Antalya was founded by King Attalus of Pergamon, and the city's original name, Attaleia, derives from its founder. The city faced constant pirate raids until the Roman period. In 25 BC, Attaleia became the capital of Pamphylia.
During the Roman era, the city walls were significantly expanded. Emperor Hadrian visited the city in AD 130, and the famous 'Hadrian's Gate' was constructed to commemorate this historic visit. Attaleia was rebuilt during the Byzantine period. The Seljuk Turks took control of the city in 1207, followed by the Ottomans in 1391.
The Roman-era city walls, Hadrian's Gate, the historic Kaleiçi district, the 13th-century Seljuk Yivli Minaret (Fluted Minaret), and the Antalya Museum are essential sites worth visiting.
Antalya Museum ranks among Turkey's most important museums, housing artifacts spanning from the Paleolithic Age through the Ottoman era.