Getting to know Gazipaşa
Gazipaşa is a coastal district in the eastern part of Antalya province, beyond Alanya towards the Mersin boundary. It is a distinct town and district, not simply the name of the airport serving the area. Sea-facing slopes, river mouths and inland settlements all contribute to its identity.
The Hacımusa stream and the headland at Selinus help explain the relationship between water, shelter and settlement. The district’s archaeological places belong to the historical landscape often called Rough Cilicia. This gives Gazipaşa a different ancient context from the Lycian districts on Antalya’s western coast.
History and local character
Selinus preserves remains from several periods, including Roman and later occupation. The name Trajanopolis recalls the Roman emperor Trajan, who died at Selinus. Antiocheia ad Cragum, farther east near Güneyköy, is a separate ancient city with its own streets, public buildings and coastal topography. The two sites should not be merged under a single “castle” label.
Landscape and local life
Modern Gazipaşa sits within a wider district of coast and countryside. Understanding the archaeological sites in relation to that landscape is more useful than assuming that every place lies within the modern centre. The city’s name also appears in Gazipaşa–Alanya Airport, but the airport’s regional role does not replace the town’s own historical and geographical identity.
