Antalya Museum

Antalya museum was founded in 1922, it has 13 exhibition halls. The museum had announced as the museum of the year in 1988 by the European Council and was won the ‘Excellence Award’ in 2016.

Antalya was the settlement for many rich and productive civilizations throughout history such as Lycia, Pamphylia, Pisidia, and Perge. Perge which has reputation for its mastery of sculptures and statues in the ancient age was in Antalya too. Lycia, Roman, and Byzantine civilizations had lived here and left artifacts behind them like other civilizations too. The museum has been established to gather those ancient cities’ historical and cultural artifacts in the first place.

By the time the archeological excavations move on and the artifacts which were found in Karain Cave "The Neanderthal skeleton", “Elmali coins” which are called the ‘Treasure of the Century’, St Nicholas Church, and Santa Claus Church had been added to the collection. 

Weary Heracles is one of the rare artifacts of the museum, that was made by famous ancient sculptor Lysippos in the 4th century found in Perge.

In the Emperors’ Hall, Roman Emperor's sculptures that were found during Perge's excavations can be seen. Those sculptures are considered masterpieces of Roman art. The Sarcophagi Hall is where you can see ancient wealthy people’s Sarcophagus which are made from Prokennessos and Dokimeion marbles in the Perge workshops in various motifs. In this hall, the Sarcophagus of Domitius, the Heracles Sarcophagus, and the Garland Sarcophagus is the most visited ones.

In the Hall of Coin, Small Artifacts and Icons plus ‘Elmali Coins’ and more can be visited.