1. Hadrian's Gate (Hadrianus)
Hadrian's Gate is the historical building that opens the gates of Kaleici, just 170 metres from RuianAdalia. This 1870-year-old historical gate, which has become one of the symbols of the city, is one of the most silent witnesses of Antalya. Located on Atatürk Street, the gate can be the first point where you can enter Kaleiçi.
The building was erected in 130 AD in the name of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (Hadrianus). It was built to commemorate the visit of Hadrian, one of the five great Roman emperors (known as the five good emperors or adopted emperors), to Antalya. Emperor Hadrian travelled frequently during his reign and visited many places in Anatolia. It is obvious that this gate is the most beautiful gate in Pamphylia.
The reason why it is popularly called "Three Gates" is that the gate has three arched openings. It is also known as the "Marble Gate". On either side of the gate is a tower known to date from the same period. The tower to the south of the gate is known as the Julia Sancta Tower and has stood since it was built. The lower part of the tower to the north dates from ancient times, while the upper part was rebuilt during the reign of Alaaddin Keykubat I and thus bears Seljuk traces.
2. Antalya Ethnographic Museum
The Ethnographic Museum is 450 metres from the RuinAdalia. You should discover this museum that reveals the values of Kaleici. Moreover, the entrance to the Ethnographic Museum is free of charge. When you stroll through the streets of Kaleiçi, the feeling of history will lead you towards the museum. This is because in the museum you will find a lot about the culture and human life in Antalya.
The museum consists of 2 separate villas. You can start your tour in the villa at the top first. These two buildings, divided into the Lower and Upper Mansions, date from the 19th century and were built in classical Ottoman architecture. The lower villa is number 1 and the upper villa is number 2.
The house with the number 1, i.e. the lower house, contains Turkish-Islamic artefacts. In this section, where the tiles in particular attract attention, various tile works from the Seljuk to the Ottoman period are exhibited. The artefacts from the Kaleiçi excavations are also found in this section. On the second floor of this lower house, number 1, various weapons, pistols, seals, clocks and more are on display.
3. Marina of Kaleiçi
The marina of Kaleiçi is 650 m away from the RuinAdalia and offers a fascinating walk. When you reach the seafront of Kaleiçi, you are at the most historic point of this town built on the cliffs. It is known that there was a pirate port here in ancient times called Korykos. Korykos, which remained in the dusty pages of history, has been replaced by the modern Antalya of the 2000s and has created a marina that is fun to visit both by day and by night.
The marina is the place to go for a nice dinner under the watchful eye of the historic walls and an authentic Mediterranean menu. You can enjoy fresh seafood in the delicious restaurants of Kaleiçi.
Another activity you can do in the marina is to take part in boat tours. Daily or hourly boat tours give you the opportunity to view Antalya and the cliffs from the sea. You can get information from the boats in the marina, check the fees and the programme of the boat.
The most charming structure in the marina is undoubtedly the Iskele Mosque (İskele Mosque), built in a hexagonal layout. This charming mosque from 1903, one of the last buildings from the Ottoman period, was built by Kenan Pasha, one of the Bedirhan Paşazades, the Mutasarrı of Teke. The wooden minaret, as small as it is, adds a special touch to the marina with its cute and authentic look.
