From Ancient Times to the Present: Antalya’s nicknames

Antalya is one of the most visited cities in the world,  every year it attracts an average of 10.5 million tourists.
From ancient times, through the Ottoman era, to this very day, Antalya has always been a thriving and lively city, and the city has been given many nicknames: 

Home of Attalos: Attalos was a King of Pergamon and the founder of modern-day Turkish city Antalya. As long as 2000 years ago King Attalos II of Bergama ordered his most favoured courtiers, "Go, find me such a place on the face of this earth that all kings, all rulers will hanker after it. Find me such a place that nobody will be able to take their eyes off it. Go and find me paradise on earth." In spite of the difficulty of carrying out such an order, even, in a sense, its impossibility, the courtiers set out and travelled far and wide. They travelled for weeks, for months but could not come upon a place such as the king desired. Until, travelling one day down the road known as Çubuk Beli, the gates of heaven opened to them amongst pines on the skirts of the Taurus Mountains on an enchanted Mediterranean evening! The snow-covered peaks of the Beydağları range, the green of the unspoiled forests, the silver sands and the indigo blue of the sea illuminated by the setting sun took away the breath of the Bergama courtiers. On descending from the mountains, they were enfolded in the colourful abundance of a heavenly plain. When they finally came to the place where the city of Antalya is located today and were faced with the unrivalled natural beauty which unfolded before them, they thought they had at last found paradise. Returning at a gallop, they told the king, "We have found paradise at your order!" King Attalos wanted to see the place described by his courtiers as "paradise" with his own eyes. When he arrived at the site of modern Anatlya, the king, too, agreed that he had reached paradise and immediately ordered the foundation of a city. Amongst this natural beauty, the people of Bergama built a glorious city within a short time and named it Attaleia, a derivation from the name of King Attalos. Later this name changed in turn to Stelai, Satalya, Adalya and Antalya...

Pamphylia (Very Fruitful Soils): In ancient geography, Pamphylia was the region in the south of Asia Minor, between Lycia and Cilicia, extending from the Mediterranean to Mount Taurus (modern day Antalya province, Turkey). It was bounded on the north by Pisidia and was therefore a country of small extent, having a coast-line of only about 120 km (75 miles) with a breadth of about 50 km (30 miles). as it is today, Antalya's soils were very fruitful, because of this, it was given this name.

Paradise on Earth: When King Attalos first set eyes on Antalya he called it “Paradise on Earth”. Its fertile soil and natural harbour made it favourable for settlers throughout the ages.

Sanjak of Teke: 'Teke' is one of the 9 major Turkmen tribes. The Teke clan formed two beyliks in Anatolia, the Hamidogullari Beylik around the Isparta-Burdur region and the Teke Beylik its neighbour to the south in the Antalya region. During the Ottoman era the region became known as the "Teke Sanjak" or Teke-eli Sancagi, the Hamidogullari were a branch of the Teke's.

The Pearl of the Mediterranean: Known as the 'Pearl of the Mediterranean', Antalya sits in a stunning, mountain-backed bay on Turkey's south west coast and is made for exploring. Founded in the 6th century B.C., it oozes history and charm with a picturesque old town filled with Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman houses. Its carpet shops and restaurants are ringed by ancient city walls, and you'll also enjoy strolling along the palm-lined boulevards and yacht marina. A choice of scenic sandy and pebble beaches await nearby, and among the beauty spots in the vicinity are awesome caves, historic sites and some breathtaking local waterfalls.

The Capital of Tourism: With its history, sea, cultural assets and high quality tourism facilities, Antalya is known as the capital of Turkish tourism. With Belek, Kemer, Side-Manavgat, Alanya, Lara-Kunda, and Kaş tourism centers, Antalya hosts more than 10 million foreign quests every year. Along with a cultural heritage deeply rooted in history, Antalya’s coves and highlands of unique beauty, pristine beaches, comfortable hotels and marinas, colourful entertainment venues, and art-filled festivals all make it a tourist destination that offers endless possibilities to its guests.

Turkish Riviera: The Turkish Riviera is the most stunning part of Turkey's Mediterranean coast with its perfect sun, clean beaches, ultra luxury resorts, nature and history. Antalya is the largest city on the Mediterranean with its charming harbour. It is typical of Turkey, a thriving modern city, with a historic heart in the centre of Kaleici, within the old city walls. This area has seen something of a renaissance in recent years, with many of the wooden Ottoman mansions being restored and turned into boutique hotels. The symbol of Antalya is the Yivli Minare built by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat in the 13th century. Culture lovers will find plenty of interest in the Archaeological Museum which has artefacts from the Paleolithic Age right through to Ottoman times. Antalya has a backdrop of stunning mountain scenery, and the city is set high on cliffs, with many of its grandest hotels overlooking the sea on the outskirts of the town. The beach area of Lara, approximately 12 km to the east is home to the best beach in the area, known for its golden sand, which is rapidly becoming a resort in its own right. To the west, the long pebble beach of Konyaalti is also popular. Heading up into the mountains, you can make the most of the beautiful scenery by visiting the spectacular Duden or Kursunlu Waterfalls to see a completely different side to the Turkish landscape. Antalya has a large number of five star hotels, many of which have meetings facilities, and this, together with the Pyramid Congress Centre which can hold up to 3000 delegates make it a popular venue for conferences.

The Pearl of the South: Antalya is one of the most beautiful Turkish cities where green blends in nicely with blue. Unmatched underwater beauties compete with the wonders on the land. Antalya, with its moderate climate and fertile land, allows for the cultivation of all kinds of vegetables, especially legumes. Besides meeting its own needs for nourishment, with its greenhouses, it supplies food to all of Turkey. In fact, the fruits and the vegetables Turkey exports are grown here at the highest possible quality. Naturally, such fertile land bears some products native to the region. Antalya has all the jams you can—and maybe even can’t—imagine. Perhaps the first time you try certain kinds of seafood will be in Antalya. The local cuisine is well established and very rich. That's why Antalya calls as the pearl of the South (South of Turkey - Mediterranean).

The European Solar Capital: Antalya where at least 300 days of sunshine per year exceeds 1,312 kWh sunshine strength is falling per square meter per year. The sun shines 300 days a year in Antalya and, even in winter, the thermometer rarely falls below 15°C. That's why Antalya is the European Solar Capital.