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Antalya - Ancient Greek Attalia - city and Mediterranean port, lies in south-western Turkey. The city is located in the west of the Mediterranean region. In ancient times it covered all Pamphylia that means "the land of all tribes". The land really deserves the name since it has witnessed many successive civilizations throughout history.

The Hitites, who are believed to have come to Antalya from the Caucasus and Mesopotamia, exercised sovereignty over Antalya during the years 2500-1400 B.C. Historical maps of the region during that years show that the Kingdom of the Hitites encompassed Antalya.

The tribes that came from Trakya during the 8^th and 7^th centuries B.C. put an end to the Hitite Civilization, and the city-states of Pamphylia, Lycia and Cicilia were founded. Today's province of Antalya entirely covers Pamphylia, while parts overlap into southern Pisidya, western Cicilia and eastern Lycia.

Attalia, the ancient name of Antalya, is derived from that of the Pergamon king Attalos II Philadelphus, who founded the city on the Pamphylian seacoast around 150 BC. The settlement of Antalya and its environs stretches back to the dawn of humanity however as attested to by Paleolithic finds discovered in the near by Karain and Beldibi caves and Early Bronze Age finds discovered at Semahöyük. Today it is part on Turkey's "Gold Coast", an exquisite land of sun, sea, and history.

It is know that it was visited by St. Paul by way of Perge in 46 A.D., that it was an important trading centre in the 2^nd century A.D. and that the Emperor Hadrian's visit in 130 A.D. was commemorated with new monuments. After Antalya was annexed to Turkish held lands by the Seljuk Sultan Giyaseddin Keyhusrev in 1207, the area witnessed another great period of development and was adorned with works of Seljuk architecture, some of which can still be seen today.

Although Ottoman sultan Bayezid I occupidied it first in 1391, its incorporation into the Ottoman Empire was delayed until the late 15^th century because of the disruption caused by the invasion of Timur (Tamerlane). In the tripartite agreement of 1917 for the post war division of the Ottoman Empire among Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, Italy claimed Antalya and its hinterland. Italian troops occupied the district in 1919 but were driven out in July 1921 by Turkish nationalist forces.

Today the tourists have taken over the attractive Mediterranean location. Easily accessible via an international airport, the town is also the economic centre of a rich, agricultural Region. The most significant cinematic event in Turkey, the "Golden Orange Film Festival", has established itself in Antalya.

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