...Greek colonists from Aeolia founded the splendid city of Side in the seventh century B.C. and built a great seaport. A few decades ago, Side was a peaceful fishing village but it has become a town of hotels, pensions and restaurants and its two thousand inhabitants live on and for tourism. In ancient times, like the Hellenes, Side became rich with money deriving from piracy and from the slave trade. Under the Romans these illicit activities ceased but the city remained fairly prosperous through commerce and traffic through its port. During the Byzantine Empire, Side became an important centre for Christianity, becoming a Bishopric; and the city was given the title of the Metropolitan Church for Eastern Pamphylia.
...But Side is also famous as being the place where Anthony and Cleopatra met clandestinely for romantic assignations prior to their marriage.Its decline began with attacks by the Arabs: the citizens abandoned the town and at the end of the four-teenth century Side became Ottoman.
...The theatre at Side was one of the largest in Pamphylia, holding fifteen thousand spectators. It was built by the Romans in the third century A.D. on the plain, facing the sea. It was later reinforced by the Romans, able engineers, with strong arch structures.
...The museum is small but interesting, and has been installed amongst the ruins of the Roman Baths. It houses a collection of statues, friezes and sarcophagi found during excavations. Outside the Hellenistic walls are the ruins of a Byzantine basilica that had three naves, a baptistery and the Bishop’s palace. There were two agoras at Side, one of which was called the State Agora and used for meetings and public ceremonies.