO 2016 Antalya..

As you know, next year the EXPO 2016 will be held in Antalya. Before EXPO 2016, Antalya City Blog visited EXPO 2015 Milano. Let's see photos..

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Tour of Turkey: The 50th Presidential Cycling Tour


The 50th Presidential Cycling Tour will be held between the dates of April 27 to May 4, and the third stages of the Tour of Turkey will be held in Antalya. 

Sports fans who want to follow the competition will have the chance to watch step by step. If you want to follow as a privileged can apply over the internet. 


A single multi-stage intercontinental tour in the world which could be of great importance for the organization and promotion of tourism.


Stages of the Tour of Turkey

From Alanya to Istanbul, 1254 km in 8 stages

In its 50th Anniversary, the Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey will ride the wave of excitement from Alanya to Istanbul. The high level competition among the World's renowned professional teams and cyclists will commence on Sunday, April 27 in Alanya.


The 8-stage turquoise journey will follow the Mediterranean and Aegean Coasts. After transfer of the teams from Izmir to Istanbul by air, the World's only intercontinental cycling stage race will witness a magnificent finish in Istanbul on Sunday, May 4.


The breathtaking 1254-kilometer race will feature two important mountain finishes on Stage 3 and 6. The 3rd stage is again the queen stage ending at 1825 m above sea level in Elmali Gogubeli. It will be both the highest and longest stage of the TUR. In Stage 6, cyclists will climb the last 5 km to reach the finish line at the top of the Hill of Virgin Mary above Selcuk in the second longest stage. Another demanding stage involving difficult climbing sections will take place on May 1 (stage 4) and run between Marmaris and Bodrum (Turgutreis). Since the 50th edition will feature the three longest stages as the highest stages as well, climbers will benefit from the king of the mountain primes to get an advantage for the general classification. Five relatively flat stages, on the other hand, will boost excitement through the competition among the sprinters and offer points for green jersey and the GC. Another notable new feature will be the new finish line of Izmir across the bay on Karsiyaka Pier.



Live Broadcast



Don't Miss The 6th Antalya International Choir Festival


The 6th Antalya International Choir Festival will be held on 02-06 April 2014. 

As being the 6th anniversary of the festival, the organizing commitee has made a special program for the 2014 edition. This year, it is planning to organise a big concert performance of "9th Symphony" by Ludwig van Beethoven with the choirs selected by festival organisation committe from festival attendants and Antalya State Symphony Orchestra together. At least 120 chorists and 100 professional orchestral musicians will be performing on the stage. 


Antalya International Choir Festival is organized by the cooperation of Smarts Organisation and Antalya Main Municipality. All the activities in the festival will be organised at -the most famous and grandest cultural center and concert area- Antalya Culture Center which is in the city center of Antalya. 

Don't Miss The 6th Antalya International Choir Festival!

Festival Programme


For more information: 





Thursday, March 20, 2014

Beach Weddings in Antalya

Planning a beach wedding?

If you're looking for a small, simple, and beautifully natural beach wedding, Antalya is the perfect place. And if you want to invite the whole gang, think about a fun-filled wedding weekend and reunion at an activity-rich resort, beach. 

Sunny Antalya, romantic music, Mediterranean see and lots of love it’s exactly what you are looking for. It’s also a great opportunity to spend unforgettable days together in ancient Antalya city, tasting traditional Antalya foods between your shopping. 



Why Antalya?
A different, memorable, and relaxed environment.
Easy to get to. There are regular, economical, and direct flights to Antalya International Airport which is located just 20 minutes outside the city and accessible via direct bus.
Truly spectacular wedding venues in and near Antalya city. There is everything you could think of: architectural masterpieces, magnificent mansions, picturesque parks, luxurious resort hotels, small boutique hotels, contemporary and traditional restaurants, museums, art galleries, theatres, wineries, golf clubs, yacht clubs, sea views, mountain views, and city views.
City-break and beach-break all in one. There are beaches in Antalya city and miles and miles of beautiful coastline on the Konyaaltı and Lara.
Delicious Mediterranean cuisine. Antalya is fast gaining a name for having some of the best chefs and the finest gastronomy and is home to very fine wines and rakı.
Sunshine. Imagine lazing on a sandy beach and taking a dip in the sea on the morning of your wedding. Picture you and your guests dining and dancing under the stars thanks to the warm Mediterranean climate. 

