With its
vast beaches, historic sites, the
innumerable fish restaurants of its modern
hotel and motels and its cafes and bars,
Alanya, is an outstanding holiday getaway.
The first thing that greets the visitor is
the 13th century Seljuk Castle, which sits
like a crown atop of Alanya Peninsula.
Besides the impressive castle, there is the
shipyard and the Red Tower (Kızıl Kule) with
monumental beauty. All along the road which
runs beside the port are latenight cafes and
bars and boutiques selling handicrafts,
leather clothing, jewelry, handbags and
local gourds painted with extraordinary
colors. If you like to explore caves, then
you must see Damlataş Cave.
Near the cave is the Ethnography Museum. You
can reach by boat to the three other caves:
the Phosphorous Cave with its phosphoric
rocks, Girls Cave (Kızlar Cave), where
pirates held their women prisoners, and
Lovers Cave (Aşıklar Cave). The cool shade
of Dim Brook Valley, 15 km east of Alanya,
is an ideal place to get away and relax. The
sea all around Alanya is excellent for
swimming. Alanya is a paradise of sun, sea
and sand.
History
Based
on skeletal evidence found between the
villages of Bademağacı and Oba northeast of
the city, Alanya is believed to have been
inhabited in pre-historic times. Alanya was
sometimes considered part of Cilicia and
sometimes part of Pamphilia. It was later
ruled by the Hittites and Romans
respectively. In a bad state of repair after
a number of invasions and wars, the city was
rebuilt by the Romans. In the Byzantine era,
Alanya was called Kolonoros, which means the
'beautiful mountain'.
Climate
Because
of its climate, plants from all over the
world can be found in Alanya. Some of the
most common are oranges, bananas, vegetables
of all kinds, tropical fruits from South
Africa and India such as papaya, guava,
avocado and a variety of dates and coffees.
Alanya has a typical Mediterranean climate
with wet humid winters and hot dry summers.
The average temperature around the year is
19ºC. The water averages 21ºC
Where
to Visit
Archeology Museum
The
museum includes certain sections in which
archeological and ethnographic works are
kept and exhibited. The most ancient work
displayed in this museum, is the inscription
in Phoenician language dated back to 625B.C.
Bronze, marble, ceramics, glass and mosaic
finds belonging to Roman, Byzantine periods,
an epitaph in Karaman language and coins of
Archaic (7-5 B.C century) , Classical Ages,
Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman and
Republican Periods are exhibited in
archeology section. The ethnography section
includes Turkish Islamic works of art and
traditional belongings, guns, handicrafts,
jewels, pots and pans collected from the
environs of Alanya. A symbolic section of a
traditional Alanya house can also be seen in
this part.
Kızılkule Ethnography Museum
Being the symbol of Alanya, this monumental
building was constructed in 1226 for
military purposes to defend the pier and was
one of the unique sample of Seljuk art.
After being restored between 1951-1953, the
structure gained the function of ethnography
museum through the exhibitions of carpets,
clothing, pots and pans, guns,etc peculiar
to Alanya.
Alanya
Castle
Alanya Castle is the only Seljuk’s castle
which has been preserved until the present
day. In 1225 Selçuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat
built the castle on top of the Roman ruins.
The castle is a treasure chest of history.
Inside the castle ramparts there are Agios
Georgios Church, Kanuni Sultan Süleyman
Mosque, Akşebe Sultan Tomb, the Seljuk Baths,
the artisans' shops, the bazaar's storage
rooms, the tomb of Zitti Zeynep, the Palace
of Sultan Alaaddin, big and small cisterns,
a lighthouse and a dungeon.
The
Red Tower
The Red Tower (Kızıl Kule) was built in
1226. The five-storey tower is octagonal.
The main support structure of the tower also
serves as a cistern. The bottom floor of the
tower is now an ethnographic museum.
Leartis-Learti (Mahmutlar Ruins)
This city is 22 km from Alanya, has churches,
baths, cisterns, residential buildings, a
small stadium and theater, temples and
streets lines with columns.
Syedra Ruins
The city of Syedra was founded in the 3rd
century BC on the top of a hill, between the
modern day villages of Kargacı and Seki.
