The monumental gateway marks the entrance to the ancient city and the beginning of the colonnaded main street. The arch and flanking walls have survived in reasonable condition, and enough of the original paving of the street beyond it remains to trace the route toward the agora and theatre. This is typically the first ancient structure visitors encounter walking into the old town from the car parks.
Monumental Gateway
A story
The main entrance to ancient Side was a triple-arched gateway flanked by two round towers, built in the 2nd century AD. It was designed to impress arrivals coming from the harbour, and the scale still registers today. A colonnaded street ran from the gateway through the centre of the city, and water was brought in via an aqueduct visible just outside the old town walls.