Beach Wedding Dresses

What makes great beach wedding dresses? These simple wedding dresses are perfect for a barefoot walk down the beach. Elegant and timeless, they all share a lasting beauty yet have a casual feel that make them perfect for destination wedding dresses. If you’re considering a wedding with a sea view, you’ll also have to consider beach wedding dresses.



Monday, March 17, 2014

Visiting Antalya in the Spring - Tips on What to See and Do


While other parts of Europe are still rain-sodden and windswept in spring, in Antalya things are already starting to heat up. This makes it the ideal city to make an early start on your summer. Think long walks along the beach, eating local cuisine, soaking up the sun, carousing at countless festivals on a warm evening as the sun sets.

Of course, the whole Mediterranean region is getting warmer at this time of year. As a result budget flights are starting to fill up all over the northern hemisphere, long weekends are being planned, and the quest for accessible sun begins. Despite this increasing competition from other destinations, Antalya remains unrivalled. Read on to find out why visiting Antalya in spring is about much more than just topping up your vitamin D levels.


Festivals & Events

People in Antalya have built up a reputation for knowing how to have a good time. Here’s a selection of some of the best events over the coming season, offering countless dates around which you can plan an unforgettable trip.

  • Nevruz (Spring) Festival 21 March


The sun gives more light and heat to the southern hemisphere until March 21, after which this applies to the northern hemisphere instead. That is why March 21 is a day to celebrate for people living in the northern hemisphere as the symbol of awakening and creation. On Nevruz Day, people lay their tables with an assortment of foodstuffs, play games, hold festivities, eat painted eggs and prepare large fires. Nevruz, which every society celebrates in forms peculiar to itself, still exists with traditional celebrations in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tatarstan, the Uygur region, Anatolia and the Balkans.

  • Antalya International Choir Festival

The 6th Antalya International Choir Festival will be held on 02-06 April 2014. 

As being the 6th anniversary of the festival, the organizing commitee has made a special program for the 2014 edition. This year, it is planning to organise a big concert performance of "9th Symphony" by Ludwig van Beethoven with the choirs selected by festival organisation committe from festival attendants and Antalya State Symphony Orchestra together. At least 120 chorists and 100 professional orchestral musicians will be performing on the stage. 

  •  Tour of Turkey

The 50th Presidential Cycling Tour will be held between the dates of April 27 to May 4, and the third stages of the Tour of Turkey will be held in Antalya. 

Sports fans who want to follow the competition will have the chance to watch step by step. If you want to follow as a privileged can apply over the internet. 

A single multi-stage intercontinental tour in the world which could be of great importance for the organization and promotion of tourism.

Eating


Whether you enjoy a great start to the morning with a breakfast on your apartment’s balcony or terrace or take advantage of the balmy evenings. If you’re a seafood lover then the beach area of Antalya features some of the city’s finest seafood restaurants.

Antalya’s signature cuisine includes Piyaz, spicy hibeş with mixed cumin andtahini, şiş köfte, tandır kebap, domates civesi, şakşukabörülce salatası, kabak çiçeği dolması, kabak çintmesi, börülce çorbası, şiş köfte, laba, and various cold Mediterranean dishes with olive oil. One local speciality is tirmis, boiled seeds of the lupin, eaten as a snack. "Grida" (also known as Lagos or Mediterrenean white grouper) is a fish common in local dishes.

Shopping


Shopping in Antalya is great all year round and with the new spring/summer collections in shops, what better excuse do you need to revive your drab winter wardrobe for something more fresh and well, Antalya? You’re guaranteed not to be wearing the same thing as your friends when you get home. Antalya City is a shopaholic’s dream. In Antalya you will find a variety of differents shopping items like the traditional Turkish knick-knacks popular with tourists like textiles, gold and copper work, carpets, leather goods and souvenirs. Expect to find trendy brand name stores like Zara, LaCoste, Diesel, Mango, Polo Garage, Tommy Hilfiger, U.S. Polo Assn., Boyner, Nike, Adidas, Reebok, 2014 bridesmaiddresses, perfume, electronic & computer stores and many more. The City offers superb beach resort facilities and long stretches of golden sands, with a fine selection of significant historical sites. The city is loved by many for its palm lined streets, charming marina, delicious restaurants, excellent shopping, cosmopolitan nightlife and lots of historical attractions. Each year, millions of people visitAntalya. Fantastic for families, couples and even the more experienced traveler, Antalya’s mix of traditional, cosmopolitan and family friendly activities will ensure everyone will enjoy a holiday in Antalya!