Inscriptions found in the portion of the
city which was located on the hill and the
surrounding area prove that it is an old
Roman ruin. The lintels of the monumental
city gate are still standing. There are 3
pools in the city which were most likely
used as water depots and on both sides of
the column-lined streets there are historic
structures and mosaics.
The Port City of Iotape (Aytap)
Iotape is 30 km east of Alanya. The modern
day highway along the Mediterranean coast
goes right through this Roman city. The city
was named in memory of King Antiochus' wife,
Iotape. The city has a small port measuring
50-100 meters. The most well preserved parts
of the city of Iotape are the remains of the
old street, the baths, a church, a
necropolis and acropolis.
Selçuklu Shipyard
Built in 1228, the shipyard is 56,5 m in
length, 44 m in depth and includes 5 rooms.
In case of any danger might come from the
south, the shipyard has been strengthened by
a two storey and two room tower.
Süleymaniye (Kale) Mosque
The mosque, which reflects Ottoman
architectural design, is known to have been
built in the 16th century on the top of a
Selçuk temple. The wooden windows and doors
are beautiful examples of Ottoman carvings.
Emir Bedrüddin Mosque
Beside this mosque, which Emir Bedrüddin
built in 1227, is a small minaret made of
cut stone. Its pulpit is one of the examples
of carving art.
Akşebe Sultan Mosque
Akşebe Sultan is one of the first commanders
of Alanya castle.The mosque was made to be
built by him in 1230. On the western side of
the mosque there is a minaret special to its
own architectural style.
Alara Inn
Built in 1232 by Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat,
the Alara Inn is located on Alara Creek
which forms the boundary between Alanya and
Manavgat, 9 km in north of the sea. The 2000
m² inn is made entirely of cut stone. The
guardhouse, fountain, mosque and baths are
in mint condition and certainly worth seeing.
Şarapsa Caravanserai
Located on the 15th km of the Antalya-
Alanya highway, Şarapsa Caravanserai was
constructed by Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat's
son Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev II in between the
years 1236-1246 on an area which is
approximately 850m².
Caves
Damlataş Cave
Büyük
Dipsiz Cave
Çimeniçi Cave
Dim
Cave
Beldibi Cave
Derya
Cave
The
Others Important Caves
Kadıini Cave
Situated about 15 km in northeast of Alanya,
at a place called Çatak, the picnic areas in
the vicinity bring a liveliness to the area.
Korsanlar Cave
The mouth of the cave, which is
approximately 10 m wide and 5-6 m. tall, is
big enough to allow boats to go in and out.
The dome-shaped interior with its colorful
ceiling leads northward into the pitch-black
depths of the cavern.
Lovers Cave
The mouth of the cave is about 2 m. above
the sea and big enough for a person to get
through. The mouth of the cave is adorned
with stalactites, stalagmites and columns.
Fosforlu Cave
Having a similar appearance with Korsanlar
Cave, Fosforlu Cave can be accessible by
boat since its entrance is wide enough.
Various hues deep into the sea display
superb spectacle.
Based
on skeletal evidence found between the
villages of Bademağacı and Oba northeast of
the city, Alanya is believed to have been
inhabited in pre-historic times. Alanya was
sometimes considered part of Cilicia and
sometimes part of Pamphilia. It was later
ruled by the Hittites and Romans
respectively. In a bad state of repair after
a number of invasions and wars, the city was
rebuilt by the Romans. In the Byzantine era,
Alanya was called Kolonoros, which means the
'beautiful mountain'. 
The
museum includes certain sections in which
archeological and ethnographic works are
kept and exhibited. The most ancient work
displayed in this museum, is the inscription
in Phoenician language dated back to 625B.C.
Bronze, marble, ceramics, glass and mosaic
finds belonging to Roman, Byzantine periods,
an epitaph in Karaman language and coins of
Archaic (7-5 B.C century) , Classical Ages,
Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Ottoman and
Republican Periods are exhibited in
archeology section. The ethnography section
includes Turkish Islamic works of art and
traditional belongings, guns, handicrafts,
jewels, pots and pans collected from the
environs of Alanya. A symbolic section of a
traditional Alanya house can also be seen in
this part. 