[lwptoc]
Antalya is the capital of its namesake province and Turkey’s eighth most populated city. Antalya, located on Anatolia’s thriving southwest coast and bounded by the Taurus Mountains, is the biggest Turkish city on the Mediterranean coast, with a population of over one million people.
Antalya was founded approximately 200 BC by the Attalid dynasty of Pergamon, which was quickly conquered by the Romans. Antalya flourished under Roman domination, with the creation of various new structures, including as Hadrian’s Gate, and the spread of nearby towns. The city has changed hands multiple times, notably in 1207 to the Byzantine Empire and in 1391 to the rising Ottoman Empire. For the following 500 years, Ottoman authority offered relative peace and stability. In the aftermath of World War I, the city was assigned to Italian suzerainty, but was regained by a newly independent Turkey during the War of Independence.
Antalya, situated on the Turkish Riviera, is Turkey’s largest international sea resort. Tourism has benefited from large-scale development and government investment. In 2014, the city had a record 12.5 million visitors.
The 2015 G-20 meeting was held in Antalya. It is presently holding the 2016 EXPO.