Gazipaşa - An Amazing Hidden Paradise In Antalya

Gazipasha hosts a very rich archeological heritage with ruins of a number of antique cities, castles, monumental tombs and numerous historic structures.

You should walk upwards approximately  55 minutes till summit of hill where the ancient site located. Roman Empire established the Selinus ancient site although Anatolian Seljuk State has also managed the city for a while. Furthermore you will see ruins of basilica and church at the acropol of city. You may also watch the perfect panorama view of Mediterranean at summit of hill. In addition you will notice walls of castle, too.  Furthermore you will see hammam, agora and necropol of Selinus ancient site. Aqueducts and pavilion are constructed at term of Seljuks. The ormanents of mansions are still fine which built in 13th century. You can see the aqueduct which constructed over Selinus river. The tomb of Roman emperor Trajanus is also at necropol of ancient site. You will complete the sightseeing in an hour.

Much of the 50km of coastline in the area consists of clean, wide, sandy stretches, interrupted by rocky stretches with small coves. The main beach in Gazipasa is Selinus Beach, but Koru Beach offers natural ponds, perfect for families or those looking for calmer waters.

The city known as Antiochia ad Cragum was also called Parva Antiochetta or Antioch. The name is derived, as is also the case of other Antiochs, from the name of the Hellenistic ruler - Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who reigned over the state created by the Seleucid dynasty. The term 'ad Cragum' distinguishes this Antiochia from other cities with the same name and comes from the mountain Cragus (Kragos), on the slopes of which it was built.

Antiochia ad Cragum was founded around 170 BC. It is known that at the beginning of the first century BC the city served as a base for dangerous Cilician pirates who terrorised of the merchants in this part of the Mediterranean. The end to the piracy was put by famous Roman commander Pompey the Great, who in 67 BC defeated the bandits in a naval battle near Korakesion (which is now Alanya). Since the first century Ad both the city and the whole of Cilicia were incorporated directly into the Roman Empire.

In the Byzantine period Antiochia had the rank of the bishopric and the names of its five bishops are known. They took part in subsequent councils in Byzantium, from the First Council of Nicaea in 325 to the Fourth Council of Constantinople in 880. In the 12th century the town belonged to the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, and in 1332 it was captured by the knights of the Order of Malta. Finally, in the 15th century, the entire region of Cilicia, along with Antiochia ad Cragum, came under the rule of the Ottoman sultans.

Almost nothing is known about the history of Iotape . The most important information concerning this city is connected with its establishment by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the last king of Commagene from the Armenian Orontid Dynasty. This ruler reigned from 38 to 72 CE, so Iotape developed in the first century CE. The name Iotape comes from the name of the wife of Antiochus IV, Iotapa (gr. Ἰωτάπη), who was also the sister of the ruler. This situation was completely normal in those days, as the parents of Antiochus and Iotapa were also siblings.

It is also known that the city Iotape was mentioned by several writers of the ancient period, including by Claudius Ptolemy - a geographer and astronomer, active in the 2nd century CE, and by Hierocles - a Byzantine geographer, who in the 6th century CE drew up a list of all the cities of the empire. In the Roman period - from the reign of Emperor Trajan to Valerian I (i.e. from the beginning of the 2nd century CE to the middle of the 3rd century CE) - the city minted its coins. Currently, Iotape is known to locals as Aitape or Aidap. Both of these terms are distorted versions of the original name of the city.