The Turkish town of Side has the appearance of a small town located on a picturesque peninsula. Despite its modest size, the city is full of historical monuments and interesting sights. One of these places of pilgrimage for tourists is the Column Avenue.
If you enter the city through the City Centre Gate, the first thing you will see is a wide street stretching solemnly to the former historic Agora Square. From the theatre, the Column Avenue extends southwestwards across the the peninsula. It then passes through the village of Selimiye, which is home to a many restaurants and souvenir shops, and leads to the original semicircular temple by the sea, which was dedicated to the moon god Menu.
Columns adorn both sides of the street, thus creating a uniquely majestic path. This street is over 250 metres long. The base of the street is laid with wide stone blocks and the pavement is paved with decorative mosaics.
Being a worthy monument of art of the past time, Column Avenue Pillar Avenue epitomises Turkey's unique architectural history. It is a reminder of the era art and luxury of eastern Turkish civilisation.
Nowadays, Side's Column Avenue is home to many shops, souvenir shops and restaurants. Here you can buy anything you want, and it's also about 40 per cent cheaper than in Europe. The old tradition of haggling will allow you and the shopkeeper to enjoy the process. The local local traders find it a good way to have fun.
