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Alanya

Sights in Alanya

  1. A

    İç Kale

    Before reaching the entrance to the fort, the road passes through the old inner citadel; this was the Turkish quarter during Ottoman and Seljuk times, and a number of old wooden houses are still standing. At the top is the Ehmedek Kapısı, the gateway to the fort. Enter the İç Kale, where you'll find poorly preserved ruins including cisterns and an 11th-century Byzantine church.

    reviewed

  2. B

    Dripstone Cave

    Close to Cleopatra's Beach, this stalactite-studded cave has humidity levels of 95% and is said to produce a certain kind of air that, if inhaled and exhaled long enough, has the ability to relieve asthma sufferers.

    reviewed

  3. Astım Mağarası

    Sufferers of asthma have good reason to vacation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Two caves in the area are said to produce a certain kind of air that, if inhaled and exhaled for long enough stretches of time, has the ability to relieve the afflicted of their ailment. North of Narlıkuyu, at the Caves of Heaven and Hell, is the site known as Astım Mağarası. This cave is much less touristy, although the jury remains out as to whether you get a better cure in heaven or in hell.

    reviewed

  4. C

    Kızılkule

    This five-storey octagonal defence tower, measuring nearly 30m in diameter, more than 30m in height and with a central cistern within for water storage, looms over the harbour at the lower end of İskele Caddesi. Constructed in 1226 by Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I (who also built the fortress), it was the first structure erected after the Armenian-controlled town surrendered to the sultan. There's a small ethnographic museum here and some 85 steps lead to a roof terrace with views of the harbour. To the south is the only Seljuk-built tersane (shipyard) remaining in Turkey.

    reviewed

  5. Seljuk fortress

    Alanya's most popular ancient site by far is its Seljuk fortress, which overlooks the city as well as the Pamphylian plain and the Cilician mountains. The winding road to the fortress is 3km long, so it's wise to take transport on the journey up. Catch a city bus from Hürriyet Meydanı or opposite the tourist office (10 minutes past the hour). Taxis wait at the bottom of the hill.

    reviewed

  6. D

    Cleopatra's Beach

    Sandy and quite secluded in low season, and with fine views of the fortress, Cleopatra's Beach is the city's best. Alanya's main beaches are also decent, although east of the centre they're fronted by a busy main road.

    reviewed

  7. E

    Atatürk's House Museum

    When Atatürk visited Alanya on 18 February 1935, he slept in a house on Azaklar Sokak, off Fatih Sultan Mehmet Caddesi. The owner of the house left it to the Ministry of Culture, which has turned it into a small museum.

    reviewed

  8. F

    museum

    Alanya's small museum is worth a visit. Artefacts from various regions of Anatolia include tools, jugs and jewellery. Also on display is a life-sized recreation of a traditional 19th-century Alanya home.

    reviewed

  9. G

    Damlataş Aqua Centre

    Alanya boasts a rather impressive waterslide park. Damlataş Aqua Centre is packed with tube slides, pools and other amusements.

    reviewed

  10. H

    Tersane

    Across the harbour from the tower are the remains of the only Seljuk-built tersane remaining in Turkey.

    reviewed

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  16. M

    Alanya Museum

    Alanya's small museum is worth a visit for its artifacts, which include tools, jugs and jewellery collected from other Pamphylian sites in the area.

    reviewed

  17. N

    Alanya Castle

    The sole 'must-see' site in Alanya is the awesome Seljuk-era castle overlooking the city, Pamphylian plain and Cilician mountains.

    Before reaching the entrance to the castle, the road passes a turn-off for the village of Ehmedek, which was the Turkish quarter during Ottoman and Seljuk times. Today a number of old wooden houses still cluster around the fine 16th-century Süleymaniye Camii, the oldest in Alanya. Also here is a former Ottoman bedesten (vaulted covered market) and the Akşebe Türbesi, a distinctive 13th-century mausoleum.

    At the end of the road is the entrance to the İç Kale (Inner Fortress), where you'll mostly find poorly preserved ruins, including a…

    reviewed