Syedra Ancient City

The ancient city is within the borders of Seki Village, at the 20th kilometer of the Alanya-Gazipaşa highway. In order to reach the Ancient City of Syedra, it is necessary to enter Seki Village on the left after passing Kargicak on the way to Gazipaşa from the direction of Alanya. Most of the 3 km road from here to the ancient city is asphalt. You can go up to the car park of the ancient city of Syedra by car. From here, it is necessary to climb the stairs a little to the ancient city.

At the end of the excavations carried out by the Alanya Archeology Museum, the history of the city dates back to BC. It is thought to date back to the 7th century. The city, which continued its existence until the 13th century, is entered through the monumental gate that is still standing. The name of the city, which preserves its importance as the western border of the Cilicia Region, in ancient times, Syedreon, appears for the first time on the coins minted in the city's name during the reign of Roman Emperor Tiberius.

There are 2 main streets that seem parallel to each other in the ancient city of Syedra. When planning to visit the city, you should plan it in 3 levels. Artifacts found on the first street (this section is not very well cleaned, the roads are paths and not very clear.) Southeast Temple, South Necropolis, Parliament Building, Southwest City Gate, West Street, Spring Cave, Great Cisterns, West City Gate, Basilka and Baptism Cave . On the upper level, there is the Colonnaded Street, the Great Bath, the Mausoleum, and the Church. On the hill is the Acropolis. The ancient city of Syedra is surrounded by walls.

The Roman Emperor Septimus Severus wrote a letter of thanks to the city, which did not participate in the revolts against the Roman Empire in the region and took a stand on the side of the empire. This letter, written on a marble block, was exhibited on the colonnaded street in the ancient city of Syedra. Today, this letter is exhibited in Alanya Archeology Museum. Again in the Antalya Museum, on the floor of the hall where the bronze Heracles Statue is exhibited, mosaics from the Roman period unearthed from the Ancient City of Syedra are exhibited. The subject of these mosaics is the scene of abduction of Hylas by the water nymphs in mythology.

Entry to the site is free. This Ancient City, which has survived for years, is a structure worth seeing. You will be immersed in the magical atmosphere of history while visiting the Ancient City with its traces from the past to the present.

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