The Weather in Antalya in Spring


By April temperatures are usually warm enough for the beach, with average highs of 20 degrees Celsius. By June it’s up to 25 degrees. These conditions are ideal for many people – you avoid the extreme temperature of the summer while still being able to spend much of your time in the sun. Antalya have the best urban beaches in the Eastern Mediterranean and the city has three miles of them to choose from, all easily accessible by public transport.

If basking by the sea isn’t your thing, fear not – Antalya is also equally lucky in terms of parks, providing sightseeing opportunities aplenty and green spaces to lie back on the grass. Antalya Zoo is also situated within the grounds of the park making it the perfect family destination.


Friday, March 14, 2014

Kovada Lake National Park


Antalya City Blog visited the Kovada Lake National Park and took some photos for you!

If you wander around this lake which is located at 30 km south of Eğirdir, coots, wild ducks, and grey herons scared of your voice, will get off from their places under the trees and fly towards to opposite coast of the lake. Isparta is, to some extend, the whispers among the plane trees which surround Kovada Lake like a dark yellow necklace in autumn.


While going to Kovada Lake from Eğirdir town along the channell, apple and cherry trees, colourful poplars, reeds along the water welcome you. Sometimes you go through a mist which covers the road like a white veil. These images are the messengers of a calm lake reminding of a picture painted by an artist called “the Nature”.


Kovada Lake with the surrounding area of 6534 hectares has been one of our National Parks since 1970… It was decared as a 1 level protected area in 1992. The depth of the lake is 6-7 m while the width is 9 km. On the contrary of the other lakes in Isparta, its water is not very clear because of the sediments.


However, thanks to the trees growing among the rocks, it presents beautiful views when looked from the hills around.


The surrounding area of the Kovada Lake is 20.6 km and its height above the sea level is 900 m. There are walking courses around the lake for those who love hiking. Beginning from the small recreational facility of National Parks General Directorate, the short road is a 350 m walking course. Another road beginning at the same point and reaching out to the watch tower is 2.800m. long. Professional travelers can camp by the lake and go for longer walks.


Remember! Be careful that your shoes are proper as the lake shores are rather rocky. Permission of Environent and Forest Direcorate is required for those who wish to camp in groups. Phone: (0246) 228 53 00. Permission is not required for those who camp with a single tent. Bring a sweater even if you will camp in summer.


Kovada National Park is a rich working and recreation place for nature lovers. Many kinds of trees from redpine to juniper; from wild olive to kocayemiş (arbutus unedo) to menengiç (Terebinthina Chia), pırnal meşesi (quercus ilex) constitute the basis of the natural flora. Herbs like wild rose, daphne, blackberry, and boyacı sumağı (rhus cotnus) enrich this structure. The diversity of flora can be observed in wild life, however many animal species have been endangered due to hunting. Yet, you shouldn’t be surprised to see martens, badgers, wild boars, foxes, squirrels or rabbits.


Kovada Lake is an important point for bird watchers as well. Its waters are valuable as it is a watering hole for migratory birds. Wild geese, rudy shelducks, herons, wild ducks, woodcocks come to the lake. If you happen to see bouncing birdson the rocks, know that they are partridges. As for the inhabitants in the water, they are carps, sudak (Lucioperca lucioperca) ,pool fish, eğrez (vimba vimba), velvet fish, eels and fresh water lobsters.





Thursday, March 13, 2014

Cultural Icons of Turkey: Shadow Play of Karagöz and Hacivat


Karagöz and Hacivat Shadow Theatre is a Turkish Storytelling Tradition. The two main characters are Karagöz and Hacivat. Karagoz is a peasant, reperesentative of the people, who normally wins the day with his boorish wit, outsmarting his more urbane sidekick Hacivat. Karagöz can be lewd, deceitful and even violent whilst Hacivat, by contrast, is an educated gentlemen, more refined in his manner, who resolutely tries to instil a sense of decorum into the proceedings. 



