The historic town of Kaleici is one of Antalya’s most significant tourist attractions in Turkey. Surrounded by pine forests leading to the sea and one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Antalya is one of the most beautiful cities, attracting many tourists yearly. This is only some of Antalya’s charms. One of the most charming parts of Antalya is the old town of Kaleici; today, we will introduce that.
A History and Introduction to the old town of Kaleici, Antalya
Kaleici is one of Antalya’s oldest regions. Kaleici, also known as the old town, was surrounded by walls around the whole area until modern times. It might be interesting to know that Kaleici also means “in castle/fort” in Turkish. The old town of Kaleici has a long history, and some of its buildings go as far back as Ottoman and Saljoughi times. This city was built by Romans for the export and import of goods and was surrounded by walls to protect the city from attacks. To this day, some people still live in some of the houses in the town, but most of the buildings have been transformed into hotels, restaurants, and art shops.
Architecture of Kaleici, Antalya
Kaleici has unique and interesting architecture, and most of its charm is due to the combination of ancient and modern designs. Although Romans built the town, most buildings belong to the Ottoman era. Most buildings in the old town of Kaleici are from the 18th and 19th centuries. This city was built on hills, so the streets and alleys are narrow and spiral.
Kaleici’s attractions
- Hadrian’s Gate: Kaleici’s most beautiful and essential site is Hadrian’s Gate. It is part of the big wall built by Romans surrounding the city. This gate, built with white marble, is a reminder of ancient times.
- Antalya’s clock tower: This tower is located at the entrance of the old town of Kaleici and is the only remaining tower that used to surround the city. It is built with rocks and has ancient writings on its walls.
- Tekeli Mehmet Pasa mosque: This beautiful mosque, built by Tekeli Mehmet Pasha in the 18th century, is one of Kaleici’s most fantastic tourist attractions. Its central dome and colorful tiling are some of its signature aspects.
- Mermerli Beach: Mermerli Beach is not far from Kaleici; you can get there by walking for a short while. This beach is one of Antalya’s most beautiful coasts. The beach has good facilities, and you can rent swimming equipment there. If you are a swimmer, it’s hard to say no to swimming in the stunning sea there.
The culture of Kaleici, Antalya
In the old town of Kaleici, the houses are built with rocks, wood, and thatch. As we said, most houses are now transformed into shops and restaurants. However, some people still live in some areas, and the people there are respectful and considerate of their history. They are thoughtful about following rules and caring for their houses to preserve their culture and history. Most of the people in Antalya are Muslims and Christians, like the rest of Turkey, and they speak Turkish, so it’s good to know a little Turkish or have a translator if you are visiting there. You can try delicious Turkish meals in most restaurants around this area.
The weather of Kaleici, Antalya
The old town of Kaleici has a weather climate like the rest of Antalya. The city is surrounded by mountains covered with snow most of the year, which means it will get very cold and dry in the winter, but the Mediterranean Sea, which is very close to the city, makes the weather more humid and warmer than the rest of Turkey. Considering all this, the best time to visit the old town of Kaleici would be from the middle of spring, when the weather starts to warm, until the end of autumn. Although visiting Antalya in winter could have some advantages, like the city being quieter and seeing fewer tourists, you can also reduce expenses since some services are cheaper this season.
How to get to the old town of Kaleici
There are three general ways to get to the old town of Kaleici from Antalya. First, you can take a taxi from anywhere around the city and ask them to take you there with online applications. The second way is to go to the central city square, Kale Kapisi, and use the public transportation system; the good thing about this is that you can visit many historic sites, like the Antalya clock tower. The third way is that since there are a lot of hotels near this area if you stay in one of these hotels, you can get to the old town of Kaleici by walking a short distance.
The old city of Kaleici is a historic site; walking in it is like going back in time. While walking in the city, you can enjoy watching the combination of modern and ancient art and architecture. However, remember that most of these buildings are very old and preserved carefully, so you must be cautious not to harm them. The cafes and restaurants are also lovely for resting and conversing with friends and companions.
The best souvenir you can buy from the old town of Kaleici is handmade handicrafts, which can be found hanging in most shops around the city.
Other charming spots you can visit near the old town of Kaleici
- Hadrian’s gate: 350 meters away
- Karaalioglu Park: 1200 meters away
- Yivliminare mosque: 600 meters away
- Murad pasa mosque: 3600 meters away
- Old City Marina: 5300 meters away
- Antalya Museum: 6400 meters away