Old Town in Antalya (Kaleici)
Antalya’s Old Town is the most beautiful part of the city, with exquisite Ottoman-era houses clustered on a steep bank along winding, stone-paved streets. Two thousand years ago, a settlement sprang up on this spot, growing around a natural harbor at the foot of the hill. The Romans fortified the harbor, and in the Ottoman era it was surrounded by strong walls 5 km long. Then the city was divided into four independent quarters – Greek, Jewish, Muslim and the quarter of the ruling clan of Mamelukes. After the founding of the Turkish Republic, all foreigners left the city, and it was almost completely abandoned. In the 80s of the last century began to restore the old houses: now they are occupied by restaurants, small hotels, stores.
