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Antalya attracts several visitors with its beautiful natural setting as well as historical riches every year. The bright and attractive combination of the deep blue sea, the sun and the mountains covered with thick layer of trees is not found easily together everywhere. If you are planning your holidays you must consider visiting Antalya. There are regular flights to Antalya and traveling to this beautiful place will not be a problem.

A port, named Attaleia in Antalya used to be surrounded with strong defensive walls made of stones accompanied by a number of gates which could be closed or sealed in case of pirate raids or attacks by invaders. The best out of the lot is the Hadrians Gate The Hadriyanus Kapisi. It is a prodigious monument that has a triple arched portal similar to the typical Roman arches.

Hadrias Gate was built in 130 AD to honor the Emperor Hadrians visit to Antalya. As you reach the gate observe the coffered ceiling over the arches, the impressive columns made from marble among the arches on either side. There was a time when the statues of the Emperors family along with the Emperor himself were situated on top of the gate, but they cannot be seen here today. Legend has it that the three gates were the ones under which the Queen of Saba named Belkis went with her ship loaded with diamonds, while on her way to see Hz. Suleyman King Solomon at Antalya.

Sultan Belkis is believed to have gone under these gates and enjoyed several happy days at the palace situated in Aspendos. For many years the city walls covered the gates and they were not used at all. This seems to be the reason that the gates are intact till date because they were simply not exposed to any force from outside. It is known to be the strongest and grandest gate of Pamphylia. The upper portion consists of three apertures looking like cupolas, and apart from the pillars, the gates are completely made from white marble. The ornamentation is spectacular. The gates originally consisted of 2 storeys however not much is known about the top storey.

On both sides of the Gate are towers. The one located to the southern end is called as the Julia Sancta tower which was built during the Hadrian era. The whole architecture is quite impressive and speaks a lot about the effort that may have gone to build the entire structure.