Sıde

Introducing Sıde

If it were possible for a town to have an identity crisis, the small city of Side (see-deh) would undoubtedly be among the afflicted. After all, it wasn’t long ago that Side was essentially thought of as a worn-out fishing village, with little more to boast about than a passable stretch of beach and a decent collection of Hellenistic ruins. But things have changed, big-time. Side today is the sort of flash Mediterranean resort town that many intrepid travellers love to hate.

Having long ago deserted its principle industry, fishing, Side has embraced tourist harvesting with a vengeance. An astoundingly large number of souvenir shops have monopolised the city’s main drag, as well as each and every alley intersecting it. You may assume that in-your-face capitalism is the name of the game here, 24 hours a day.

Yet the experience of entering Side by car or bus, and watching from the window as Roman ruins nearly 2000 years old fly by, is simply unforgettable. So is the almost indescribable feeling you’ll get in the pit of your stomach as you approach the Temple of Apollo around dusk, with waves crashing just a stone’s throw away.

Last updated: Oct 3, 2008