Alanya: Coast and Medieval History

Alanya brings together a natural beach enclosed by rocks and a peninsula rich in traces of different eras. Damlataş Cave lies on Cleopatra Beach, on the western side of the historic peninsula; above it, Alanya Castle, its walls and buildings shape the historic character of the town. This gives you a clear question to consider when planning your trip: should the coast be your main focus, or would you also like to devote time to the museums and the history of the castle?

Beach, Bay and Damlataş Cave

Cleopatra Beach has Blue Flag status and lies in front of Damlataş Cave. The cave was discovered in 1948 during the extraction of stone for the construction of the port. Its entrance area has a 50-metre-long passage and reaches a height of up to 15 metres. The air in Damlataş Cave is considered constant year-round, at 22°C and 95 per cent humidity. If you are interested in caves and distinctive natural conditions, you will find a different focus here than at the beach.

Cleopatra Bay is also a destination in its own right for travellers who enjoy spending time in and around the water. The water in Cleopatra Bay is considered clear; when swimming with goggles, you can observe fish and natural features of the seabed. Cleopatra Beach and Cleopatra Bay thus represent different aspects of a coastal stay: the natural beach and the underwater world. You can choose your holiday apartment based on whether you want these experiences or the historic buildings to be the main focus of your trip.

Castle, Defensive Architecture and History

The walls of Alanya Castle extend for 6.5 kilometres. The complex has been continuously inhabited throughout its history and is considered one of the best-preserved castles among those still standing in Anatolia. Inside, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman works can be seen together. This makes the castle especially interesting if you would like to discover traces of different eras in one place.

Among its distinctive buildings is the Kızılkule, an outstanding example of 13th-century medieval defensive architecture in the Mediterranean region. It is 33 metres high on the eastern side; on the western side, it is three metres lower because of the sloping terrain. The main gate, called Pazar Kapısı, also dates from the 13th century and served both military and ceremonial functions. The restored gate and the adjoining section of bastion and wall serve as a visitor information centre.

Further historic features lie within the castle: there is a mosque named after Akşebe Sultan, one of the castle’s first commanders, and a mausoleum dating from 1230. The İçkale Palace was built by Alaaddin Keykubat and used as an administrative building. The castle also includes a historic lighthouse that guided ships for many years. The İçkale Church lies north of the palace, between the vaulted barracks room and the courtyard. The İçkale section and the section of the middle castle known as Ehmedek are presented as open-air museums.

Museum and Maritime Buildings

The Alanya Archaeological Museum opened in 1967 with 14 covered exhibition halls and one open-air hall. Its exhibition halls include sections on Anatolian civilisations, shipping and seafaring, Heracles, Alanya Castle and coins. The collections include finds from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, as well as significant Seljuk and Ottoman Turkish-Islamic works. A bronze-cast statue of Heracles from the 2nd century AD receives particular attention. The museum also displays a stone inscription in the Phoenician language, dated to 625 BC, which is considered the oldest dated find from the Alanya area.

The museum is located at the start of the path up to Alanya Castle, on Damlataş Caddesi. If you are interested in archaeological collections, you can include it as a focus of your trip. The Alanya Shipyard, now a ship and maritime museum, offers a different perspective on maritime history. It is 57 metres long and 40 metres deep and consists of five vaulted halls. Ventilation openings in the vaults let in light and allow smoke to escape. Its construction also makes it an interesting visit for travellers interested in historic architecture as well as exhibits.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first decide which themes will shape your trip: coast and water, the castle and defensive architecture, or archaeological and maritime collections. Alanya offers a range of different interests, without requiring a beach holiday and an interest in history to follow the same itinerary. Since 25 February 2000, Alanya has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in the cultural category under criteria (iii) and (iv).

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For the broader travel overview: Antalya.