Attalia was founded as a seaport in the 2nd century BCE by Attalus II Philadelphus, a king of Pergamum. It was bequeathed to the Romans by his successor, Attalus III Philometor Euergetes. St. Paul, the Apostle, and St. Barnabas embarked from the seaport on their evangelical mission to Antioch. The “Hadrian Gate,” a marble portal of three identical arches, was built to commemorate a visit by the emperor Hadrian in 130 CE.

During the Middle Ages the city was a Byzantine stronghold and an important embarkation point for troops going to Palestine during the Crusades. It was captured by the Turkish Seljuq ruler Kay-Khusraw in 1207 and soon became the most important town and port of the region. Although it was first occupied by the Ottoman sultan Bayezid I in 1391, its incorporation into the Ottoman Empire was delayed until the late 15th century because of the disruption caused by the invasion of Timur (Tamerlane). In the tripartite agreement of 1917 for the postwar division of the Ottoman Empire among Italy, France, and the United Kingdom, Italy claimed Antalya and its hinterland. Italian troops occupied the district in 1919 but were driven out in July 1921 by Turkish nationalist forces.

Antalya is one of the most attractive city of Mediterranean coast of Turkey.The city itself is a great base for all types of  holiday  activities.Antalya offers famous Turquoise coastline enriched and blended with   history and culture.