Karagöz-Hacivat plays are especially associated with Ramadan. Until the rise of radio and film, it was one of the most popular forms of entertainment in Turkey. It survives today mainly in a toned-down form intended for audiences of children.


Karagöz plays are structured in four parts:
  • Mukaddime: Introduction. Hacivat sings a semai (different at each performance), recites a prayer, and indicates that he is looking for his friend Karagöz, whom he beckons to the scene with a speech that always ends "Yar bana bir eğlence" ("Oh, for some amusement"). Karagöz enters from the opposite side.
  • Muhavere: dialogue between Karagöz and Hacivat
  • Fasil: main plot
  • Bitiş: Conclusion, always a short argument between Karagöz and Hacivat, always ending with Hacivat yelling at Karagöz that he has "ruined" whatever matter was at hand and has "brought the curtain down," and Karagöz replying "May my transgressions be forgiven."




Sunday, March 2, 2014

International Antalya Hospitality Tourism and Travel Research Conference (IHTRC)


The International Antalya Hospitality, Tourism and Travel Research Conference that will be held in Porto Bello Hotel, Antalya, Turkey between December 9 and December 12, 2014. The International Antalya Hospitality Tourism and Travel Research Conference is organized by Washington State University, College of Business, School of Hospitality Business Management and Akdeniz University, Tourism Faculty. This conference will provide a unique forum for attendees from academia, industry, government, and other organizations to actively exchange, share, and challenge state-of-the-art research and industrial case studies on issues related to hospitality and tourism marketing and management.

The International Antalya Hospitality Tourism and Travel Research Conference will provide a unique forum for attendees from academia, industry, government, and other organizations to actively exchange, share, and challenge state-of-the-art research and industrial case studies on issues related to hospitality and tourism marketing and management. 


  • Hospitality and tourism management
  • Hospitality and tourism marketing 
  • Consumer behavior in hospitality and tourism 
  • Organizational buying behavior 
  • Research and innovations in hospitality marketing and management
  • Case studies on successful hospitality marketing and management practices 
  • Hospitality and tourism product development and management 
  • Hospitality and tourism operations 
  • Food service marketing and management 
  • Special interest tourism marketing and management 
  • Operational management 
  • Financial management 
  • Ethical concerns in marketing and management 
  • Entrepreneurship 
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises in tourism and hospitality 
  • Destination marketing and management 
  • Future trends in the hospitality and tourism marketing and management
  • Crisis and tourism 
  • Health and wellness tourism 
  • International issues and cross-cultural research 
  • Hospitality and tourism information systems 
  • Distribution systems and distribution strategies
  • Technology and competitiveness 
  • Electronic marketing and e-commerce
  • Technology and management 
  • Human resources 
  • New theoretical perspectives on human resource management 
  • Education and training in tourism and hospitality 
  • Human resource strategies and operations for tourism and hospitality industry 
  • Equality, gender and diversity issues in tourism organizations 
  • Organizational theory and tourism research 
  • Sustainable tourism 
  • Tourism and environment 
  • Climate change and tourism 
  • Community involvement in tourism development 
  • Types of tourism and sustainability 
  • Tourism and urban planning 
  • Tourism planning and regional development 
  • Niche tourism 
  • Case studies and best practices in tourism governance, policy making and management 

For more information: 



The 3rd National Rural Tourism Symposium will be held in Antalya

The 3rd National Rural Tourism Symposium will be held in Antalya between 10 - 12 October 2014 under the leadership of Nobel Science and Research Center and  Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of Akdeniz University. The symposium will be held in Antalya Ozkaymak Falez Hotel. 

Concept of rural tourism has recently become prominent in our country and European Union member states. With a decision to promote rural development, union started to allocate funds to the rural tourism policies. Various projects are developed in the EU countries and practices of benefiting from these grant funds and supporting the rural tourism destinations have started to gain success. 

In this regard, concept of rural tourism was mentioned in the study, EU rural tourism policies and contents of these policies were addressed, then rural tourism practices of some EU member states were mentioned. Successful projects were given as examples within the scope of EU rural tourism and finally, recommendations were presented as regards to what should be done in Turkey by talking about promotion of rural tourism in Turkey within the scope of EU policies and the samples. 

For more information: