46 columns, 2,000 years old, have been re-erected after restoration in the ancient city of Syedra.
The ancient city of Syedra is located between the Alanya district and the Gazipaşa district of Antalya, within the borders of Seki Village.
The studies of the city continue as part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s “Heritage for the Future Project.”
The history of the city dates back to the 9th century BC. Syedra is notable for its theater, assembly hall, baths, infrastructure systems for clean water, pools, cisterns, the Colonnaded Street, and the caves named Source and Baptism.
The Colonnaded Street in the magnificent city center of Syedra, which carries the traces of Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Anatolian Seljuks into the future, takes visitors on a journey through history. On the street, which is about 10 meters wide and 250 meters long, 46 columns that are 2,000 years old have been re-erected after restoration.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ertuğ Ergürer, a faculty member of Alaaddin Keykubat University Faculty of Tourism and the head of the Syedra Ancient City Excavation, stated to AA correspondent that they continue their work in the ancient city, which dates back about 3,000 years, with the permission and support of the General Directorate of Cultural Assets and Museums of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Ergürer noted that the city also stands out with its 164 square meter floor mosaic depicting the 12 tasks of Heracles (Hercules), saying, “The Colonnaded Street in the center of the city is one of the most important and magnificent ruins of the city. We started restoration works in 2023 with the support of our Ministry on the street, most of which was unearthed during the first excavations from 1994 to 1999. In this context, we carried out excavations in the missing sections. The original pavements of the city were completed. Then all the original columns were placed along the road, and the center of the city regained its former glory.”
Emphasizing the tourism potential of the region, Ergürer mentioned that when they started the excavations, guests were impressed to see the Colonnaded Street standing.
Explaining that they uncovered the connection roads during the excavations and connected them to the Colonnaded Street, Ergürer said, “We all appreciate the reactions of the visitors. Those who see the splendor of this city are spreading the word. We can already see that the number of visitors has increased significantly. The tourism potential of the city is emerging.”
Cover Photo: Musa Kart/AA