|
General information:
To the east and west of Alanya
lie inviting turquoise sea fringed by extensive
golden beaches. The magnificent Taurus Mountains
provide a pine-clad, breathtaking backdrop to
this enchanting resort. Most of old Alanya lies on
the great
rocky promontory that juts out into the sea.
Crowning the headland is a sprinkling of Citadel
towers and just below is a delightful harbour
guarded by the Red Tower, an unusual building that
dates back to 1225. At the waterfront there are plenty of friendly bars,
tea-houses, cafes and restaurants with an excellent range of international
and traditional cuisine. Sea caves and grottoes indent the rocky shore
below the Citadel. Some can only be reached
by boat but you can walk up to
the most famous, Damlatas or "Cape of Dripping Stones". The beautiful cave
has a host of impressive stalactites and stalagmites with a moist warm
atmosphere said to benefit asthma sufferers.
Visit the impressive 14th century fortress which sits high above Alanya.
Within its walls are quaint houses, mosques and a Byzantine church
decorated with frescoes. There are twisting narrow alleyways tempting
shoppers with their colourful boutiques and stalls of cheese-cloth
dresses, carpets, copper and jewellery. As well as its cultural and
historical sights, Alanya has an unbeatable beach life too. Beautiful
sandy Cleopatra beach lies to the west of the resort while the fine sands
of Alanya beach stretch to the east. A good range of water-sports are
available too.
The nightlife is easy-going and relaxed with a wide choice of
night-spots located at the edge of town. Take your pick from lively bars
to late-night discos for real night-owls. Alanya is truly a holiday makers
paradise. With superb scenery, historical sights, a relaxed beach life and
a lively nightlife - it's easy to see why Alanya is so idyllic

The
Historical Town Centre:
It would be most becoming to start the tour in the historical town
centre of Alanya from the harbour.
Starting a tour from Kızıl Kule (the Red Tower), you can make your way
towards the Shipyard, the middle part of the castle and the inner castle
on the top.
Kızıl Kule (Red Tower)-The Shipyard:
Regarded as the most attractive architectural structure of Alanya and
almost a symbol of the town , Kizil
Kule was commissioned by Aladdin Keykubat , the Seljuk Sultan in 1226, and
called Kızıl Kule for the red (Turkish : kızıl) bricks used in the
construction. Kızıl Kule is 33 m. High having an octagonal plan with five
storeys.
The bottom floor of the tower, where one pays an entrance fee, is used as
an annex of Alanya Museum for exhibition of ethnographic works of art. You
can see costumes of the Ottoman period, hand-woven textiles of the region
and looms where these handicrafts were produced among the works of art
exhibited. leaving the tower behind, follow the pathway by the walls for a
further 200 m after going down the stairs; you will reach the shipyard,
again built during Sultan Keykubat’s period. The shipyard was built two
years after the tower and is the only remaining shipyard from the
Seljuk's. It has five docks each of 7 m. Width and 43 m. Depth all opening
to the sea.

Alanya
Castle:
After Kızıl Kule and the Shipyard, Alanya Castle follows as part of
the tour. It takes 45 minute walk to climb up the castle. Don’t miss to
see Arab Evliyası which was built as a church in the 11th century and then
converted into a mosque; the Suleymaniye Mosque,
the Bedesten (market place) beside the mosque, resorted and now used as a
restaurant, bar and hotel, Ehmendek where the commander of the castle
resided, little houses of Alanya remaining from the Seljuk's and the
Ottomans, Aksebe Sultan Masjid and Tomb. You can
then go up the Inner Castle. Entrance to the Inner Castle is charged. The
entrance gate opens to the large courtyard where on the left side you will
see the big cistern vaulted with red bricks on the top. This cistern is
the biggest of 400 cisterns existing on various parts of the castle and is
still in use. One of the most important works of art present in the inner
castle is the Byzantine Church (Aye Yorgi), once used as a Masjid during
the Seljuk's period, standing in quite strong and good condition. The
stairs right behind the church will lead you to a place which we can call
exactly a viewing terrace. You should view the fascinating panorama of the
town in three directions, especially at sunset. Adam Atacağı Tower is the
last spot of the inner castle tour. It is related that the prisoners of
the Roman times were made to play a similar gamble. They were given three
stones and one who managed to throw the stone into the sea was released
whereas those who could not were thrown into the sea through a catapult.
The name Adam Atacağı (=Man Thrower) is given for that reason.

Damlatas Cave:
After the Castle tour , the second route climbing down leads you to
the entrance door of Damlatas? Cave which lies to
the west of the peninsula. The Damlatas beach is
also named after this cave.
Adorned with alluring stalactites and stalagmites of various colours, the
cave has a constant temperature of 22-23 degrees Celsius. It is said that
the atmosphere of the cave has a healing effect on asthma except the
allergic type and rheumatism with a humidity of 90-100 % and very high
rate of carbon containing some radioactivity.
The section where stalactites and stalagmites are seen is a cavity of
13-14 m. Width and 15 m. Height. Tours to the cave are scheduled in two
different types: Sight seeing as well as health tours.
Caves:
Join one of the excursions to cover the Alanya Peninsula from the
sea, and to see Kızıl Kule and Alanya Castle.
During this excursion, your vessel will call at three caves. The first
stop is the Pirate’s Cave. The second is the Lovers
Cave and the third one is Fosforlu Magara
(cave). Vessels are able to enter the caves. Once inside, the water shines
almost as if phosphorescently . Hence , the name : "Fosforlu Magara".
Swimming here is an enjoying experience.
Alanya
Museum:
Alanya is a rich historic site. The museums of the town gives a
clear idea of the wealth. Alanya Museum comprises of three secions. The
first is employed to display archaeological finds belonging to the
Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods. There are finds dated to
prehistory, too. The bronze statue of Heracles in this section is
remarkably impressive. There are ethnographic objects in the second
section. Majority of the works are manuscripts, Korans and calligraphy.
Also inside the museum a sample Alanya Home can be seen. The pieces
displayed in the courtyard, comprise the third section. Sarchophagi and
similar archaeological objects are displayed here. |