Antalya, located on the southwestern coast of Turkey along the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the country’s most historically rich and culturally significant cities, with a history stretching back more than 2,000 years. The area was inhabited as early as the Paleolithic era, but the city itself was founded in the 2nd century BCE by King Attalus II of Pergamon, who named it Attaleia. According to legend, the king ordered his men to find “heaven on earth,” and they chose this location for its stunning harbor and fertile lands. In 133 BCE, Attaleia became part of the Roman Republic and flourished as a major port city, serving as a vital gateway for trade and military operations in the eastern Mediterranean. The Romans built aqueducts, baths, and city walls, and in 130 CE, Hadrian’s Gate was constructed to honor Emperor Hadrian’s visit. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395 CE, the city became part of the Byzantine Empire and developed into an important Christian center, fortified against Arab raids. In the early 13th century, Antalya was conquered by the Seljuk Turks under Sultan Kayqubad I, who expanded the walls, built mosques, and improved the harbor. The city came under Ottoman control in 1391 and remained a small but significant coastal hub for trade and agriculture. During the late Ottoman period, Antalya was home to Turks, Greeks, Jews, and Armenians, but the early 20th century brought great change with the fall of the empire, the Greco-Turkish War, and the population exchanges between Greece and Turkey. In the Republican era, particularly from the 1970s onward, Antalya transformed into one of Turkey’s leading tourist destinations, attracting visitors with its historical landmarks, mild Mediterranean climate, and stunning beaches. Today, the old town of Kaleiçi preserves much of the city’s ancient and medieval charm with narrow cobblestone streets, Ottoman-era houses, and remnants of Roman and Byzantine fortifications, while nearby archaeological sites such as Perge, Aspendos, and Termessos showcase the region’s importance in antiquity.