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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 (Kizil 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 Damlatas Cave.
Near the cave is the Ethnography Museum. By boat you can
reach three other caves: the Phosphorous Cave with its phosphoric
rocks, Girls Cave (Kizlar Cave), where pirates held their
women prisoners, and Lovers Cave (Asiklar 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
Bademagi 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 year-round is 19C. The water averages
21C.
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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.
Kizilkule 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 castle which has been preserved
until the present day. In 1225 Selcuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat
had the castle built 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 Suleyman
Mosque, Akcebe 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 (Kizil 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, 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
top of a hill between the modern day villages of Kargaci
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.
Selcuklu 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
be received from the south, the shipyard has been strengthened
by a two storey and two room tower.
Suleymaniye (Kale) Mosque
The mosque, which reflects Ottoman architectural design,
is known to have been built in the 16th century on top of
a Selcuk temple. The wooden windows and doors are beautiful
examples of Ottoman carvings.
Emir Bedreddin Mosque
Beside this mosque, which Emir Bedreddin had built in 1227,
is a small minaret made of cut stone. Its pulpit is one
of the examples of carving art.
Aksebe Sultan Mosque
Aksebe 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 north of the sea. The 2000 mt
inn is made entirely of cut stone. The guardhouse, fountain,
mosque and baths are in mint condition and certainly worth
seeing.
Sarapsa Caravanserai
Located on the 15th km of the Antalya- Alanya highway, Sarapsa
Caravanserai was constructed by Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat's
son Giyaseddin Keyhusrev II between the years 1236-1246
on an area which is approximately 850m2.
Caves
Damlatas Cave
Buyuk Dipsiz Cave
Cimenici Cave
Dim Cave
Beldibi Cave
Derya Cave
The Others Important Caves
Kadiini Cave
Situated about 15 km northeast of Alanya, at a place called
Catak, 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.
BEACHES
Unlike most vacation spots, Alanya has beaches right in
the very center of town and the cool shade of Dim Brook
valley, 15 km east of Alanya, is a great place to get away
and relax. About 25 km west of Alanya are the beaches of
Avsallar, which is a nice vacation spot. If you go east
of Alanya towards Gazipasa, you will see magnificent beaches.
About 30 km east of Alanya are the Roman ruins of Iotape
(Aytap), a nice place for an excursion with an excellent
beach and nice bays.
SPORTING ACTIVITIES
Rafting
The river which offers the best rafting in the area is the
Dim Brook which empties into the sea, 6 km east of Alanya.
The 'Alraft' rafting facilities found on the river 20 km
to the northeast of Alanya offer rafting excursions.
Mountain Sports
Recently there has been quite an interest in trekking and
amateur mountain climbing. This interest is mostly due to
the mountains of Akdag (2451 m.) and Cebelireis (1649 m.)
as they are very suitable places for these sports. Mt. Akdag
has been declared as a Winter Sports Tourism Center by the
Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The Alanya Triathlon
This international sports event, which is held every year
in October, began in 1991. Broadcast to the world via Eurosport
TV, this non-stop event consists of three separate races:
swimming, cycling and running.
Hunting
Because of the area's climate, terrain and vegetation, it
has wonderful potential as a hunting area. Because of the
rapid decline in the deer population they are now protected
and hunting is prohibited but mountains goat hunting is
allowed on a restricted basis.
It is possible to catch almost any kind of fish in Alanya.
The main ones are gilt-headed bream, annular bream, swordfish,
red gurnard, chub mackerel, shark, rock grouper, red sea
bream, whiting, tuna, red mullet and gar.Fish that are encountered
in fresh water lakes and streams include striped mullet,
bass, carp and eels. In addition, trout are raised in the
Dim Brook region.
Camping
There are many places to camp and to park motorhomes in
and around Alanya.
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Alanya Hotels
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