Since 2014, the day we came to duty, we are trying to realize our common dream that is the development and promotion of Muratpaşa, called the heart of Antalya.
Please allow me to briefly give you information about Antalya, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and Muratpaşa, its heart.
Antalya is one of the most important cities of the world with its geographical, historical and cultural values.
Antalya is a city on the Mediterranean coast that dates back to ancient times and welcomes more than 15 million tourists every year and stands out with its archaeological and natural beauties.
Antalya is situated in a place where the conventional border runs between the historic lands: Lycia to the east and Pamphilia to the west. To the north of Antalya, in the depths of the Anatolian peninsula, lies a land called Pisidia.
Our city Antalya is being visited more than many other cities in the world (15 million tourists per year). Antalya is the one of the most popular destinations in the World not only for touristic purposes, but also for permanent life (90.000 resident foreigners in 2019), and it is a paradise on earth.
It may be said that with ancient cities hidden among forests with oxygen-rich air, Antalya is a holiday paradise offering much more than one might expect.
Antalya is Turkey's biggest international sea resort, located on the Turkish Riviera. Large-scale development and governmental funding has promoted tourism. Moreover, Antalya was the host city for the 2015 G-20 summit and the EXPO 2016.
Muratpaşa is the second largest county of Antalya with half a million population. Modern day district of Muratpaşa is home to Kaleiçi, the historic center founded by Attalus II, King of Pergamon around 150 BC. Since then, the district has been under Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman and Turkish Republic rule.
Vision, Mission, Values and Objectives: Our Agenda at Local and International Level
We are trying to develop a new perspective in terms of municipal services in Muratpaşa, which is the heart of Antalya, by carrying out community-oriented projects.
Muratpaşa is the heart of Antalya. In line with this truth, we are working day & night to provide the service this unique district and her citizens deserve.
It is our highest priority to provide services that will make life easier for everyone in Muratpaşa, increase the quality of life, make lives happier and give more smiles.
People from all over the world live in Muratpaşa. We are hosting a multicultural, multilingual population within the boundaries of our district.
As Muratpaşa Municipality, we regards multiculturalism as a rich value of the county and takes it as our duty to protect it. As a natural consequence of the multicultural structure, different segments have different needs. Our municipality adoptes a multicultural and multilingual approach towards providing everyone the right to live their culture and religion. Furthermore, we are implementing a series of public relations and communication projects into effect to directly obtain the requested, recommendations and complaints of our citizens and to address them. By this means requests, recommendations and complaints of all citizens in the county are obtained and conveyed to relevant departments. We generates solutions in compliance with the expectations of people in Muratpaşa via Turunç Masa (Citrus Desk) municipal application desk, 24/7 call center, mobile teams, social media, web, press etc. and provides involvement of citizens in administration.
As Muratpaşa Municipality, we organize international culture and art festivals as well as basic municipal services. International Kaleiçi Old Town Festival stands out as one of the most important events.
The most interesting settlement in Antalya is Kaleiçi, which is a complete and well-preserved ancient city hosting simultaneously a modern living environment and an internationally significant historical heritage site. Muratpaşa, considered the heart of Antalya, is home to Kaleiçi. Visiting annually by thousands of tourists, Kaleiçi is widely known to be one the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with the ruins of ancient settlements dating back to 4th century B.C.
The living old towns constantly remind us of the importance of culture, art and aesthetic perception on the historical and cultural heritage of humanity. However, the living old towns are under pressure of the modern and commercial life. We want to protect the living old towns from the pressures of modern and commercial life. Therefore, these places should be further protected, and implemented influential policies in solving their common problems by local administrations. Municipalities and other institutions should give priority to the preservation projects of old towns, and provide the funding more for these works. We want clarity in terms of authority and central administration system in all ancient cities.
As Muratpaşa Municipality, it is one of our biggest goals to introduce Kaleiçi to the World and to carry the cultural heritage in Kaleiçi to the future generations. In addition, we aim to bring the living old towns together and raise awareness about them. Furthermore we are aiming at creating lasting ties and a collective mind between the oldest living and continuously inhabited cities in the world such as walled towns, walled cities and fortified historic towns, historic towns dating back to at least 500 years. In line with the common problems and purposes highlighted in the paragraph above, we have been organizing Kaleiçi Old Town Festival since 2016.
We strive to improve and glorify Muratpaşa in a way befitting her historical importance, and to improve the quality of life, peace and happiness of the citizens of Muratpaşa.
To achieve this goal; We, in the light of shared wisdom, make plans and develop projects in all areas of life such as urban development, transportation, infrastructure, environment, health, education, sports, culture and art.
We carry on our services to make life easier and more beautiful in Muratpaşa with our team that work with the understanding of merit, loyalty to the duty, care for the city and respect for the people.
Antalya is, as our leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk said, "it is undoubtedly the most beautiful place in the world".
Muratpaşa is the most beautiful district of Antalya which is the most beautiful place in the world.
We will manage our district Muratpaşa by taking the opinions, suggestions and ideas of our esteemed citizens.
As emphasized several times above we will continue to realize our services and investments in line with our priority to make Muratpaşa and Antalya the most livable city in the world and to make our people happy.
We will carry to work with the enthusiasm and faith on the basis of peace and brotherhood.
As World-famous poet Nazım Hikmet said:
"To live like a tree alone and free
and in brotherhood like the forests."
Love and respect,
Ümit UYSAL
MAYOR OF MURATPAŞA MUNICIPALITY
