Side Örenyeri

About Side Örenyeri

Side Örenyeri is the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's ticketed archaeological site in the ancient city of Side, centred on the great Roman theatre, which the Ministry calls the most precious part of the ancient city. It is separate from the Side Museum, which occupies a restored Roman bath nearby. The theatre stands where the peninsula on which Side is built narrows. Its plan follows the Hellenistic tradition of a seating area that extends beyond a semicircle, but its construction is Roman. The stage building (scaenae frons) had three storeys. The lower part of the seating, up to the walkway (diazoma), rests against a slope, while the upper rows sit on vaults and sloping vaults that create the incline, a feature that the Ministry says makes it one of the most original buildings in the region. The decoration shows the baroque style of the Antonine period and follows the architectural line that began with the Theatre of Pompey in Rome. On the podium of the first storey runs a Dionysus frieze, which tells the life of the god of wine and master of the theatre in order from west to east and ends at the eastern end with a Gigantomachy. The stage facade was enlivened with architectural ornament and statues. The site is open every day. When checked in November 2026 the Ministry listed hours of 08:00 to 17:00, with the ticket office closing at 16:30; hours change by season. MüzeKart is valid for Turkish citizens and an audio guide is available.