GENERAL INFORMATION ON ALANYA

Alanya was founded on a small peninsula with the Taurus Mountains on the North and Mediterrranean Sea on the South.In ancient times it was sometimes called Pamphilia or Cilicia because it was situated on the border between these two provinces Pamphilia and Cilicia.
Alanya's Marina with it's capacity and opportunities has become a frequented point by yacht enthusiasts from all over the world . The marina also appreciated with it's cleanness not only serves countless tourists both from Turkey and abroad but also host various organizations.
The International Alanya harbour is also amongst the selected harbours of Turkey where ships with high passenger capacity can dock.
The city's symbol Kizilkule (Red Tower) with an octagonal plan, was built by the Seljuks in the 13th century.
While in construction, it was difficult to raise stone blocks after a certain height, so the upper side of the tower was constucted with terracotta bricks which to gives the tower its name.
The tower was constructed to protecting the harbor and the shipyard against attacks by the sea and it was used for military purposes for centuries.
The Alanya Castle with walls as long as 6.5 kms. stands on a peninsula that rises 250 meters above from sea level.
The settlement in Alanya peninsula which was also known as Kandeleri, goes back to the Hellenistic period, although the historical composition that can be found today reflects the Seljuk period from the!311 century. The castle was constructed by Alaaddin Keykubat, the Seljuk Sultan who seized the city in 1221 and reconstructed it. The castle has 83 towers and 140 bastions.
The donjon at the peak of the penisula now serves as an open air museum. Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat's palace was here.
Additionally, there are restaurants and cafes on the road leading to the castle and on hillsides which dominae the harbour. The castle is open to traffic. This road takes nearly 1 hour by walking.
The shipyard construction which started near Kizilkule in 1227 six years after Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat had seized the city was completed within a year.
The area of the shipyard was chosen in order to make the most of the daylight.
Damlatas Cave is in Alanya and near the sea. It is at a distance of 3 kms to the city centre. The cave's total length is 30 mts.and is a type dry and horizontal cave. The cave covers a surface of 200 square meters. The cave that has a matchless view with numerous stalactites and stalagmites is 15 meters' high.
After investigations made by doctors and chemists, it was found that the cave has a good effect on asthma.
Alanya Museum that was opened in 1967 is in the Alanya city centre near Damlataş beach.
There are two sections in the museum, and the pieces that have been gathered from Alanya and it's environs and also pieces that were taken from the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations to give us an idea about the chronologic progress in Anatolia are displayed.
There is a separate hall for the Heracles statute which has become the symbol of the Alanya Museum.
Ataturk House and Museum is an example of historical civil architecture in Alanya. Some photos of Ataturk from the first years ofthe War of Independance and early years of the republic are displayed in the first floor ofthe museum.
Syedra is situated 20 kms east of Alanya. According to excavations that were held by Alanya Archeology Museum, is assumed that the history ofthe city goes back to the 7n century BC.
The city expands over a large area and a columned street of 10 mts. wide and 250 mts. long is at south eastern part ofthe city.
The temple, theatre, acropolis, necropolis, agora and residential house ruins can be counted among other monuments of the city.
Dim Cave is one ofthe most beautiful caves of Turkey. Stalactites, stalagmites, columns, macaroni shield and wall formations in the cave are very ornamented and rich. Situated 11km to Alanya with it's environment full of picnic areas and forests, Dim Cave is frequented by large number of tourists. The cave is open for visits throughout the year.
All through the Dim River, numerous tables placed within the river beds, as well as country side restaurants near the river shores are to be found. Your feet which touch stones, grass and flowers in the picnic fields are here left to cold water. Alara Han is situated on a plain at a distance of 800 mts to Alara castle and near Alara river.
This building was constructed only by using big section stones as a caravanserai on a 2 thousand square meters surface. The caravanserai that was built in 1231 was restored a couple of years ago and today it is used as a restaurant and shopping centre.
You can have lunch at a small country side restaurant by Alara river and take a swim in the river while waiting for service.
The beach of Cleopatra is a extension of Damlatas beach which extends for nearly 2 kilometers. It is a blue flag beach. Both the sea and the beach are sandy. It has a large sea shore.
This is the most favorite beach of Alanya; tens of thousands of visitors come here in the summer.
Alanya is a faultless beauty where blue and green are blend in together everywhere.

In Alanya, the sunset breaks the good news for a new life and the night life which lasts until dawn.
Bars and discos welcome everybody who feels young.
Even the stars in the sky are dancing. The yellow light that spreads out over the impressive walls of the middle age castle takes one to another dimension of time.
There is no limit to dance, music and entertainment. You can hear the sound of a new song from the most rhythmic to the most romantic from the doors of the bars every step in the quay and market place.
In Alanya life goes on day and night without taking a break.