Side, Turkey- City of the Myths

According to legend, the goddess Taurus took her daughter, Side, to Manavgat to play with the nymphs. In the game, Side tore off a branch from a tree, and the tree began to bleed. Little girl Side got scared and started to cry because she realized it was not a tree but a nymph that had been transformed into a tree. As a punishment, Side was also turned into a pomegranate tree.

This is how the story of Side, one of Turkey's most famous ancient cities, begins.

Streets of Side

The city of Side flourished primarily during the Roman period.

According to some legends, Side was the secret meeting place of the renowned Cleopatra and Mark Antony, with tales suggesting that Mark Antony proposed to Cleopatra in this charming town.

The Side is situated between Antalya and Alanya, approximately 65 kilometers from the airport and a similar distance from the center of Alanya.

Streets of Side

Side - The Marina

We were accommodated in a hotel close to the city of Side and the beautiful Manavgat and visited both places.

The hotel's beach

The hotel's beach

Ancient Ruins in Side (Side Antik Kent)

Explore the fascinating ancient ruins, like the Temple of Apollo and the charming old theater, where you can really soak in the city's rich history! Did you know that the town of Side was founded by Greek settlers way back in the 7th century B.C.? After them, the Persians arrived, followed by none other than Alexander the Great! But what you see today mostly comes from the time of Roman rule. Enjoy your adventure!

Monumental Fountain - Nymphaeum

The Side peninsula is covered in ruins of the old town. If you arrive by bus, like we did, your first encounter with the historic site will be the Nymphaeum. In ancient times, the Nymphaeum must have been quite impressive, with several fountains running at height from the back.

Monumental Fountain - Nymphaeum

Main Agora of Side

The guide told us that the main agora of the ancient city of Side served as a marketplace, including the sale of slaves.

Main Agora of Side

Here, you can see the beautiful Temple of Tyche (Roman equivalent: Fortuna), the goddess of fortune.

Temple of Tyche

The Temple of Dionysos

The Temple of Dionysus is located very close to the Roman Theatre. Dionysus is the god of wine, joy, grapes, and fertility. According to mythology, he was the son of Zeus, the king of the gods, and a mortal woman named Semele. When Hera, Zeus's wife, learned that Semele had given birth to a child, she sought to kill Dionysus. To protect his son, Zeus swallowed Dionysus to hide him. Once Hera calmed down and the danger had passed, Zeus gave birth to Dionysus from his knee.

In an alternate version of the myth, Hera's quest for revenge took an unexpected turn. Instead of killing Dionysus, she transformed him into a grapevine.

The Temple of Dionysos

The Roman theatre

The Roman theater was constructed in the middle of the 2nd century A.D. on an earlier Hellenistic theater site. In Greek times, men climbing on stilts performed comedy roles, while women mainly played in tragedies. The theater in Side could accommodate between 15,000 and 22,000 spectators. As gladiatorial contests and exhibitions featuring wild animals grew in popularity during the late Roman Empire, the theater was modified to better accommodate these types of entertainment.

Inscriptions within the theater indicate that it was transformed into an open-air church at the end of the 5th century A.D.

Entrance to the Roman theatre

Roman theatre

Roman theatre

Roman theatre

The Temples of Apollo and Athena

The Temple of Apollo is a Roman temple built around 150 A.D. and is one of the most famous landmarks of Side.

According to one myth, Apollo, the god of the sun and light, spent a lot of time with the nymphs in his temple. This angered Athena, who turned the nymphs into Medusas.

The Temple of Apollo - Athena got angry and turned the nymphs into Medusas

At our visit in July 2024, the Temple of Athena was undergoing restoration.

Temple of Athena

A traditional souvenir in Turkey is the Nazar, also known as the evil eye. You can find various designs of it everywhere you go. Originating from Turkish mythology, the Nazar is primarily meant to protect against spells. It typically has a round shape with concentric circles in different colors, predominantly blue. Some call it a "blue eye" or "tiger's eye."

A traditional souvenir in Turkey - Nazar (evil eye)

Manavgat

Manavgat is a small town near Side, located on the river of the same name.

The mosque Kulliye Cami

The mosque Kulliye Cami is located in Manavgat. Its beautiful architecture attracts tourists and is accessible to the public, but you should remove your shoes and cover your head, shoulders, arms, and legs. Scarves are available at the entrance. Kulliye means school, and our guide said it was once used as a school.

The mosque Kulliye Cami

In front of The Mosque Kulliye Cami

Cruise on the Manavgat River

We enjoyed a cruise on the Manavgat River, which flows into the Mediterranean Sea. The river's color is almost the same as that of the sea, which delighted us.

Cruise on the Manavgat River

After the cruise, we swam at the beach, which was very close to the Manavgat River. You can choose to swim in either the river or the sea. 😊

Manavgat River and nearby beach

Manavgat River and nearby beach

Beach, close to the Manavgat River

Waterfalls in Manavgat

We also enjoyed visiting the waterfalls in Manavgat, which are only three kilometers from Side and surrounded by lush vegetation.

Waterfalls in Manavgat

In 2023, two fantastic sculptures were built next to the waterfall from twigs taken from the Manavgat River.

Waterfalls in Manavgat - sculptures

Waterfalls in Manavgat - sculptures

If you get the chance to explore the beautiful ancient city of myths, I know you'll uncover so much and have a fantastic time in the lovely city of Side!