Going Back Through Time in Aspendos
As a previous Greek and Roman colony, Asia Minor and Central Anatolia are rich and have abundant of ruins and historical sites that represent the peak of Ancient Greek and Roman civilization or so-called Greco Roman period.
One of the most popular ones is, of course, Ephesus, currently in modern-day Selcuk Town in Turkey. But I won't talk about it now, instead, I want to show you an ancient site that surely pretty amazing but caught less attention from the tourist crowd. Even though it actually holds the best preserve Greco Romain Theather in all Roman colonies in Asia Minor and Anatolia. The place called Aspendos.
Typically, one day tour to Aspendos is about 50-100 Euro which is quite steep for a mere backpacker like me. So I decide to go there on my own, I heard it can be quite tricky but possible.
Aspendos is reachable from Antalya, a big bustling city on the Turkey Mediterranean coastline. It is actually not that far as it only around 50-60 km from Antalya. But the location is out of the main highway, in the middle of a farm field and villages, therefore there is no direct transportation to go there.
In order to reach Aspendos, I go to Serik first, the closest town before Aspendos. From Serik bus station or Otogar in Turks, I continue to hop to local bus number 10 that will bring me directly to the site entrance. But be ready to wait for quite a while if you miss the bus as it only runs once every hour and to make things "better", there's no exact schedule or timetable that you can rely on.
But the trip was surprisingly paid off. The travel was smooth, the site is amazing and very authentic. Although it may cost me six hours includes a return trip to go there without a tour, yet it is indeed worth every minute to "waste" for. Hard work didn't lie LOL
It is the only Greco Roman Theather in Asia that still have the facade wall intact.
It may be the smaller compared to Ephesus, but still, it can accommodate no less than 15.000 people.
Intricate back alley for a smooth transfer of the spectators between sections around the theater.
A VIP seats or deluxe box at its time, dedicated to nobles and the highest rank in Ancient Rome social ladder.
The best seat with a great view in the middle of the theater.
A ruin of ancient Stadium now lies in the middle of a lemon field.
A ruin of ancient Basilica.
Aspendos Aqueduct, Ancient Roman engineer's use this structure to transport water from the mountain down to the city below. It can stretch miles and miles long and it is considered as a sophisticated technology of its time.
A ruin of Agora or central market in Ancient Roman.
Aspendos is one of the greatest examples of Greco Roman city in the region.
Steeping in a ruin as it steeping into time machine :-)