Alanya City Highlights
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 Alanya‘s population reaches nearly 400,000 inhabitants and has always been an important center for different cultures because of its natural strategic position on a small peninsula. You’ll visit some of most important sites and get acquainted with this growing port city. Alanya‘s population reaches nearly 400,000 inhabitants and has always been an important center for different cultures because of its natural strategic position on a small peninsula. You’ll visit some of most important sites and get acquainted with this growing port city. On the peninsula stands the medieval Alanya Citadel, dating back to 1226. Most major landmarks in the city are found inside and around the castle. The current castle was built over existing fortifications and served as a palace for the local government and as a defensive structure in times of invasions. Inside the castle is the Suleymaniye Mosque and Caravanserai. The old city walls surround much of the eastern peninsula and can be walked. Inside the walls are numerous historic villas, well preserved examples of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, most built in the early 19th century. The Red Tower is another well-known structure in Alanya. This approximately 108 feet (33 meter) high brick octagonal building stands guard at the foot of the castle and nowadays houses the municipal ethnographic museum. The last of Alanya Citadel’s 83 towers, this structure protected the arsenal and remains one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture. Housed in a more Republican Era building, the Archaeological Museum is home to classical pieces found in and around the city as well as historic copies of the Qur’an. The museum has one exterior and 14 interior exhibition halls displaying items dating back to the Phrygian, Lydian, Greek and Byzantine periods. In its garden you’ll find Bronze Age, Phrygian, Lydian and Urartian artifacts and Hellenistic pottery items. Next you’ll visit the Damlatas Cave, known to date back to 20,000 B.C. It was found in 1948 by accident during the construction of the construction of the harbor and since then, it has been an important center of attraction as well as a healing center, especially for asthma sufferers. After visiting the cave, you’ll also have a shopping opportunity at a local shop before returning to the pier. Note: We recommend that you dress in layers, as well as comfortable walking shoes. The temperature of the caves is approximately 70ºF (22ºC). There are almost 100 steps in Damlatas Cave and 120 steps in Alanya Castle. |
