HISTORICAL WORKS OF ART WITHIN THE CITY OF ANTALYA

Old Antalya is located in a place now known as Kaleiçi. Kaleiçi contains ruins dating back thousands of years, temples, churches, basilicas and 715 houses and 47 monuments from the time of the Seljuk and Ottoman dwellings. Most of these having been restored, they serve tourism. As a result of the efforts made, the Golden Apple, recognised as the Tourism Oscar, was awarded to Antalya Kaleiçi in 1984. The foremost work of art dating from the Roman era in the region is Hadrian’s Gate, built in 139 A.D. in commemoration of the Emperor Hadrian’s visit to the city. Also known as Üç Kapılar, this two-tier monumental gate has three arches and 8 columns with Corinthian capitals set upon pedestals at the façade and rear. There are square watch towers on either side of the gate. On the western falez rock end of the Antalya Park, the 14-metre high, two-tier Hıdırlık Tower is visible. Dating from the Roman era, it is thought to have been used as a lighthouse. The tower, with a square base and the upper part built of rounded carved stone blocks, and remains of frescoes visible on its inner walls, was later used as a basilica. The Panagia Basilica, built by the Byzantines, to the east of the Hıdırlık Tower, was transformed into a mosque upon the addition of a single-galleried minaret by the Turkish Sultan Korkut in 1467. The building consists of two sections in the shape of a double cross and is remarkable with its arched gate and reliefs on the door-window edges, and marble columns. The fire in 1896 ruined the mosque and its minaret collapsed halfway down. Therefore, it is today called Kesik Minare (The Truncated Minaret) . The symbols of the city, Yivli Minare (The Grooved Minaret) and Ulu Cami Külliyesi, were built upon the remains of the Byzantine church by Sultan Alaaddin in 1230. The frame of the 45 metre high minaret, built of brick on a square stone pedestal, was erected with bracing in the form of 8 grooves, and the upper part is embellished with light blue square mosaic stones. The words God and Muhammed are inscribed on the floor surfaces with turquoise stones and tiles. The simply constructed Ulu Cami, standing adjacent to the minaret, has 6 domes covered with roof tiles, raised on 12 columns. Immediately next to the mosque stands Karatay Medresesi, which consists of small chambers.

Besides technology, courses in science, philosophy and psychology were taught at the Medrese, which served as the college of its era. To the northwest of the Mosque is Mevlevihane. This 18th century square building is reinforced by cradle vaults and the dome is covered with roof tiles. To the east of Külliye is the Tomb of Mehmet Bey, an octagonal construction upon a square floor, walls of dressed stone blocks and a pyramid spire-shaped roof covered with roof tiles. To the west there is a Selçuklu Hamamı (Seljuk Hamam) with walls built of rubble stones, a steam room with a square layout and a roof made of round domes. The Clock Tower, onto which a clock was placed at a later period, is situated at a site known as Castle Gate and is one of the watch towers built on either side of the gate in order to protect it. Of these 25 metre high towers, the one to the east, which is still standing, has a square layout. Murat Paşa Mosque which was built by Kuyucu Murat Paşa in 1570 is covered with a high dome upon a ten-corner frame, with the inscriptions on its inner walls running all through the internal façade in a ribbon while presenting the most beautiful example of the Turkish-Seljuk art of calligraphy. The altar next to the marble pulpit worked with reliefs is a simple construction. The last congregation place is covered with three domes rising above pointed arches of coloured stone on four round columns. In the city centre the Sinan Mosque ordered to be built by Sheikh Sinan during the 16th century with rubble stone was built single-galleried with the short minaret made of dressed stone. The Mosque has a wooden floor and is covered with a tiled roof. Sheikh Sinan’s tomb is situated opposite the mosque. Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque, located behind the Clock Tower at Kalekapısı (Castle Gate), dates back to the 16th century. The sides of the entrance gate located to the north and the window edges are made of dressed stone. There is one large and three small domes over the mosque, which has a rectangular layout. Balibey Mosque on Balibey street in the city centre was ordered to be constructed by the Cavalry Chief Malkoçoğlu Balibey during the 15th century. Mtüsellim Mosque, which was ordered to be built by Mehmet Ağa, the Head of the Palace Doorkeepers, in 1769 is made of dressed stone. At the northwest corner it has a single-galleried minaret made of brick. The mosque is covered by a large dome on drum frames in three stages, with 4, 8 and 10 corners. Ahi Yusuf Mosque, which was built by Ahi Yusuf in 1249, has a square foundation and is made of rubble stone. This little masjid is covered by a round dome with roof tiles. To the east of the city centre are Demirci Karaali Mosque, which was built during the 18th century, and KırCami, which was re-constructed with the addition of a minaret.

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Links to
- Wandering in Antalya
- Wandering in Turkey
- the Hitchhiker's guide of the Elftowners