Kaleiçi, historical center of Antalya, Turkey
Kaleiçi is the old town of Antalya located in the Muratpaşa district, featuring narrow winding streets lined with historic buildings in pink, yellow, and beige tones from various periods. The area contains traditional houses with wooden balconies and red-tile roofs, small shops and cafes, and remnants of fortification walls, while the harbor area adjacent to the old town remains in use today.
Kaleiçi was once a major harbor area where merchants from different countries traded goods and drove the growth of Antalya. The settlement was shaped by successive cultures - Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans - each leaving architectural and religious marks visible today in preserved ruins of theaters and churches later converted into mosques.
Kaleiçi means 'inner castle' and refers to the settlement that developed within the old fortified walls. Today, both residents and visitors use the winding streets as a living meeting place where cafes, small shops, and artisan goods shape daily life, and the tradition of hospitality remains visible in how locals interact with travelers.
The best time to visit is in spring or fall when the weather is mild and streets are less crowded. Comfortable shoes are recommended since the area is best explored on foot, and most shops, cafes, and landmarks are within walking distance of each other.
Several houses in Kaleiçi have been converted into boutique hotels and guesthouses, allowing visitors to stay directly within the historic setting and experience daily life in the old quarter firsthand. This creates a rare opportunity to feel the continuity of an inhabited old town across centuries.
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