The ancient ruins of Termessos located about 20 miles north west of Antalya are one of the must-see attractions in this part of Turkey. The town's history is thought to date back at least 3000 years, so don't expect to see too much in the way of standing structures but the large Amphitheatre, which could probably have seated between four and five thousand people, is largely intact and the Hadrian's Gate gives an indication of the pride its past residents had of the place. The location is thought to have been selected on the basis of a former Psidian Fortress which was built high in the hills at the foot of Rose Mountain and survived virtually every attack made on it.

The people who lived here were courageous fighters and fiercely independent and even when the Romans took over much of the area they decided to partner with the city rather than make them subjects of the Roman Empire. Remains of an odean, various temples and a gymnasium can also be seen. There are also a number of cemeteries and large tombs cut into rock faces. It is thought that as many as 150,000 people lived in the town at its peak in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC, but like many places in this part of the world earthquakes have taken their toll on the weaker structures.

Termessos is a quite special place and just to sit in the huge Amphitheatre and wonder was life was like three thousands years ago is well worth the trip from Antalya on its own.