Dating back from the fifth century B.C., Aspendos is a former Pamphylian city which is nowadays located 50 km from Antalya, on the Antalya-Alanya highway, right past Serik.

Traces of the Roman culture can still be seen today, especially in the remains of a basilica, or in the ruins of the 10-mile-long aqueduct which stretches throughout Anatolia, by the side of Aspendos; or in the structure long-famed second century A.D amphitheater, former Seljuk caravanserai and current performance stage for opera singers and ballet dancers alike. Close to the showground, the door of a small room hides from view an apparently small museum where masks and clay tickets dating from the beginnings of the theatre can still be seen today. A complete collection of numerous other artifacts and icons have been preserved in the museum room as well.

However, time seems to have stood still in Aspendos, and so, given the fresh-looking and well-preserved construction of the amphitheater, as well as its perfect acoustics, unspoiled corridors and almost intact stage decorations, performances and festivals are still held here today, not without thriving success, which is shown by the large numbers of people (as many as fifteen thousand) who keep coming back here.