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ISPARTA
Area: 8.933
km²
Isparta is a province that placed at the Mediterranean Region,
and famous with lakes, roses and rugs. Antic cities, national
parks, and caves are places to be seen in province.
 Yalvaç
Museum
With more than its share of history, the town of Yalvaç has a
beautiful museum in which the artifacts recovered from
excavations in the area are displayed.
The archeological and ethnographical items here date back to
the pre-historic era. The museum is open 7
 days
a week between 08.00-16.30.
The Ancient
City of Antioch
Antiocheia is was founded about 1 km north of Yalvaç in the
province of Isparta on a fertile area lying along the southern
slopes of the Sultan Mountains. It was the capital city of the
Pisidia and a Seleucid colony like Apollonia. It was built
between 281-261 BC by Seleucus's son Antiocheia and named "Antiocheia"
in his honor.
In 25 BC with the selection of Pisidia as the site of Rome's
first and biggest military colony, the city was rebuilt by
emperor Augustus. Augustus brought 3000 soldiers from Rome and
settled them here in Antiocheia. The city was given the name
"Seven boroughs" and in Latin texts it is referred to as "Res
Gestae." For this reason the ancient Roman city and Antiocheia
are sister cities with an important place in history.
At this time, there were inscriptions in Antiocheia of two
Lefro (V-VII). In the Roman era, the city had, according to
inscriptions, a population of over 100,000 people. The
official language was Latin but the population at large spoke
Greek. In the early part of Emperor Period of Rome the city
was rebuilt according to a ordered city plan and many
buildings both religious and civil were constructed.
The Sections of
the City
 The
main entrance to the city is via the Western Gate. Cardo
Maximus, the main street has narrow but straight side streets
leading into it. The city is made up of two main squares (Augustus
and Tiberius). These are located in the eastern section or
main part of the city.
The city walls of Antiocheia total around 3000 meters. Built
in the Hellenistic era, these magnificent walls were expanded
and repaired during the Roman and Byzantine periods. The
Western Gate, which guards the entrance to the city, is
decorated with reliefs of shields and weapons of war and
symbolized the might of the city. The grand Temple of Augustus,
which crowns the city's sacred high place, makes the presence
of the sacred powers felt in an almost tangible way with its
consummate architectural style. The propylon (Memorial
Entrance 1st century AD) is situated at the nexus of the
Square of Augustus and the Square of Tiberius. The Square of
Tiberius (15-40 AD) is located to the east of the Street of
Columns, one of the city's most important sections. In the
gallery where the shops were located quite a lot of glass,
pottery and bronze items have been recovered. The ancient
theater was built on the slope of a hill quite close to the
city center. The theater is composed of three main parts and
unlike most theaters of the day, has a tunnel 56 meters long
and 8 meters wide. Decorated with many fine reliefs, the
theater's estimated capacity was 5000 people.
The Roman Baths (1st-2nd century AD) located in the
northwestern corner of the city, was constructed in a style
reminiscent of the prevailing architectural style. In the
baths are the cool, warm and hot sections as well as dressing
rooms, water jugs and storage areas.
The Stadium, which sits up on the foothills of the Sultan
Mountains west of the acropolis, was built during the
Hellenistic period. It is 190 meters long and 30 meters wide.
This structure which once hosted sports activities such as
wrestling and boxing, was destroyed by fanatics. At one time
the scene of combat for gladiators and wild animals, the
stadium is wrapped in the glory of old Rome.
The church of St. Paul, which is enormously important for
tourists of the Christian faith, is the first and biggest
church in Antiocheia. It is located 200 meters south of the
Roman Baths. It is a basilica. Researchers at the site have
discovered a smaller church constructed much earlier than the
present one. The mosaics which adorn the floor and the column-lined
wall are quite impressive. Underneath the smaller church the
remains of a synagogue have been discovered. There are
numerous graves and skeletal remains within the church. The
name of Optimus, an Orthodox leader who was the bishop of
Antiocheia between 375-381 AD, can be found among the
inscriptions in the church.
In 46 AD, accompanied by Baranabas, St. Paul gave his first
sermon in the synagogue discovered underneath the church. The
church was the scene of many more sermons given by famous
saints visiting the site.
The aqueducts which have come to symbolize the city, were
built in the Roman era. Stretching all along the northern side
of the city, the aqueduct brought water from a source 10 km
away. These aqueducts, which brought the life-giving water to
the city, stand erect today in obstinate defiance of the
ravages of time and war.
The Sacred Site
of Men
 Men
is the ancient moon God of Anatolia which was worshipped as
far back as the 3rd millenium BC and who occasionally graced
the coins minted in the area.One of the Men cult's most
important centers, the ancient city of Antiocheia is adorned
with many structures dedicated to the Men god. The Sacred site
of Men is located 5 km from Yalvaç. The temple can be dated
back to the 4th century BC. In addition to the temple, there
are 2 churches,a stadium and residential dwellings.
Limenia Island
 Located
25 km from Yalvaç, this island in the middle of Lake Hoyran is
an unique historical site awash with the mysticism of the past.
Walls encircle the island. The location and architectural
style of the Rock Tombs carved into the rocky slopes of the
island never fail to attract the visitor's attention. Another
historically important site on the island is the Monastery
dedicated to Mary.
St. Paul Church (Yalvaç): It is one kilometers north of
Yalvaç province, and within Pisidia Antiocheia Antique City.
It is the first big church of the city, and adjacent to the
city ramparts and 200 meters south of Roman Hamam. Bassilical
planned structure, which is one of the first Christian
churches, is constructed on a synagogue.
St. Paul church, which is within Yalvaç Antiocheia antic city
had taken its name from city visitor St. Paul. After St. Paul
had gained to be a citizen of Roma, he had been Baptist by
Saul and Hanania, and gained Paul name. St. Paul, together
with Saint Barnabas, had come to the city on 46 A. D., and
gave his first official sermon in a synagogue in this city.
After this visit, due to two more visits of St. Paul to this
city, it gained an importance for both church and Antiocheia
Christianity world.
 Eðirdir
Lake: it takes place in either the borders of Isparta
province and Lakes region, and it is one of the most important
lakes of both. It is 4th biggest lake of Türkiye with 517
kilometre square surface area. Lake separated to two sections.
Little one that placed at north side section called as Hoyran
Lake, the section placed at south called Eðirdir Lake. Each
two sections connected with Hoyran throat.
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