Aspendos Ancient City is in Serik district of Antalya. The city’s aqueducts, an engineering marvel, were built during the Roman Imperial Period to meet the city’s water needs. The arches, dating back to the 2nd century AD, are one of the monumental structures of the city.
General Directorate of Promotion Archive, Gülcan Acar
The spring water comes from two springs in Pınarbaşı, located in the Gökçepınar neighborhood, approximately 15 kilometers away from Aspendos as the crow flies; It was brought through canals, bridges and tunnels. The arches, which can be followed uninterruptedly for 2 kilometers near the city center, are among the rare examples in the Mediterranean geography that have survived to the present day.
The two hydraulic reservoirs of the Aspendos Aqueducts, reaching a height of approximately 30 meters, and the arch bridge, which is almost entirely standing, are extremely impressive. In a spoliated inscription, it is stated that Tiberius Claudius Italicus donated approximately 2 million denarii and had the aqueduct built. Although this situation is not clear, epigraphic research on the subject continues. However, traces of different uses from later periods were also detected.
As a result of the evaluation made by the UNESCO World Heritage Center, it was deemed appropriate to register the “Aspendos Ancient City Aqueducts and Theater” on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List as of 2015.
Source: Afyon Kocatepe University, Aspendos Excavation Directorate. Aspendos Excavations and Research website. “Structures: Aqueducts.”
Places to Visit in Antalya
Source: Antalya Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate
