The last landmark I visited during my trip to the hot Antalya was the amphitheater of the ancient city of Perge. The settlement is located away from the central tourist places, but it is definitely worth coming here to see the ruins of buildings that are almost two thousand years old.
A Bit of History
Many buildings that we can see in Perge today were built in the city in the 2nd-3rd centuries. The theater is no exception: it was built in 170-190. Originally, the building was two-story, and the third level appeared almost immediately after the main work. At the same time, no documents on the construction of the complex were found, and dating was carried out only by comparing the stylistics of the construction with other structures in the region.
The theater in Perge is the third largest among all similar structures in Turkey. Its stage length is 52 meters. The diameter of the orchestra, the platform on which the choir performed, exceeds 16 meters.
Over the long existence of the amphitheater, it has been repeatedly reconstructed and rebuilt. For example, to protect the audience from dangerous fights with wild animals, which were held here in the 3rd century, a parapet was erected in front of the rows of seats.
The configuration of the attraction repeats many other similar buildings. Visitors can climb the spectator stands or, on the contrary, look at them from the side of the stage, perhaps imagining themselves as ancient actors. This spring, I was in the amphitheater of the semi-ruined city of Ephesus, and during my walk through the complex, one of the guests decided to sing. It should be noted that the acoustics of the ancient amphitheater surprised me: the impromptu performance was audible even from the very last rows of the complex.
Cost of Visitation
The attraction is separated from the main walking area of Perge by a roadway, and a separate ticket must be purchased to enter here. I walked here with a museum card for free, but online sources state that in March 2023, the cost of visiting the theater was 100 Turkish liras.
I conclude the series of stories about the sights of beautiful Antalya. After spending several days here, I went to the city of Bodrum to see what remains of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus. But, as they say, that's a completely different story. I will tell you about these places in my future articles.
For now, I suggest you continue exploring ancient landmarks on a virtual tour of Ephesus, which I mentioned earlier.
Have a nice trip!
