We continue to explore different areas and locations of the magnificent province of Antalya, where you can find thousands of wonders! Both natural and man-made. In previous articles, we moved from the outskirts of the province to the center and today we have come to the area that is called Muratpaşa Center. This is the location from which Antalya as a city and province began its existence. So why is it interesting for life and recreation? Let’s figure it out.

Muratpaşa District: An Overview

Earlier, I wrote that in Turkey, the system of dividing the country and cities into districts is very different from the Soviet one – it is end-to-end. This means that the district is an independent administrative unit, which can be attributed to both the suburbs and the city – for example, Antalya. It turns out that each district is a “city within a city”.

This happened with the location of Muratpaşa, which is both a district of the city and a district of the province. But at the city level, this area turns out to be very large, because it is informally divided into the Center and Lara. These parts are similar in many ways, but there are also differences, which you will learn about by reading the next article, where we will analyze Lara with you. Today we will focus on the Muratpaşa Center part.

But before moving on, it is necessary to give a general description of the area. Firstly, Muratpaşa is the second largest district of the city and province of Antalya – only Kepez, described by us earlier, bypasses it. More than 500,000 sedentary people live in Muratpaşa. This figure more than doubles during the high tourist season. And the season, by the way, lasts 9 months in Antalya. There are 64 microdistricts, 38 of which are located in the Center location, which is still a lot – this is the second.

Muratpaşa was once the outskirts of the city, which we today call Kaleiçi or “Old Town” and covered it in a wide arc – from the east coast to the west. But with the growth of the population and with the emergence of new quarters, this entire part of the city was united into one huge district, which was called Muratpaşa. It turned out to be the same “city within a city”, which I wrote about a little higher.

Muratpaşa is divided into dozens of neighborhoods, which are combined into two conditional locations – Center and Lara. The center is, first of all, the historical and business center of the city, where all the dynamics and activity are concentrated. Lara, on the other hand, was originally a residential area. But “sleeping” in a good sense – about 20 years ago it began to be reconstructed and turned into an elite location where the Turkish elite lives and rests after working days. It is only in recent years that this elite has gradually begun to move to new areas such as Konyaalti and Dosemealti.

Both Muratpaşa as a whole and its Center are located along the first coastline. It borders Konyaalti district to the west, Lara to the east, and Kepez along the northern border. Despite the proximity to the sea, there is practically no direct access to the water, as well as large beaches. Because the coast is rocky and steep, and the undercurrents are very strong and cold. There are special artificial platforms for swimming, but children and those who do not swim well are not recommended to go down into the water here. It is better to drive a couple of kilometers to the beach in Konyaalti.

In terms of real estate, Muratpaşa is the center of Antalya, because it is very heavily built up and equipped, has a developed social, commercial, transport and other infrastructure. You can even say that all roads in Antalya lead to the Center – so from here you can quickly and easily get to any end of the city. And both on their own transport and on public transport. There is an above-ground metro and many buses that run every 5-10 minutes.

Administrative buildings are concentrated here, such as the main office of the Tax Service, the Court, the Migration Service, etc. The area has everything you need to live and work with maximum comfort – from schools and clinics to banks and gyms.

At the same time, the architecture is very diverse – there are both buildings before our era (Roman era), and the most modern residential complexes and business centers. But we will describe all these details during our virtual “walk” through the very heart of fabulous Antalya.

The Old Town

Antalya as a city was founded in 159 BC. Its founder was the Pergamon king Attalus II, who was not very original and named the city in honor of himself – Attalia. Over time, it changed to Antalya or Antalya – both spellings are considered correct today.

Initially, it was just a commercial and industrial port, which then, already in the Roman era, was turned into a military fortress. The fortress is “kale” in Turkish, and people live inside the fortress (“ichi”), which is why this neighborhood was named Kaleichi. Everything is simple and logical.

Since the city was built around the harbor, the old port is the real “heart of Antalya”. It is adjoined by narrow ancient streets, bounded by the very fortress walls that have survived to this day, albeit in their original form. More precisely, in the form of a gate, which is still called Hadrian’s Gate, in honor of the Roman emperor in whose reign they were erected.

