The road which turns to the South in the 72 nd kms from Antalya to Alanya, reaches to Side, one of the most famous tourism, after 6 kms. Side is located on a peninsula penetrating into the Mediterranean. It was one of the important civilizations and has become one of Turkey's major holiday centers with charming natural and historical heritage, great shopping facilities and enjoyable nightlife with quality restaurants, bars and discos.

           

Side, ancient Pamphylia's largest port, is situated on a small peninsula extending north-south into the sea.

Strabo and Arrianos both record that Side was settled from Kyme, city in Aeolia, a region of western Anatolia. Most probably, this colonization occurred in the seventh century B.C.. According to Arrianos, when settlers from Kyme came to Side, they could not understand the dialect. After a short while, the influence of this indigenous tongue was so great that the newcomers forgot their native Greek and started using the language of Side. Excavations have revealed several inscriptions written in this language. The inscriptions, dating from the third and second centuries B.C., remain undeciphered, but testify that the local language was still use several centuries after colonization. Another object found in Side excavations, a basalt column base from the seventh century B.C. and attributable to the Neo Hittites, provides other evidence of the site's early history. The word "side" is Anatolian in origin and means pomegranate

    

Next to no information exists concerning Side under Lydian and Persian sovereignty. Nevertheless, the fact that Side minted its own coins during the fifth century B.C. while under Persian dominion, shows that it still possessed a great measure of independence.
 

The foundation of Manavgat is not known certain, but estimated at B.C. 200-150. As understood from the early documents, cargo and human transportation had been made on the river, from the very first centuries till recent years. Manavgat has become a village of Turkish Republic at 1913. 

   

The town Manavgat, which is 76 km far from the province Antalya. was founded on the plain that lies on both sides of the River Manavgat. The city center is 4 km far from the shore of the Mediterranean. The Northern part of the town is bordered by the Taurus Mountains covered with beautiful forests. The river Manavgat, which flows through the town, givesthe plain fertility and richness. The Manavgat Waterfall and its delta are the most important natural richness of the town. The other natural beauties of the region in the South are the Sorgun Forest with pine trees and the lake "Titreyengöl", which was formed by alluvions that filled the delta of the River Manavgat.

In the Northern part of the river Manavgat there is the Lake of Oymapýnar Dam. It was built in the deep valley of the river in the Taurus Mountains. The Dam and its surroundings have a unique beauty. The region is one of the places for Jeep Safaris the plain of Manavgat, which is 2500 m2. is the most fertile plain of the province Antalya and is suitable for growing cotton, wheat, barley and 45 different kinds of fruit and vegetables. Fruit and vegetables growing in greenhousees in an important from of farming in the region.

Greenhouse flowering has also improved recently. In the far East of the plain bananas are grown in the gardens. Trout and shrimps are bred in some parts of the river. During the recent years parallel to the growth of tourism, losts of modern hotel motels and holiday villages have been built in the region o Sorgun and Titreyengöl. The history of the town is known to be very old and it is believed that the name Manavgat comesfrom the word "Munouwa" in the old language of luwi, meaning temple of matrilineal Goddess.

The place was supposed to be used as the sacred area of the Antique cities Seleukeia and Side in different periods. 

Return to the junction on the E24 for Beþkonak. From here it is c 23 km to manavgat, a pleasant market town on the Manavgat Çayý, the ancient river Melas, which has the usual complement of shops and banks. On the outskirts of Manavgat a road to the left goes first to (4 km) Manavgat Þelale (Manavgat waterfalls), a beauty-spot much favoured by Turkish as well as foreign visitors. Here under the pine trees, it is possible to enjoy an excellent lunch of freshly grilled trout washed down by a dry white wine. Approximately 3 km further is Þýhlar. From there is is an easy hour's walk to the site of Seleuceia in Pamphylia.