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 is an amazing museum. There are so many 2nd century Roman marble statues and sarcophagi, it is unbelievable that all of this was found in Perge. After seeing the museum, it is imperative that you go to Perge to see where it all came from.
A approximately a year ago I was able to visit the museum as part of a tour from a cruise. This year I wanted my wife and sister to also see the museum as we were crossing Turkey as part of a land tour.
This museum is well laid out for people in wheel chairs as my wife was using…
Well organized museum and one of the largest in Turkey. It covers the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Roman Age. I personally enjoyed the "Twelve Labors of Hercules" and the "Gallery of the Emperors", magnificent masterpieces. It is a must see!
What a fantastic place! Really well laid-out and a wonderful collection of artefacts. Beautiful garden with pheasants and chickens wandering around. You don't see that at the British Museum!
Visiting this museum gives a tremendous insight into the history and culture of Turkey in general and the south in particular. If you're staying in the Antalya area this is an…
Anatalya Archaeological Museum charges 15 liras to everyone, no exceptions. It has handy lockers outside the entrance. Photography permitted with no flash.
The museum houses artifacts from the vicinity of Antalya (southern Anatolia) and features an impressive collection of sculptures and sarcophogi from the Perge ruins.
The content in the museum is efficient – not too much and good quality…
The museum is really well set out but was full of excellent quality statues and sarcophogi, which isn't really our main interest. We were, however, most impressed by the ancient gaming table.
Good relics, statues, dioramas, costumes etc. Great interpretations for the exhibits. Shown nicely. Not to be missed.
great place to visit – definitely worth putting on list of places. Allow a couple of hours for the trip.
The Antalya museum's highlights are the large number of very well preserved statues and sarcophagi from the excavations at Perge. The museum is still trying to get back from Europe and the USA artifacts that were illegally smuggled out of the country. This outstanding and accessible museum is very well worth a visit.
The museum has amazing statuary from Perge and other sights. The statues are in excellent condition. There is even a sarcophogus for a dog!