About   Alanya

Alanya History

There are magnificent monuments in the citadel of Alanya, which is the nominee for Unesco Cultural Heritage of the world. Along with the monuments such as the walls, Kızılkule, the dockyard and the gun house, old houses of Alanya inhabited after having been restored are also protected and they are worth visiting. In some of the houses weaving is continued with old looms and meal is served in their gardens. If you look carefully at the citadel, a heritage from the medieval times, while visiting, you will notice some stone carvings dating back to the antiquity. Visiting the citadel of Alanya in details may take you a whole day. There are many caravanserais and fortresses to protect them, nearby since Alanya was a city on the route of the historical Silk Road.

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Alanya Castle  

The Citadel of Alanya, the walls of which are nearly 6.5 kilometres long, is on a peninsula whose height is up to 250 metres from the sea level. Although the settlement on Alanya peninsula, also known as Kandeleri, dates back to the Hellenistic Era, its cultural characteristics that can be seen today are thanks to Selcuks of the 13th century.

The citadel was constructed on the demand of the Sultan of Selcuks, Alaaddin Keykubat, who conquered and had the city rebuilt in 1221. The citadel has 83 towers and 140 bastions. Nearly 400 cisterns were built to supply the city surrounded by walks in the medieval times with water. Some of the cisterns are still used today. The walls were built in a well-planned manner; downwards to Ehmedek, İçkale, Adama Atacağı, the upper part of Cilvarda Bay, Arap Evliyası Burcu and Esat Burcu, then through the gun house and the dockyard and they end up in Kızılkule-İçkale, an open-air museum, is located at the peak of the peninsula. Alaaddin Keykubat, the Sultan, had his palace built there.

Today the citadel is still inhabited by people. In front of wooden and brick houses of historical value, silk and cotton are woven, white gourds are painted in different figures and authentic meals are served in small gardens. There are also restaurants and cafés on the way to the citadel and on its sides overlooking the harbour. The citadel is open to traffic. It takes you nearly an hour to walk to the citadel.

Red Tower

It's in the harbour. The octagonal shaped building that's the symbol of the city is a work by Selcuks of the 13th century. It was built in 1226 by Ebu Ali Rehç el Kettani, a master builder from Aleppo and had built the citadel of Sinop before on the demand of Alaaddin Keykubat, the Sultan of Selcuks. It was made of red bricks, the upper parts of which had been fired, since stone blocks were difficult to lift at a certain height, thus it was given the name of Kızılkule (Red Tower). Marble blocks of the antiquity are seen in the walls of the citadel. The height of the tower that is octagonal in shape is 33 meters and it is 29 meters in diameter, its each wall is 12.5 metres long. There are five floors, including the ground floor. You can go to the top of the tower with the help of stone stairs that are high-spaced and have 85 steps. Sunlight coming from the top of the tower even reaches the first floor. There is a cistern in the middle of the tower. The tower was built in order to protect the harbour and the dockyard from naval attacks and was used for military purposes for centuries. Being restored in 1950s, the tower was opened to visitors in 1979, and its first floor began to be used as the museum of Ethnography.

The Dockyard   

Its construction started in 1227, six years later than the Sultan's conquest of the city, near Kızılkule and finished in one year. The Side of the dockyard overlooking the sea and having five cells with arches is 56.5 metres long and it is 44 metres in depth. The area selected for the dockyard was planned to have the most sunlight. The statement on the front door of the dockyard has the Sultan Keykubat's armorial bearings and is decorated with badges. The dockyard of Alanya was the first one of Selcuks in the Mediterranean, Alaaddin Keykubat, who had the dockyard of Sinop built before, was given the little of "the Sultan of the two seas" with the opening of the dockyard of Alanya. On one side of the dockyard there is a small mosque, and a guard room on the other. There is a well that has dried up in time in one of the cells. You can go to the dockyard by boats or on foot passing the walls near Kızılkule and can enter the dockyard without any payments.

Archeological Museum

The museum has 1 exterior and 14 interior exhibition halls where prehistoric and historic artefacts dating back to the Phrygians, Lydians, Greeks and Byzanthine peirods, are on display. The exhibits include a large coin colection and a Bronze sculpture of Herakles from 200AD, which has become a popular symbol for the museum. Another section of the museum houses ethnographic artefacts from the Sejuk and Ottoman eras, and the replicaof an old Alanya room is well worth a look. The museum garden is dotted with BronzeAge, Phrygian, Lydian and Urartian effecets and Hellenistic pottery items. The garden also boasts a large variety of plant and animal species.

