Antalya is a miracle, a piece of heaven and it’s an affordable one. The “Turkish Riviera” attracts 30% of foreign tourists visiting Turkey and is one of the world’s and the Mediterranean’s leading tourism destinations.
Antalya is in south-west Anatolia, on the Mediterranean Gulf of Antalya, 727 kilometres (452 mi) from Istanbul.
The Taurus mountain range of southern Anatolia runs parallel to the Mediterranean in an east-west direction, resulting in the formation of narrow coastal plains surrounded by mountains on three sides and the sea on the fourth. Some parts of the coast feature mountains plunging sharply into the sea, forming small natural bays and peninsulas. The area is shielded from the cold northerly winds by the Taurus Mountain range, having a characteristically Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and mild and rainy winters. Around 300 days of the year are sunny; the sea temperature ranges between 15 °C (59 °F) during winter and 28 °C (82 °F) during summer, the air temperature can climb as high as 40 °C (104 °F) in July and August.
Kemer to the south west is a touristic sea side region popular with the historical places, night life and hotels which is half an hour (about 43 kilometers) from Antalya city.
Kemer was called Eski Köy (old village) a 23 km (14 mi) long stone wall was built to channel the mountain stream water and protect the town from flooding, which until then had been a persistent problem. The name Kemer refers to those walls.
Until the 1960s there was no coast road and the district was accessible only by boat. Then a road was built and from the 1980s onwards this was followed by a great investment in infrastructure, planned by the state and funded by the World Bank, aimed at developing a large tourist trade.
Kemer has 4 municipalities: Beldibi, Çamyuva, Göynük, Tekirova and 4 villages.
I spent ten lovely days at Greenwood Resort in June 2009. Having the Taurus mountains on one side and the Mediterranean sea at the other, it’s an incredible feeling. And I was charmed by the Turkish people, they are incredibly warm and friendly, always smiling, willing to communicate and help when it’s necessary.
Antalya it’s a perfect spot for a perfect vacation.
More photos @Antalya, Kemer, Göynük and Greenwood Resort, Goynuk, Kemer, 2009
Greenwood Resort – official site
