Sagalassos
And Its Beautifully Restored Fountain
By Slowtravelguide
Visiting Sagalassos, we were impressed by the location and the scenery, we knew that archaeologists had been working continuously since excavating the site to restore it to its former glory. Yes, a bit of chauvinistic pride comes to my Belgian mind as we appreciate the evolution that has taken place over the years.
Even 1,000-year-old sites keep growing! Archaeologists from the University of Leuven, Belgium, who have been excavating Sagalassos since 1990, have done an excellent job along with local artisans and people from Ağlasun.
You need to see Sagalassos! You will bot be disappointed by the result.
City On Mount Taurus
These locations make visiting an ancient site all the more satisfying. This is certainly true of Sagalassos, perched on a steep hillside, with breathtaking views of a series of valleys and summits that stretch as far as the eye can see. The scenery alone is a reason to drive up the mountain.
However, if you decide to visit Sagalassos, your rewards will go well beyond that! This site deserves the hidden gem tag, probably more than any other site we’ve seen. It is on the tentative list of UNESCO, but we feel it won’t stay there forever and will likely gain World Heritage status within the next few years.
Over time, significant efforts have been made to restore what was the most important city of ancient Pisidia to its former glory.
During your visit, marvel at the former city fair, bordering the rebuilt and functioning Antonine Nymphaeum.
This ornately decorated fountain is the masterpiece of Sagalassos.
Sagalasos With Three Itineraries
Sagalassos is pretty extensive. However, depending on the time you have and your interest, you can choose three different routes throughout the site.
You can choose to walk through Sagalassos for 1 hour to 4 hours depending on the chosen route.
All walks take you past essential landmarks or at least allow you to admire them from a distance.
In addition to Anthony’s Fountain mentioned above, the site includes an Agora, a vast Roman bath, a viewing theatre with a capacity of about 9,000 seats, a collonaded street, several cemeteries, and more.
You’ll find paths and routes easy to follow, and you’ll find information boards throughout the site explaining history and facts about the excavations in English, Turkish and Dutch.
The site is a mix of things still awaiting discovery and restoration work in progress, but the overall impression is nothing short of grand.
When visiting Sagalassos, you can easily imagine this was once a busy and important city.
Although as many other ancient cities, it was destroyed by earthquakes and the plague finished the job.
Nowadays, Sagalassos is perfectly equipped to welcome visitors to enjoy the place and admire its ruins and buildings.
Road To The White Marble Arched Gates In Sagalassos
The Heroon is surrounded by Trees.
Prepare For Your Trip To Sagalassos
Preparing your Sagalassos trip is easy with the comprehensive Sagalassos Companion Tourist Guide published in the project “Development and Promotion of Ağlasun’s Culture and Natural Resources for Sustainable Tourism Utilisation“. It was written by Professor Marc Waelkens, Director of Excavations for the Sagalassos Archaeological Research Project and the Sagalassos Team.
It contains all the information you need on the site, its history, and ongoing research and excavations. (The English Version of the was not available now)
The Heroon Against The Mountain.
The opening hours of the site in summer is between 8:30 and 19:00.
Keep in mind that due to its elevation, the roads, covered with snow, can make accessing the site more difficult until March.
If you are not driving yourself, you can take public transport from Isparta, Burdur and Antalya to nearby Ağlasun. From Ağlasun, it can be reached by walking another 7 km or by taxi. Recently, the dolmuş from Ağlasun to the site started. At the time of publication, it operates three days a week, on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 12:00 departure to Sagalassos and 15:00 return from the site.
The Roman Baths
What To Expect
How To Get There: Private, rental car (check the map below) or public transport (take the Burdur minibus (dolmuş) from Burdur bus station).
Nearest Airport: Antalya Airport.
Parking: Yes.
Terrain: Easy.
Stroller: Yes.
Income: Free (check before you visit).
Facilities: No.
Best Time To Visit: All year, depending on the weather.
Signs Come In Three Languages in Sagalassos.
Close-up Of One Of The Statues At The Fountain
Places Nearby
Kremna, an ancient site called Cliff (25 km)
Turkey’s Lavender fields (30 km)
Susuz Han, with some exquisite Stonework (34 km)
Bas-reliefs On Some Columns Guarding The Site
If you have any questions about a place, feel free to ask. You can send us a message through our contact page or leave a comment on our Instagram or Facebook pages.
You can also join our group Turkey Travel Photography on Facebook to share your lovely photos or experiences about Turkey.
Practical Information
The road to Sagalassos is easy and in good condition when we visited, but keep in mind this is a mountain area and roads are probably not accessible during wintertime when it has snowed.
Places We Recommend
Pergamon
Theatre and three-terraced gymnasium are perfect examples of how existing natural rule can be integrated into urban planning. (Coming soon)
Kremna
Sometimes explaining an ancient site’s name is not easy, but Kremna’s case is straightforward. A visit to the site will clarify why Kremna is the ancient Greek for Cliff. (Read more)
Pınara
When visiting Pinara, the words that come to mind are untouched, undiscovered, mysterious and serene. Another off the beaten track destination is often overlooked when visiting nearby Xanthos. (Coming soon)
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