Antalya Local Customs

Antalya is a province of festivals.The three most important being the Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival and the new highly successful jazz festival which takes place each year in June.
The Golden Orange short Film Festival and International Film Festival is held throughout October.
Aspendos is unique in Turkey,combining as it does a feast of music with the natural beauty of the immediate sorroundings and man-made magnificence of the Aspendos Theatre.This best preserved Roman amphitheatre in Turkey was used in the 13th century as a Seljuk palace.
Organised by Turkish State Opera and Ballet,this festival is now in its 7-8 years and ttracts large numbers of Turks and holidaymakers from all over the world.
I had been 2 times there for some concerts- I listened to JOSE CARRERAS AND MONTSERRAT CABELLE..lucky me:-)

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It'll take a life time to taste the finest foods of Turkey.Based on the heritage of the vast Ottoman Empire,which extended from the gates of Vienna in the northwest to the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.Turkish cuisine is extremely rich.
The use of fresh materials in the preparition of all these dishes,is the main characteristic of unique taste.Turkey is a country surrounded on three side by sea and is famous for its seafood.While it also has a yearly abudance of fresh fruiý and vegetables.Possibly some you have never tasted before:-)
What you eat in Antalya...
Doner kebap(lamb grilled on a revolving spit)
sish kofte(grilled meatballs)
dolma(stuffed vegetables)
sarma(dish made of rice and meat,wrapped in grape leaves)
imamBAYILDI(dish prepared with eggplant and olive oil)
icli kofte(made of ground meat and pounded wheat)
borek(flaky pastry with thin layers of cheese or other filling)
helva(a sweet prepared in many varieties with sesame oil,various cereals,sugar,syrup or honey
Lokum(turkish delight-a soft,chewy and sweetish confection)
ayran(made of water and yogurt)
and finally RAKI(the indispensable alcoholic drink of pleasant dinners)
after the meal,TURKISH COFFEE...

Goods are still carried on camels in this environment."Yorük" clans(large moving families with blood-connection according to the climate or migratory groups in the south of Turkey) move up the mountain tops in summer,and to the seaside in winter and for this migration they use camels.

Baklava is one of the oldest known Turkish desserts. No meal would be complete without baklava for dessert. It is made of baklava - flaky layers of whisper-thin pastry bursting with pistachios, touched with golden butter, gently enveloped in a honey syrup. No holiday, wedding or dinner party could be considered without it.

Austria: Namik Kemal Bulvari No:18
Tel: +90 242 345 18 00

Belgium:
Tel: +90 242 244 68 33
Fax: +90 242 242 35 77

Danmark: Konyaalti Cad. 19/A
Tel:+90 242 241 62 86
Fax:+90 242 241 43 16

England: -
Tel:+90 242 244 53 13
Fax:+90 242 243 20 95

France: Kazim Özalp Cad. No:55
Tel:+90 242 242 07 50
Fax:+90 242 248 42 97

Germany : Yesilbahçe Mah. 1447 Sok.Gürkanlar Apt.
Tel: +90 242 312 25 35
Fax: +90 242 321 69 14

Norway: -
Tel: +90 242 241 16 22
Fax:+90 242 259 12 37

Russia: Güzeloba Mah. Kirim Sok. B/Blok No:1
Tel:+90 242 349 04 23

Spain: Konyaaltý Cad. Sitki Göksoy Apt. 40/26
Tel: +90 242 241 77 70
Fax: +90 242 241 77 74

Sweden: Konyaalti Cad No:78
Tel:+90 242 248 90 61
Fax:+90 242 241 52 22

Switzerland: -
Tel:+90 242 243 16 66
Fax:+90 242 247 36 66

When walking down the street you may be approached by shop owners offering you items and inviting you in to their shops.

If you want to say no, don't say 'no' or 'hayir' (Turkish). The Turkish make a clicking noise with their tongue to say 'no' in this situation.

Try this and they will probably leave you alone.

Locals tend to invite visitors or just strangers from the street for a cup of tea or coffee. Been told that it's not polite to refuse. It was quite a challange to drink 20 (and after 20 I lost count) cups of tea in 2 hours. Though apple tea tastes really good.

Sweets have always been an important for the Turkish people.
"Lukum" sweet is made of sugar syrup, various flavorings, nuts and dried fruits. It is known in the West as "Turkish Delight".
Turkish Delight are served with dark coffee and served at the end of a meal.