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
This museum has a wealth of sculpture, mostly found in Perga, and it was nice to see it in Turkey rather than London, Berlin or Austria….you can easily spend two hours here before you start to glaze over. Easy to get to by tram from the old city.
Generally speaking, museums have a habit of boring the knickers off me. NOT however The Antalya Museum. It is brilliantly laid out, not too big and utterly fascinating. I particularly loved the extraordinary vast, hand carved stone Lycian tombs. If you visit one museum in Turkey, visit The Antalya Archaeological Museum. Plus, the loo's are clean too !
Visited this museum with the family and spent a good 2 hours looking at some excellent and very interesting exhibits. Spacious and well presented with information available for English speakers. Children get in free and the aircon makes it a very comfortable change from the beach.
This museum is full to the brim with amazing artefacts, giant statues and portions of ancient buildings!
If archeology or history is your thing, it's really worth a visit. And, if you tire of the beach and shopping, go check it out. There's a lovely garden full of statues to wander or sit in.
Great museum well laid out and with some very special exhibits, especially the Sarcophagi. Don't miss if you are in Antalya.
ok stay for then left had a bad time geting but no worrys
The museum is very well laid out and the Roman and Greek statues on display are among the best collections in the world. All that and you can items associated with the original Santa Claus who lived locally (St Nicholas of Myra).
Very well-preserved findings from archaeological digs and well-explained exhibitions! Air-conditioned and huge means one could spend an entire afternoon wandering around the museum.
Very interesting displays with well laid out exhibits. Plenty to see with adequate descriptions in English to help with appreciating the displays.
Extensive collection of Roman artefacts. Not expensive and good airco. Surprised by the size of the collection.