The ancient city of Soli, situated 14 km to west of the city centre, was built by Rhodians around 700 B.C., and later came under Persian dominance. The city was seized by Alexander the Great in 333 B.C.

The birthplace of well-known scholars, Soli was made a part of the Roman Empire in 64 B.C. by Roman general Pompeius, who settled here repentant pirates.
The columned road, the port and the theatre in the city that was formerly surrounded by walls date to the Roman era. The town continued to be occupied in Byzantine times under the same name. The aqueducts and the cemetery lie outside the town.