Excavations reveal road to ancient Side’s second main gate
Archaeologists working at the ancient city of Side in the southern province of Antalya have uncovered a major urban artery leading to the site’s second principal gate, along with adjacent side streets, shedding new light on the settlement’s long-term development.
The discovery was made within the bounds of Side Ancient City, one of the most prominent coastal cities of ancient Pamphylia, where systematic excavations have been ongoing uninterrupted since 1947.
Side, known in antiquity as a major harbor city, is distinguished today by its well-preserved theater, the temples of Athena and Apollo, Roman-era bath complexes, monumental fountains, colonnaded streets, and museum spaces that collectively attract large numbers of visitors each year.
The latest excavations, accelerated under Türkiye’s “Heritage for the Future” initiative implemented by the Culture and Tourism Ministry, have focused on revealing the urban connectivity between the city’s eastern sector and its main gate systems. The newly exposed road leads directly toward what is identified as the second primary entrance of the ancient city, the East Gate, alongside previously undocumented adjacent streets branching into residential and commercial zones.
