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Travelling on the Antalya – Alanya road past the cotton and the orange groves just 7 kms before Side on the inland side of the main road is the village of ILICA. |
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Lying along the top of a hill that runs along the foot of the Taurus mountains, Ilica has the advantage of spectacular sea views from the front of the hill and breathtaking views of the Taurus mountains from the back of the hill. |
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Protected by the mountains, the village has the advantage of unspoilt clear air, a breeze through the hot summer and protection against snow and ice in the winter months. |
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Until two years ago Ilica has not been the first stop of anyone’s holiday list – (except my mum and dad) - with nothing special to mark its existence or offer foreigners, but as land and property are becoming more and more expensive in the immediate Side area it is fast become a developing upmarket buying area of villas and luxury complexes.
It is the home of locals and Europeans alike who want to have the freedom of being in the country where you get more for your money and at the same time be just minutes drive from the local facilities.. For the price of a luxury penthouse in Side , here you can find a detached villa with its own pool and sea view.
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The entrance to the village is marked by a stunning marble bridge and Council offices – a well constructed yellow building to the left of the bridge. Despite being classed as a village because of its low population, Ilica is not governed by village rule but by County Council therefore, in order to buy property it is not necessary to open and build a Limited Company as foreigners are committed to do in most village areas. |
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Most of the locals are employed in the tourism service industries provided by the resorts of Side just 7 kms away and Kumkoy just 1.5 km away on the beach side of the main road. |
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As yet there are no tourist facilities in Ilica, just a handful of local shops with a minimum of stock. The village lies empty and peaceful in daylight hours except for the sound of the bell from the large local school situated in the centre of the village there is very little traffic or noise. At sundown many of the locals stroll to the beautifully kept park and home made ice cream parlour with their children for a chat about the days events. Most roads to the village dwindle to nothing along the top of the hill so there is nowhere to go from here and no one just passes through Ilica.
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The focal point of the week in Ilica is Wednesday when the locals and those from neighbouring villages turn out to sell their garden produce and wares at the village market |
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Here, you can find a beautiful selection of fresh fish and the biggest selection of fruit and vegetables at the most reasonable prices. |
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Ilica is also the home to much wildlife, the storks return every spring to their local nesting grounds and birds such as the hoopoo are often seen. |
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As well as offering peace and quiet to those who want to live away from the tourist filled beachside towns, Ilica is fast becoming an area for investment because of the new golf courses being built just 6kms away. The first Links golf course in Turkey is currently under construction by the Lykian group who own golf courses in Fehtiye and Istanbul and is due for completion in November 2007.
Just 20 minutes drive away is Belek, with its 8 championship golf courses, 3 under construction and more planned over the next 10 years. Ilica lies in the middle between the golf and beach resort of Side.
Land prices have doubled in the past couple of years in and around Ilica (although there are prime building spots still to be found!) Local building regulations limit the density to 20% therefore development of construction area is restricted as is the height of all buildings.
There are now villas built to private specifications, and apartment complexes offering 5* hotel facilities springing up, a perfect combination of a rural retreat in a pretty and scenic location with all the services that are expected from today’s living.
Now known over the years as Antalya the city remains the gateway to such villages, as ILICA which has these beautiful views that are unmatched the world over.
