Cretan flavors overflowed from spoons at the tasting event in Side Ancient City, one of the symbols of Manavgat, which aims to be a center of attraction in gastronomy tourism with its flavors reflecting its cultural heritage as well as its historical and natural beauties. Famous artists who gave a concert on the magnificent stage in the Temple of Apollo blended Cretan and Turkish music with friendship.
Platinum Award Winner Sofia Vossou Surprised with Turkish Song
The last day of the International Manavgat Crete to Side Culture and Flavor Festival, organized by the Manavgat Municipality, was marked by Sofia Vossou, the “Platinum Record” award winner who represented her country in the Eurovision Song Contest, and Necati and Saykolar Group, who blend Anatolian rock melodies with modern sounds. Artist Sofia Vossou, who has prepared a special repertoire that is familiar to Turkish music lovers and has been translated into Turkish, surprised the audience that filled the square by singing Ebru Gündeş’s song “Seni Seviyorum” (I Love You) in her live performance. Sofia Vossou also provided emotional depth while singing her song “I Anixi” (Spring), which has become a classic among Eurovision fans and earned her a record.
Necati and Saykolar excited everyone with energetic songs
Later, the Necati and Saykolar group gave a concert on the stage at the Temple of Apollo. Creating an interactive atmosphere by using improvised lines and theatrical elements in their stage performances, Necati and Saykolar excited their fans with energetic songs. Necati and Saykolar, who included their own compositions such as “Bey Diyabilirsiniz”, “Leyla” and “Fırtına” in their repertoire, as well as original works by Barış Manço, Cem Karaca and Selda Bağcan, provided the audience with a musical experience that was both nostalgic and innovative. Manavgat Mayor Dr. Niyazi Nefi Kara, Crete Chania Municipality Deputy Mayor Eleni Zervoudaki and festival guest conductors and musicians danced to each other in front of the stage, carried away by the rhythm of the lively music. Bringing together their fellow citizens with free concerts, Manavgat Mayor Dr. Niyazi Nefi Kara and his wife Hacer Ceyhan Kara presented Sofia Vossou and Necati and Saykolar with plaques and flowers and thanked them on behalf of the district’s people.
Famous chefs discovered the mysterious cuisine of Crete with women from Side
During the daytime celebrations of the festival, the women of Side and the memory of Cretan cuisine came together. In the tasting event titled “Cretan Food Interpretation with Side Women” at the Side Antique Port, local herbs, traditional recipes and deep-rooted food stories were told with the contributions of world-famous chefs Maria Ekmekçioğlu, Ioannis Koufos and Rasim Sakarya. “Lor Dessert”, “Pitaraça” and “Şevketi Bostan with Lamb Meat” cooked by the women of Side were served to the taste hunters. The event, where Cretan flavors overflowed from the spoons, was colored by the performances of the Cretan Folk Dance Group and the Manavgat Municipality Folk Dance Group.
Cultural ties between Manavgat and Crete were examined
The talk titled “Manavgat and Crete” at the Temple of Apollo examined the cultural ties between the two ancient settlements. The talk that brought together Cretans from Kuşadası, Hatay, İzmir, Mersin, Adana, Silifke and all districts of Antalya in Side was moderated by Antalya Cretans Association President, Journalist Cem Çon. In the talk that took the form of a friendly conversation, Cretans Federation President Yunus Çengel, Author-Folk Culture Researcher Öznur Tanal and Retired Cretan Mehmet Çoban living in Side talked about the ties between Manavgat and Crete.
Mehmet Çoban, who took the floor first, explained what old Side was like, how Cretans settled in Side and the difficulties of life in the past. He emphasized that Cretans made a living from agriculture and handicrafts and grew up in solidarity. Yunus Çengel explained the importance of Antalya and Side in terms of Cretan culture. Yunus Çengel, who said that they aimed to establish a center to revive the language, folk songs and dance elements of Cretan culture that were on the verge of being forgotten, drew attention to the fact that culture and flavor festivals like the one in Side were very valuable in terms of bringing families together. Öznur Tanal also explained the results of her research on Cretans in Side. Öznur Tanal, who mentioned the book “Side Cretans” published in 11 as a result of 2011 years of work, expressed the healthy lifestyle of the Cretan culture and the effects of the migration pains experienced on generations. Öznur Tanal, who drew attention to the fact that Cretans were in search of roots, stated that the festival in Side was very valuable in this respect.
