Perge

Perge was the principal city of Pamphylia and it is one of the most legible Roman sites in Turkey, because the main elements survive at full scale. The colonnaded main street runs several hundred metres from the Hellenistic gate to a nymphaeum at the foot of the acropolis, and down its centre is a water channel stepped so the water ran in small falls the length of the street - the paving, column bases and shopfronts on both sides are largely in place. The Hellenistic gate with its two round towers, the later Roman gate court, the agora with its central rotunda, the palaestra and the baths with their pools and hypocaust floors visible all stand nearby, and outside the walls is a stadium seating over ten thousand, among the best preserved in Anatolia, with vaulted chambers under the seating that served as shops. Much of the sculpture found here is in the Antalya Museum. There is essentially no shade.

What you actually see

• The colonnaded street - the water channel running down its centre.
• The Hellenistic gate - the round towers and gate court.
• The stadium - vaulted shop chambers under the seating.
• The baths - pools and hypocaust floors exposed.

When to go

April to June and September to October, in the morning. The site is flat, open and completely unshaded; summer midday here is dangerous rather than merely uncomfortable.

Honest expectations

No shade at all - bring water and a hat. The site is large and involves a lot of walking on uneven paving. The best sculpture is in the Antalya Museum, not on site.

Nearby

Aspendos and its theatre are east; Kurşunlu waterfall is close, and Antalya is 20 km west.