HISTORICAL PLACES

Alanya Castle
Alanya Castle, with walls stretching approximately 6.5 kilometers, is located on a peninsula rising up to 250 meters above sea level. Although the settlement on the Alanya Peninsula, also known as Kandeleri, dates back to the Hellenistic period, the historical structure that has survived to the present day largely belongs to the 13th-century Seljuk period.

The castle was built by Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, who conquered and rebuilt the city in 1221. The castle has 83 towers and 140 bastions. Nearly 400 cisterns were built to meet the water needs of the city within the walls during the Middle Ages, and some of them are still in use today.

Red Tower
One of the symbols of Alanya, the Red Tower is a 13th-century Seljuk structure with an octagonal plan. Built to protect the harbour and shipyard against attacks from the sea, the tower was used for military purposes for centuries.

Shipyard
Alanya Shipyard consists of five arched docks and was designed to make maximum use of daylight. It is known as the first Seljuk shipyard on the Mediterranean.

Tophane
Located next to the shipyard on a rock 10 meters above sea level, Tophane was built to protect the shipyard. Constructed from cut stone in 1227, this structure is also known to have been used for casting cannons for warships.

Ehmedek
Located on the northern slope of the castle, Ehmedek was rebuilt during the Seljuk period as the “middle castle” on the site of a small Byzantine fortress. It occupies a strategic position against land attacks.

Süleymaniye Mosque
The mosque was first built by Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat in 1231. After it was destroyed, it was rebuilt in the 16th century during the Ottoman period by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Bedesten
Located inside the castle near Süleymaniye Mosque, Bedesten is believed to have been built as a bazaar or inn during the Karamanid period in the 14th or 15th century. Today, the historical building is used as a hotel, restaurant, and cafeteria.

Mint
The structures located on Cilvarda Cape at the tip of the peninsula are popularly known as the “Mint.” However, there is no confirmed information that coins were minted in these buildings. One of the stone structures, thought to date from the 11th century, is a small church.

Akşabe Sultan Masjid
Located inside the castle, west of Bedesten, Akşabe Sultan Masjid was built in 1230 by Akşabe Sultan, the first commander of Alaaddin Keykubat in Alanya Castle.

Andızlı Mosque
Named after the juniper tree next to it, Andızlı Mosque carries the original architectural features of the Seljuk period. Its pulpit is one of the fine examples of Seljuk wood carving.

Sitti Zeynep Tomb
Located on the road leading up to the castle, on a large rock, the tomb is thought to date from the Seljuk or Ottoman period.

Hıdrellez Church
Hıdrellez Church, believed to have been built at the beginning of the 19th century on a slope overlooking the Mediterranean, is still visited by both Christian and Muslim visitors today.

Şarapsa Inn
Şarapsa Inn was built as a caravanserai on the historical Silk Road by Seljuk Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev. Today, it is used as an entertainment center.

Alara Castle
Located on the Silk Road, Alara Castle was built to ensure the safety of caravans resting at the inn by Alara Stream. The castle contains tunnels carved into the rocks, a small palace, rooms, a mosque, and bath remains.

Alarahan
Alarahan was built as a caravanserai on a flat area about 800 meters from Alara Castle. Built in 1231, the inn has been restored and is now used as a restaurant and shopping center.

Kargı Inn
Located west of Alanya, north of Kargı Stream, Kargı Inn is believed to have been used as a caravanserai. Its rooms are arranged around a central courtyard.