Olympus – Antalya – 90 kilometres
Antalya, a historic city established in 200 BC, lay 90 kilometres away
and boasted even more impressive ruins. During the Roman rule, the
city thrived and left behind many monuments such as the grand
Hadrian's Gate, built in 130 AD to honour the Roman emperor
Hadrian's visit to Antalya. The Hýdýrlýk Tower, another iconic
landmark, is thought to have been built during the Roman Empire
around the second century CE.
Antalya – Side – 74 kilometres
The following day, our path followed the coast toward the ancient port
town of Side, famous for its beaches and Roman ruins dating back to
the time of Antony and Cleopatra. Strolling through the ruins of the
2nd-century Antique Theatre, with its impressive seating capacity of
15,000, was simply irresistible. By then, we were all “ruined out” and
didn’t explore much, opting instead to lounge around and do as little
as possible.