Atatürk's House Museum

This museum, a house where Atatürk stayed in February 1935, was opened up to the public in 1986, commemorating Atatğrk's visit to Alanya. The first floor of the museum is an exhibit of kemal Atatürk's personal belongings, photos, historical documents and a telegram he sent to the people of alanya. The roomson the second floor, on the other hand, serve as a showcase for an old Alanya-style home where examples of local ethnographic items are on display.

The Minting House   

They are the buildings on Cilvarda Bay that has bluffs, nearly 400 meters long and they are at the end of the peninsula. Although known as "the Minting House" in public, those buildings made of stone blocks have never been used for issuing money. One of the stone buildings of the 11th century is a little church and the others were possibly used as monasteries. The dome of the little church has remained standing. There's a cistern on the rocks. Although there's a passage of steps carved in the rocks from İçkale to Cilvarda Bay, it can't be used today. As for sea transport it is difficult and dangerous. It looks magnificent both when looked at from İçkale and while turning the bend of the bay by boat.

Ulaş Park  

Ulaş,which is also known with the name Emirgan is 5 km west of Alanya and welcomes the visitors with its new face after long years.The popular promenade gives service with its sunbathing areas,watching terraces,wide garden,beach,wc and restaurant units.We offer you to watch Alanya Castle,sparkling Mediterrenean and sunset from ULAŞ

Colybrassus  

It is a city situated in Taurus Mountains, 30km northwest of Alanya and belonged to Roman period. Many inscriptions scattered all around have a lot of important information about the history of the city although the details are still unknown to us.

Damlataş Cave   

Damlataş Cave was discovered in 1948 quite by accident while minig for building of the harbour. It is located at the western foot of hold peninsula. There is a 50 m passage at the entrance. After the passage there comes a cylinderical cavity. This leads to the basement of the cave. The stalactite and stalagmites inside the cave were formed in 15 thousand years. Besides its fascinating beauty the cave is famous with its air which is beneficial to asthmatic patients. Following the rumors that asthmatic benefited from breathing the air in the cave, scientists analyzed a sample of the air to verify the fact that the air was indeed beneficial to patients suffering from non-allergic asthme. They found that the air in the cave contains 10 to 12 times more carbon dioxide than normal air and has % 95 humidity. Temperature in the cave is 22 degrees centigrade. Both the radioactivity and ionization in the cave may contribute to the benefits derived from breathing the air in the cave. Entrance is due to payment. There is a small market around and in front of the cave is a beach.

Dim Cave  

It is located 12 km east of Alanya, on the slope of Cebel-i Reis Mountain of 1,649 metres. It has an altitude of 232 m. The cave is introduced to the visitors in 1998 and it is the second biggest cave known to the visitors. It is estimated to be 1 million years old. There are two paths inside the cave one is of 50 m, the other of 360 metres. There is a small lake towards the and of the cave. The 360 m. Long path is prepared and illuminated, so as to provide a pleasant excursion offering a tremendous scenery of stalagmite and stallactite for the visitors. After the excursion you can go down the path to Dim Creek valley or you can take the walk up the cave from the picnic area near the creek. There is a panoramic view of Alanya Fortress at the slope where the cave takes place. There are public buses going to the cave.
Entrance is due to payment.

Kadiini Cave

Situated about 15 km north-east of Alanya, at a place called Çatak. There are stalagmites and stalactites three times bigger than the ones in Damlataş Cave. In the researches carried out in 1957 scientists found some human skeletons and fossils. They also found that these foundings belonged to the time of 20 thousands years ago and the first sttlement in alanya had been here. There are picnic areas in the vicinity. The cave has not been introduced to visitors yet.

Korsanlar Cave  

It's a sea cave under the historical peninsula where there is the Alanya Castle. Sea transportation is done by boats. Around the peninsula, according to the tour programmes, it's the first cave. Little boats can enter the cave. You can also swim to enter the cave. There was a rumour that there was a hidden path reaching the castle and the pirates of ancient time took out their booty from this path to the upward part of the castle. The image of the rocks under the sea makes the cave more mysterious.

Fosforlu Cave  

It's a sea cave on the side of Damlataş Cave in the peninsula. Little boats are able to enter the cave. Because of its geological construction the ground shines almost as if phosphorecently at nights due to the reflection of the moonlight. It's also possible to notice the glitter in the daytime. There are also the short swimming breaks in front of the cave as swimming here is an enjoyable experience.

