Sections of the Roman aqueduct that supplied ancient Side with water are visible on the approach road to the old town from Manavgat. The arched spans crossing low ground give a clear sense of Roman engineering ambition. The nymphaeum inside the city — the ornate fountain where the water was delivered publicly — has partially surviving walls near the main theatre complex.
Side Aqueduct
A story
Ancient Side had no freshwater source on the peninsula itself, so the Romans built an aqueduct to bring water from the Manavgat River, about 30km away. Sections of the aqueduct survive north of the town, including a substantial arched section that crosses a shallow valley. The system fed cisterns and a nymphaeum — a monumental fountain — inside the city. The nymphaeum's remains are visible near the theatre, where water would have flowed from an ornate facade.