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
The museum is very close to the city center. Eveery taxi driver may know where it is.The collection contains one of the silver treasure which is unbelievable.This collection was re gained from international burglars. You can also see marble statues.
Many statues, old coins, pots.
The entrance can be hard to find from the bus stop because it's right around the other side. When we approached it, we had to walk all the way around the perimeter because you can only get in on one side of the building.
Excellent museum. Recommend the audio-guide as it is very informative. The sarcophagi are amazing and all the statues from Perge. The garden area is nice too.
My wife and I visited the Museum in May, catching the tram from the city centre to the entrance. Quite by accident, we visited in reverse chronological order, not that it mattered. Firstly, it is beautifully laid out with explanations in Turkish and English, but there are no overwhelming information boards which you get at some museums. It is all…
This is one place not to be missed, one of the best displayed museums we have ever visited, we did not allow ourselves enough time and could have spent at least three hours there
Go. Enjoy. Let the history flow over you. Finally figure out how the Hittites, the Seljuks, the Byzantines and the Ottomans fit in your historical timeline. Oh, and yes, there are the Greeks and the Romans and Persians. What a remarkable place. Well done, Antalya.
I visited this museum in January/February 2011 and I will be going back there early next year. I has an exceptional collection of artifacts which are displayed in the most professional and artistic way so that all are easily appreciated. I also appreciated the freedom to take photographs. All the staff were most helpful. I went twice on last trip…
There is an entrance fee to go inside the museum , but the garden and cafe and gift shop are free . The view of the sea from the terrace outside the shop is wonderful . Also lots of pieces of mainly Roman carved stonework are dotted amongst the trees . Go explore
Beautiful sculptures, well mantained museum. A gem of a place.
Some ancient items typical of the region are housed here.