Aşıklar Cave

The cave, situated by the side of the historical peninsula, has got two entrances. After the boat comes alongside the rocks towards Cilvarda promontory, it's able to reach the cave by rock climbing. You can reach the low entrance with a few steps. It's 75 m. Long. Since it has a low ceiling, you sometimes bend down while walking.
The altitude of the entrance on the side of Damlataş Cave from the sea is 8m. And you can jump into the sea here. All that moment the boat turns round Cilvarda promontory, gathers the people from the sea and goes on the excursion. However, there can be some people who don't want to jump into the sea at the last moment and it's more difficult for them to step down the rocks, so what you'll do is at first stuffing up your nose and then diving into the sea with a huge scream. There was a rumour that the pirates hid their booty and girls in this cave. It's thoughtthat the cave was named as Lovers Cave as the couples dated thre secretly.  

Dim Brook

Dim Brook takes its source from the Taurus and flows to the Mediterranean from the east of Alanya; there are picnic areas on the coast of it which is 15 km inside from the coast of the Mediterranean. In summer the tables of field restaurants under the old plane trees are set in the brook. The guests sit there bare feet in the brook. What's more, authentic tables with cushions are set on the wooden terraces on the slopes close to the brook and by the brook. In some restaurants, tables are on the rafts. The valley covered by forests is cool even in the summer. The commonly preferred dish in this area is usually trout. The trout are kept in the pools in restaurant gardens. They are usually fried, cooked in a crock or grilled. Also, there are some sites in the area proper for mountain-biking and trekking.

Oba Brook

Coming from the Taurus Mountains, Oba Brook falls into the Mediterranean from the west of Dim Brook. There are picnic areas in Kadıpınarı whre the brook rises.

The shade of pine and plane trees is always cool. Kadıini Cave, known as the first settlement of Alanya in the prehistoric times, is here, too. It's inconvenient to enter the cave for safety as there are no arrangements yet. Trout fish is the most desirable dish and it's a preferable dish in the restaurants of Kadıpınarı.

Alara Beach  

It extendes almost two km. from Alara creek to Karaburun Bay. It has a sandy beach. It is well organized and there is a small island in the bay.

İncekum Beach   

It is approximately 1 km length and famous with very fine sand. It gets deeper after 5 meters. You can hire umbrella and sun beds in this beach.

Konaklı Beach  

It is nearly 10 km. long. It is totally sand but some small rocks give a naturel look to the beach. Along the beach are buffets and water sport are available.

Portakal Beach  

To the east of the city centre, and about 1 km. long. It owns a Blue Flag. As a part of Keykubat Beach, starts from the plce where Oba Creek reaches the sea and finished where the Dim Creek reaches the sea. Behind the beach rises magnificient slopes of the Taurus Mountains. In some parts the beach is 100 m. Wide. The sea is mostly sandy. Entrance is free. It is possible to get service from refreshment stalls or the beach cafes of the hotels. Various water sports are possible as well. Windsurf instructors are available in some hotels. The water is cool where the creeks reach the sea.

Cleopatra Beach  

To the west of the historical peninsula, in front of Damlataş Cave. It has a Blue Flag. The sea and the beach is sandy. The beach leans backwards the skirts of peninsula. The small bay of this beach extending to the peninsula and made of stones is called Cleopatra. According to the mythology Egyption Queen Cleopatra, in a voyage in Mediterranean, stopped by in Alanya and had a swim in this bay. The special feature of Cleopatra Bay is that the clearness of its water. People who are looking for a long swimming coarse can swim along the coast to Fosforlu Cave under the peninsula. If you have a goggles you can see the fish and other services due to payment.

Cultural and Sports Activity

• 13.Mountain Bikeı 13-15 March 2009
• 9.Urbanball (sky ball), 23 April 2009
• 9. Alanya Mediterranean Cartoon Contest 30 May 2009
• 9. Alanya Tourism and Art Festival 30-31 May 2009
• 15.Street Handball Tournament 1-5 July 2009
• 8. Beach Handball Tournament, 2-5 July 2009
• 9.Street Basketball Tournament, 11-15 August 2009
• Alanya Beach Volleyball Tournament 19-23 August 2009
• 7. Outdoor Tennis Tournament, 1-8 September 2009
• 7. Alanya Jazz Days 1-4 October 2009
• 19. Alanya Triathlon, 25 October 2009
• 17.Alanya Swimming Tournament  27 October 2009