Hadrian's Gate

Hadrian's Gate, known in Turkish as Üçkapılar (Three Gates), stands at the southern entrance to Kaleiçi — Antalya's historic old quarter — and represents one of the finest surviving examples of Roman triumphal architecture in Turkey. The gate was built in 130 AD to commemorate the visit of Emperor Hadrian to Attaleia, the city founded by the Pergamene king Attalus II in the 2nd century BC. It served as the principal ceremonial entrance through the Hellenistic city walls and has remained standing, through varying phases of repair and modification, for nearly 1,900 years. The gate consists of three arched passageways supported by four Corinthian-capped marble columns. The central arch is wider than the two flanking arches, following the standard Roman triumphal gate formula. The coffered ceiling of the vaulted passageways is one of the gate's most admired features: deeply recessed rectangular panels survive in good condition and convey the original architectural elaboration with striking clarity. The gate was originally veneered with thin marble facing, traces of which were found during archaeological investigation. The primary structure is of local limestone. Medieval tower structures — one circular and one square — were added to either side in later centuries and remain as prominent features of the approach. Upper sections of the gate retain original carved mouldings and panel frames, though substantial portions of the sculptural programme were lost during centuries of modification. A restoration project in the early 20th century, supplemented by more recent consolidation work, has stabilised the structure. The gate functions today as a pedestrian passage connecting Antalya's modern commercial streets with Kaleiçi's Ottoman-era lanes and is a natural starting point for walking tours of the old town. Evening illumination highlights the carved marble and limestone surfaces against the night sky, making the monument worth visiting at two different times of day.