In fact, there is a lot of ancient things in Antalya and almost all of it is concentrated in the Old Town. The same Hadrian’s Gate is not just a “gate”, but a whole historical and architectural complex, which has survived to this day in amazingly good condition. This gate connects the Old Town with the central streets of the new city. 5 years ago, the Kaleiçi complex was even awarded for its beauty and preservation. Even earlier, the historical complex received the Golden Apple award – an analogue of the Oscar in the field of tourism.

The buildings here are represented by ancient Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman architecture. There are also ancient churches of different denominations, including the Orthodox. There is a schedule of visits and everyone can visit here. Here, literally every stone at your feet has its own history, dating back to antiquity. The centuries-old walls of the houses are a real historical heritage, protected by the state, as many plaques and protective glasses tell us.

The Kaleici neighborhood is replete with streets, where many cozy colorful shops with a variety of goods are scattered. Especially a lot with souvenirs and Turkish sweets. There are also many small atmospheric restaurants and cafes with both Turkish and foreign cuisine.

Going down from here you can see an incredible view of the old port. It can be considered even better if you order a boat trip on a boat or yacht. I also recommend visiting the local beach – the oldest in the city. Here, some of the sun loungers stand on a wooden platform directly above the water, because there is no smooth descent to the sea. Here you can relax in comfort, with views of the mountains, the sea and historical sights.

Above this beach there is an observation deck with a view of the beach and the entire Old Town. It differs in that the floor there is glass and you seem to hang in the sky over the city – breathtaking!

On the opposite side, the Old Town is approached by promenade, often pedestrian streets. Ataturk Boulevard is considered central in Antalya, but the most favorite for walking is Işiklar, surrounded by palm trees, orange trees, all kinds of flowers and ornamental plants.

There are many cozy cafes and shops, and a little further there are large shopping malls. Due to the abundance of retail outlets, this street is the main place for shopping among the local public, especially among young people. Prices here are very affordable.

The second category of visitors who like to look here is brides, because the “street of brides” adjoins Ishiklar, where there are dozens of wedding shops to choose from. But the grooms often visit another street – “shawarma street”, where there are many restaurants and cafes with both “street” cuisine and traditional Turkish.

Further, the street goes to the tourist center, where there are both historical locations and more modern establishments. You can also ride with a horse-drawn carriage in a beautiful carriage. By carriage, you can also get to special observation platforms, from which you can see literally the whole city, as well as the sea for tens of kilometers.

By the way, in the Kaleichi microdistrict, in the heart of the “Southern Capital”, you can still buy housing. Yes, it is expensive, but it is very prestigious, which is why it is popular with the Turkish elite. This housing is purchased primarily for recreation or for renting to tourists. For permanent life, the Old Town is not very convenient because of the crowds of passers-by and too narrow pedestrian streets. This is primarily a tourist, not a residential complex. People come here on vacation, and not for permanent residence.

The houses here are low-rise or old-style cottages, and the land is very expensive. At the same time, even new houses are often made similar in style to classic Turkish houses, the distinctive features of which are low number of storeys (usually 2 floors), a combination of masonry made of stone and wood (or materials that look similar to them), large windows on the second floor, as well as various carved decorations or colored decorative glass. However, classical standards are now adhered to less and less.

Such a house by the sea will cost 500-800 thousand euros. But why overpay if you can buy more comfortable housing in the neighborhood, also in the center, but at the same time an order of magnitude cheaper with the same footage? We will talk about these locations in the next section.

The “New” Center

Going beyond Kaleiçi, you will most likely find yourself in the large and beautiful Karaleolu Park. In which, by the way, the Russian consulate is located. This park is located on top of a hill that offers a wonderful view of the city.

The park is specially equipped for families with children. There are many playgrounds, simulators, there are two paths – bicycle and pedestrian, which is suitable for jogging – they pass through the Center, connecting the locations of Lara and Konyaalti. There are many cafes and restaurants in the open air. The central locations of the Muratpaşa district are simply a paradise for lovers of walking.

The main shopping center of the city – MarkAntalya – is located in Muratpaşa Center. This is a favorite and one of the largest shopping and entertainment centers in the city. Interestingly, the mirror “tower” of the private Bilim University actually hangs over this mall and actually hangs over it.

