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ALANYA
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 (Kızıl 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 Damlataş 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 (Kızlar Cave), where pirates held their women prisoners, and
Lovers Cave (Aşıklar 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 Bademağacı
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 19ºC. The water
averages 21ºC.
How to Get
Alanya is 135 km from Antalya. The
highway connecting the two cities passes through a number of
residential areas and tourist spots. Public buses provide
transportation on the route of Alantur, Bus Station-Ulaş every ten
minutes.
By Road
There is regular bus and minibus
service.
By Air
The nearest airport is in Antalya 130
km away.
Antalya Airport Tel: (+90- 242) 330 32
33
By Rail
The nearest train station is in
Burdur.
By Sea
The port in Alanya is suitable for
large ships with heavy cargo. The port is still being used both for
touristic as well as commercial purposes.During the tourist season,
there are passenger and cargo services between Alanya and Girne (Northern
Cyprus). This is the most important customs port in the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Where to Visit in
ALANYA ???
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.
Kızılkule 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 Selçuk 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 Süleyman Mosque, Akşebe 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 (Kızıl 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 Kargacı 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.
Selçuklu 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.
Süleymaniye (Kale) Mosque
The mosque, which reflects Ottoman architectural design, is known to
have been built in the 16th century on top of a Selçuk temple. The
wooden windows and doors are beautiful examples of Ottoman carvings.
Emir Bedrüddin Mosque
Beside this mosque, which Emir Bedrüddin had built in 1227, is a small
minaret made of cut stone. Its pulpit is one of the examples of
carving art.
Akşebe Sultan Mosque
Akşebe 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 m² inn is made entirely of cut stone. The
guardhouse, fountain, mosque and baths are in mint condition and
certainly worth seeing.
Şarapsa Caravanserai
Located on the 15th km of the Antalya- Alanya highway, Şarapsa
Caravanserai was constructed by Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat's son
Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev II between the years 1236-1246 on an area which
is approximately 850m².
Caves
Damlataş Cave,Büyük Dipsiz Cave,Çimeniçi Cave,Dim Cave,Beldibi Cave,Derya
Cave,The Others Important Caves,
Kadıini Cave :Situated about 15
km northeast of Alanya, at a place called Çatak, 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 Gazipaşa, 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
Akdağ (2451 m.) and Cebelireis (1649 m.) as they are very suitable
places for these sports. Mt. Akdağ 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.
Don't Leave Without
There are many places to camp and to park motorhomes in and around
Alanya.
- Seeing Alanya Castle, the Red Tower and Damlataş Cave,
- Visiting the museums,
- Tasting the local fish,
- Buying a silk scarf
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ALANYA / TURKEY
İNTERNATIONAL
Triathlon in ALANYA - TURKEY
