Aspendos

Mediterranean, Turkey 2 tours visit here

Aspendos is an ancient city on the Pamphylian plain in Turkey's Mediterranean region, set inland from the coast east of Antalya, beside the river known in antiquity as the Eurymedon. It is best known for its Roman theatre, built in the 2nd century AD and one of the best preserved anywhere: the stage building survives almost to full height, so the auditorium reads as a complete enclosed space rather than a ruin. Capacity is usually given as around 15,000. On the hill behind the theatre lie the remains of the city itself: the agora, a basilica and a nymphaeum façade. The piers and towers of the Roman aqueduct that supplied it still stand in long stretches across the plain. The theatre's condition owes much to later reuse, as the Seljuks repaired it and used it as a caravanserai, which kept it in service and maintained. Most visitors see Aspendos on a day trip from Antalya, Belek or Side, often combined with Perge. The theatre alone takes under an hour; adding the upper city and the aqueduct means an exposed walk with little shade, so early morning or late afternoon suits summer visits. The theatre remains a working venue, hosting opera, ballet and concerts in the warmer months.