Another huge shopping center is being built here, which will soon open its doors to visitors. A historical museum will be built nearby with an exposition of artifacts found during the construction of the same center. All nearby streets are planned to be repaired, landscaped and equipped with urban infrastructure, which will make the area even more attractive, and real estate prices even higher. So, if you are planning to buy a house in this area, then it is better to hurry.

Along the coastline there are many recreation areas, restaurants, cafes, parks, etc. There are also a couple of beaches that are placed on artificial wooden pallets. There is also a third beach, which starts from the hotel “Rixos” and smoothly turns into the beach of Konyaalti – it has a gentle descent to the water and pebbles.

But there is a nuance – it is located below, near the water, and Muratpaşa Center is on the cliff, above. You will have to go down to this beach by a special staircase, by elevator or by transport from Konyaalti. Along the pebble-strewn beach there are many recreation areas with sun loungers, umbrellas and everything you may need for relaxation.

Along the coast you can stroll along the long and wide promenade. One of the most beautiful in Turkey. There are sports and playgrounds, tennis courts, restaurants. In the squares scattered along the embankment, locals have picnics.

At the very top of the district is Atatürk Park with a lake in the center, which is immersed in lush greenery. Concerts, fairs and festivals are often held here. There is a lot of entertainment for both children and adults. On the one hand, the park is bordered by the Meltem microdistrict, and on the other, Konyaalti begins.

This is a comfortable area to live in, with multi-storey modern buildings. It is highly appreciated by sports fans for the largest tennis club in the city with modern courts, where even international competitions are periodically held. There are also basketball and football stadiums, many gyms (including professional ones), swimming pools and much more.

For shopping, many sports shops and other infrastructure are available for maximum comfort for active tourists and locals. There are also sports schools and sections for children and adults. Undoubtedly, this is a paradise for all athletes. The neighboring neighborhoods of Bahçeler, Eldyz, Varlyk and others are also considered prestigious and comfortable for life.

The best locations to stay in

At the end of the article, I will outline the best neighborhoods of the Muratpasha Center district for living, so that you immediately know where to book an introductory tour from the Expert Property agency. These are the microdistricts of Etiler, Varlyk, Meltem, Bahçelievler.

The housing stock here is not new – it is not for nothing that this part of the city is called “old”. However, most of the houses in the central sleeping locations were not built in the time of Hadrian, but a little later – 15-20 years ago. However, Turkey is developing so dynamically that even such houses are already beginning to be demolished under the renovation program in order to make room for the most modern and competitive residential complexes.

The renovation program here was launched more than 4 years ago and now it has reached maximum speed. Not just houses or streets are being reconstructed, but entire neighborhoods at once, building not only new modern housing, but also all the necessary urban infrastructure. Old houses that have no historical value are demolished everywhere, while retaining housing from residents in the same location. Many are trying to cheat and buy old dilapidated housing, in anticipation of renovation, so that after the demolition they will be provided with modern high-quality real estate in the very center of the city.

The Yenigun and Meydankava districts have already been restored. They are located a little further from the sea (2.5 km), but the housing stock here is new, with developed amenities right in residential complexes. There are plenty of swimming pools, underground parking, sauna, sports complexes, etc. Simply put, it’s all-inclusive. There is also security that will protect your peace and property. At the same time, new houses will be 15-20% cheaper than similar ones in Lara or Konyaalti, because they will be farther from the sea.

Inference

Muratpaşa Center is the “heart” of Antalya. It is no longer middle-aged, but very lively and dynamic. There are both old quarters and modern modernized, landscaped and decorated, in which it is convenient to live not only in the tourist season, but all year round.

Nevertheless, the Center has all the same drawbacks as the central streets of any other large city – a lot of people and cars, relatively narrow streets, mixed buildings, where both new houses and old ones (not to be confused with beautiful old ones) are combined, etc. It is good to relax and work here, but still most of the locals prefer to settle in Lara – an inseparable part of the same Muratpaşa district, but much quieter and more cozy. We will talk about it next time.

Yours Tatiana Güneş