The Antalya Archaeological Museum is one of Turkey’s largest museums, located in Antalya. It includes 13 exhibition halls and an open air gallery. It covers an area of 7,000 m2 (75,000 sq ft) and has 5000 works of art are exhibited. In addition a further 25,000–30,000 artifacts which cannot be displayed are in storage. As a museum exhibiting examples of works, which illuminate the history of the Mediterranean and Pamphylia regions in Anatolia, Antalya Museum is one of the most important of Turkey’s museums. The Museum won the “European Council Special Prize” in 1988.
At the end of the World War I, during the time when Antalya was under the Italian military occupation, Italian archeologists started to remove the archeological treasures that had been found in the center or the surroundings to the Italian Embassy, which they claimed to do in the name of civilization. To prevent these initiatives, Süleyman Fikri Bey, the Sultan’s teacher, applied to the Antalya post and jurisdiction of the provincial Governor in 1919 and had himself appointed as voluntary curator of antiquities and first tried to establish the Antalya Museum by collecting what remained in the center.
The museum at first operated in the Alâeddin Mosque in 1922, then in Yivli Minare Mosque beginning from 1937, and then moved to its present building in 1972. It was closed to visitors for a wide range of modifications and restorations in 1982. It was reorganized according to a modern approach for a museum and opened to the public in April 1985, after the restorations and display arrangements made by the General Directorate of Ancient Objects and Museums.
Roman Dancer at Antalya Archaeological Museum
Bronze age burial practice around here (for some): in a big amphora jar
Three Graces in Antalya Archaeological Museum
I liked it so much I went back a second time. Lots to see, good audio tour, well labelled exhibits particularly the sarcophogus.
real museum, i liked it much, the history is protected very professional…
So much to see! Well curated, in pleasant surroundings, and includes a beautiful park filled with artifacts. Allow a full day!
You can see the recently reunited Hercukes full statue, as it was returned from the US after been stolen out of Turkey many years ago. It is a reach museum having artifacts from all of Likia, an ancient Anatolian people predating the Hellens.
Good place to start before visiting Perge and Side. We'll lay out, informative, god chronological order. Some impressive pieces of status and exhibits
We had limited time to visit this museum, and wished we could have spent a few hours there. We were very impressed with the quality of the exhibits which had been collected from places we had visited previously in the area so that was good. The statues and tombs collection was amazing. We also appreciated the English language guide and…
The Antayla museum is one of the best I have ever visited. Offering a vast array of different artifacts from 4000bc present day. For 15TL each, the museum is one of the best value attractions around Antayla.
Antalya museum is small but perfectly formed. It covers a wide range of history dating back to pre-historic finds. The artifacts and displays are well laid out and there is plenty of information available. The hall of the giants (a display of huge statues of legendary figures and gods of the pantheon) is truly magnificent. The museum is open 6…
Informative displays of things excavated from many local sites. Nice garden area.
Walk 20 minutes west along the tram track from the old city to the last stop. Lovely views over the sea to mountains (snow capped in April) on the way. Take the tram back if you need to.
The museum's location close to the beach, parks and set in pretty well maintained grounds. Beautifully displayed exhibits representing the area from earliest pre-historic times to more recent days. The Hall of Statues is stunning and the sacaphogus hall astounding.
Be prepared to spend several hours here. Also take the time to plan to visit the sites many of these…