Elmalı: Ottoman Architecture and Living Traditions

Elmalı tells its story through stone religious buildings, preserved wooden houses, and a wrestling tradition that dates back to 1352. The town particularly appeals to travelers who want their holiday to be about more than just scenery, and who also want to learn about architectural styles, religious history, and traditional customs. Families can draw on a varied range of themes for exploring together, from the town’s architecture to nature and historical sites in the surrounding area.

Architecture and History in Elmalı

The Ömer Paşa Mosque was built in 1610 by Ketenci Ömer Paşa. The building is made entirely of dressed stone and has a central plan, with a single dome defining the structure. The mosque is regarded as an outstanding example of the Mimar Sinan school and an important work of Ottoman Turkish architecture in Anatolia. Its clearly identifiable features—stone construction, a central plan, and a dome—make it a special point of interest for anyone interested in architectural history.

On the bazaar square, the Kesik Minare stands opposite the Ömer Paşa Mosque. The single surviving minaret dates from the Seljuk period. The two buildings represent different historical architectural traditions; their precise positioning opposite one another on the bazaar square is a distinctive feature of the townscape. The tomb of Vahab-ı Ümmi is also in Elmalı, in the north of the town at its highest point.

The traditional houses of the old town offer another way to explore the town’s history. Among the surviving examples are wooden houses with distinctive bay windows, old-style windows, and bright colors. Some are two-story wooden houses with projecting upper floors and retain many of their characteristic features. The most important historic houses are on Aylar Sokağı in the Tahtamescit neighborhood. Traces of Elmalı’s history can be seen at every turn there. Those interested in historic forms of housing will find a different perspective on the town here than when viewing its mosques and minarets.

Religious Tradition and an Annual Event

Elmalı was also a religious center: Vahab-i Ümmi, whose full name was Abdülvehhab el-Ümmi el-Elmalı el-Halveti, was the spiritual leader of the Elmalı Halvetis. Through him, Elmalı became a center of the order and retained this status for about three centuries. Sinan-ı Ümmi is associated with the Turkish works Kutbü’l-Maani and Divan-ı İlahiyat. The latter contains around two hundred ilahis and religious poems. Sinan-ı Ümmi’s tomb is on the qibla side of the mosque named after him. The present-day türbe was built in 1959 to replace its predecessor, which was demolished in 1926.

The Tarihi Elmalı Yağlı Pehlivan Güreşleri is another form of cultural heritage. This traditional event has been held in Elmalı since 1352 and is included in both Turkey’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage and Antalya Province’s inventory. It takes place every year in the first week of September. Visitors wishing to plan their stay around this tradition can take this annual date into account when arranging their trip. Baltası Gedik Mahmut Baba is also among the most visited places in the historic town of Elmalı.

Nature and Archaeology in the Surrounding Area

There are also distinct themes to explore beyond the historic townscape. In the southern part of Elmalı district, there are cedar trees that, according to the local description, have been there since antiquity and are about 2,500 years old. Avlan Lake is also in the south of the district, in a landscape with notable ecology and diverse flora and fauna. These natural attractions differ considerably from the historic buildings and houses in the town.

Hacımusalar Höyüğü, also known as Choma, lies on the Elmalı–Kaş road. The archaeological mound is 14.5 kilometers southwest of the center of Elmalı district, near the middle of the Elmalı Plain. It measures approximately 300 × 350 meters and is 10 to 12 meters high; terraces can be found on its slopes. Archaeological excavations at the mound have been underway since 1994. Its location, dimensions, and terraces give the site a different character from Elmalı’s historic buildings.

Which Accommodation Suits Your Travel Interests?

When choosing a holiday apartment in Elmalı, it helps to decide first what you want to focus on during your stay. The town’s architecture and old-town history, religious traditions, the annual wrestling matches held in the first week of September, and the natural attractions in the south of the district are different reasons to explore the destination. If you want to combine several interests, you can choose the themes for your trip together and set aside time for each one.

For further destination ideas, you can also explore Antalya, Denizyaka, Çandır, Türkler Belediyesi, Yukarıkaraman, Güvenlik, Döşemealtı and Kumköy.

Back to the main travel overview: Antalya.