Termessos Ancient CityPlaces to Visit in Antalya

Situated in the Antalya province of Turkey, Termessos stands out as a remarkable archaeological site and is considered one of the most well-preserved ancient cities in the country.

Perched on Güllük Mountain, Termessos is often called the "Eagle’s Nest" because it is located across two peaks at an elevation of 1050 meters.

The ancient city of Termessos is nestled within dense forests and rich vegetation, featuring numerous well-preserved monuments such as defensive walls, temples, a necropolis, an agora, gymnasiums, bouleuterions, and five water cisterns. Among these, the ancient theatre of Termessos stands out as one of the most spectacular historic theaters worldwide.

The inhabitants of Termessos, who identified themselves as the Solyms according to ancient inscriptions, spoke a variant of the Pisidian dialect, which was widely used by various communities across Anatolia long before it became the city’s predominant language.

Once a relatively obscure site, Termessos in Antalya rose to prominence when Alexander the Great besieged the city in 334 BC, ultimately sparing its people and moving on to conquer other settlements. The city flourished through the Hellenistic, Roman, and Christian periods, although details about its later history remain limited. Notable for its impressive acropolis and theatre, Termessos continues to attract historical interest.

The archaeological site of Termessos is recognized as one of Turkey’s exceptional universal treasures and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2000.