Kaleiçi is the historic city center of

Antalya Antalya is the fifth-most populous city in Turkey and the capital of Antalya Province. Recognized as the "capital of tourism" in Turkey and a pivotal part of the Turkish Riviera, Antalya sits on Anatolia's southwest coast, flanked by the Tau ...

, located along the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

coast in southern

Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

. Enclosed by ancient city walls and overlooking the old harbor, it represents the original core of the city. The area showcases the architectural and cultural influences of the

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...

Byzantine The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...

Seljuk Seljuk (, ''Selcuk'') or Saljuq (, ''Saljūq'') may refer to: * Seljuk Empire (1051–1153), a medieval empire in the Middle East and central Asia * Seljuk dynasty (c. 950–1307), the ruling dynasty of the Seljuk Empire and subsequent polities * S ...

, and Ottoman periods. Known for its narrow cobblestone streets, red-tiled Ottoman-era houses, and historical landmarks, Kaleiçi today is both a residential neighborhood and a major attraction for those interested in Antalya’s rich heritage.

History

The area now known as Kaleiçi (literally “Inner Castle”) was once part of the ancient city of

Attaleia Antalya is the fifth-most populous city in Turkey and the capital of Antalya Province. Recognized as the "capital of tourism" in Turkey and a pivotal part of the Turkish Riviera, Antalya sits on Anatolia's southwest coast, flanked by the Tauru ...

, founded in the 2nd century BCE by

Attalus II Philadelphus Attalus II Philadelphus (Greek: Ἄτταλος ὁ Φιλάδελφος, ''Attalos II Philadelphos'', which means "Attalus the brother-loving"; 220–138 BC) was a ruler of the Attalid kingdom of Pergamon and the founder of the city of Att ...

. After the Pergamon Kingdom collapsed in 133 BCE, the city briefly remained independent before falling into the hands of pirates. In 77 BCE, it was incorporated into the

Roman Republic The Roman Republic ( ) was the era of Ancient Rome, classical Roman civilisation beginning with Overthrow of the Roman monarchy, the overthrow of the Roman Kingdom (traditionally dated to 509 BC) and ending in 27 BC with the establis ...

by the general Servilius Isauricus and later served as a naval base for Pompey in 67 BCE. The Roman Emperor Hadrian visited the city in 130 CE, which contributed to its urban and architectural development under Roman rule. During the

Byzantine period The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...

, Attaleia became a bishopric center and retained strategic and religious significance. Following the

Seljuks The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids ( ; , ''Saljuqian'',) alternatively spelled as Saljuqids or Seljuk Turks, was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that gradually became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture. The founder of th ...

conquest, the settlement continued to flourish. Since modern

was built directly atop the ancient city, few structures from antiquity remain visible today. Among the surviving remnants are parts of the ancient harbor breakwater and surrounding fortifications. One of the most notable monuments is Hadrian’s Gate (Üçkapılar), a Roman-era structure marking one of the main entrances into the old city. Kaleiçi is surrounded by a double ring of walls, forming a horseshoe-shaped layout that reflects architectural influences from the

Hellenistic In classical antiquity, the Hellenistic period covers the time in Greek history after Classical Greece, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC, which was followed by the ascendancy of the R ...

, and Ottoman periods. The district contains approximately 3,000 traditional houses with red-tiled roofs, offering a glimpse into the daily life and architectural character of past centuries. Narrow alleys run uphill from the harbor, following the contours of the inner fortifications. Notable landmarks within Kaleiçi include the Yivli Minaret, Hidirlik Tower, Kesik Minare, İskele Mosque, and Tekeli Mehmet Paşa Mosque. The ancient harbor, now a modern yacht marina, continues to be a focal point of the area. Kaleiçi’s scenic setting has long inspired writers and artists, and in 1984, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism received the Golden Apple Award ( Pomme d’Or) from FIJET for its preservation and restoration efforts in the district.

Gallery

File:2023-01-17 Old Town, Antalya 10.jpg, Historical houses in the town File:2023-01-17 Old Town, Antalya 11.jpg, A narrow street in Kaleiçi File:2023-01-17 Old Town, Antalya 15.jpg, Traditional houses and a shop File:2023-01-17 Old Town, Antalya 25.jpg, A street view from Kaleiçi File:Antalya Kaleiçi walls in 2011 04.jpg, The walls of the town File:2023-01-17 Hadrian's Gate in Antalya 1.jpg, The Hadrian's Gate File:Antalya - 2005-July - IMG 3050.JPG, Panorama of Kaleiçi File:Večerní uličky v Kaleči 2 - panoramio.jpg, A street in Kaleiçi at evening File:Kaleiçi old town, Antalya, Turkey 🇹🇷 Feb 2022 - Streetscape and minaret.jpg, Streetscape and Sultan Alaaddin Mosque in the background

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaleici Antalya Muratpaşa District