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Alanya is also known as the ‘Pearl of the Turkish Riviera’ and is also world-famous for its kilometres of fine and clean beach, crystal-clear water and the mild Mediterranean climate, boasting 300 days of sunshine a year. Alanya is reached by a scenic road turning north toward the Taurus mountains and Konya through banana plantations.
The historical past, the various natural and historical sights and the multi-cultural way of life have made Alanya an unforgettable experience. The many different kinds of watersports, the colourful bazaar and the happy night-life have made Alanya very popular with local and European tourists with its population rising up to 400,000 in the summer season.
CLIMATE
With mild, wet winters and hot dry summers, the climate in Alanya is typical of any town on the Mediterranean coast. December and January are the wettest months while August is the driest. The average temperature in Alanya is around 19 degrees, August is the hottest with an average of 27 degrees, while January is the coldest with an average of only 12 degrees. The temperature in the mountain plateaus is normally 13-14 degrees lower than Alanya. In the town, night frost is rare and snow is almost never seen. Nevertheless, bananas, oranges and vegetables are always planted in places where the cold and the north winds from the mountains cannot reach them.
BRIEF HISTORY
The town did not play an important role in antiquity. At the end of the 2nd century BC, notorious pirate ruler, Diyototus Tryphone, made it a base for his slaving activities. In 67 BC, Pompey conducted a war on behalf of Rome against piracy on the Mediterranean coast of Anatolia. He completely destroyed the pirate fleet in a naval battle. Mark Antony presented Coracesion as a wedding gift to Cleopatra. A flight of brick stairs descending the cliffs is said to have been used by Cleopatra to go down for her morning swim. After the Romans and Byzantine Cilician kings ruled the city for about 150 years. Later the city was ruled by Seljuks. In the Seljuk period the town was renamed as Alaiye and shortly after became the winter residence of the Seljuk Sultans. Before the Republic period, the city was dominated by Ottomans.
ALANYA CASTLE
The fortress is 117 meters above sea level with medieval walls running 6 km around the summit, it was originally established as a smaller pirate fortress on the protected penninsula. It was conquered and destroyed by Pompey in 67 B.C., Alaaddin Keykubat captured the fort after a long siege and made Alanya an important naval base. Today fine fortifications were built the. The platform pinned into the cliff at the edge of the citadel is said to have been the place where condemned prisoners were thrown to their deaths.
High above the rest of the city is the old castle, it is located approximately 250 meters above sea level and so the views from there are breathtaking. Ä°t is difficult to confirm the exact foundation date and the cost but contributions from the Romans, Byzantines and Seljuks are there to be seen. However, the biggest influence on the size and shape of the castle can be ascribed to the Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat. A 6 km town wall with 140 watch towers winds around the castle. It made it almost impossible for would be attackers to go undiscovered. On the way up the winding, and sometimes very steep, road, you will find small cafes and cosy restaurants. Near the Sultan Palace you can visit a church/mosque which is a very important relic of the Christian and Islamic heritage of the town. You can also visit the area of the castle where many prisoners from the castle’s dungeons met their fate. When the dungeons became overcrowded, the prisoners who had been there the longest were packed together on a little platform at the edge of the castle. One by one the prisoners pushed each other over the edge until only one was left. He then got three shots at throwing a stone over the edge and into the sea. If he failed, he too was pushed over the edge with certain death as a result!
THE RED TOWER
After 5 years of battle, Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat finally conquered Alanya and had The Red Tower built primarily to defend the town shipyard. The Red Tower is one of the town main landmarks.
DAMLATAS CAVE
During blasting work for the construction of Alanya harbour in 1948, engineers discovered the Damlatas Cave. Today the cave is one of the town most popular attractions. The cave has stalagmites and stalactites which are several thousand years old. The climate in the cave is said to be therapeutic for those with respiratory problems, especially asthma sufferers.
ALANYA MUSEUM
The historical musuem of Alanya is divided into two sections, ethnographical and archaeological. In the ethnographical section coins from the Lydian, Roman and Otoman periods are displayed. Taking pride of place in this area is a statue, in bronze, of the Greek mythological hero, Hercules. The statue was originally discovered 35 km from Alanya and attempts were made to smuggle it out of Turkey, however, this plan was prevented at the last minute and the 51.5 cm high statue can therefore be seen in the musuem today. This section of the musuem also houses several pots found in the sea. It is possible to see how the houses were furnished in the last and there is a fine collection of weapons, woven carpets, pld Korans, articles of clothing and even a beautiful decorated library.
The archaeological section of the musuem is located outdoors. It is laid out as a large garden with flowers and animals. In the garden there are examples of different graveyards from the Greek, Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Furthermore, it is possible to see how the production of olive oil took place in the past.
WATER SPORTS
The Mediterranean cost of Turkey is famous for scuba-diving, water-skiing and deep sea fishing. White water rafting, para-sailing and boat trips around the magnificent coastline. A large watersport Fun Park for children is only a short bus ride away.
SHOPPING
Alanya is a shopper paradise with high quality leather goods, world-famous Turkish carpets, jewellery, shoes and a large range of the latest adult and children fashions, all at bargain prices.
Tips for shopping
You can bargain on most prices, except food. If you are good, you can, in some places, get the price reduced by as much as 50% and jewellery prices by up to 30%.
In general, salesmen are honest and you need not worry that you are being tricked into buying a copy at the price of an original, usually the price reflects the authenticity of the goods. You will often find that copy goods are of good quality anyway.
If you are buying jewelry or carpets, be sure to obtain a Certificate of Guarantree with the shop name on it.
Gold
It is well worth buying gold in Alanya. The price of gold is the same all over the world but there is a big difference when it comes to the cost of manufacture, therefore the jewellery shops in Alanya always offer gold at better prices than at home
Leather Goods
When travelling in Turkey, it is highly recommended that you buy leather goods due to the excellent prices. The raw material, preparation and workmanship are all cheaper in Turkey. Leather shops in Alanya are in abundance and thus provide a large selection.
Markets
The cost of living is low in Alanya and the fruit and vegetables are fresh and of high quality. They are mostly produced in the surrounding villages and valleys. The produce is brought into Alanya on a daily basis so is always fresh. The same applies to meat. Many tourists and locals visit the markets to shop for their daily needs. You cannot bargain the price of fruit and vegetables, this is not necessary anyway as the prices on seasonal produce are now to begin with. The markets are open from sunrise to sunset.
ALANYA’S SUBURBS
The surrounding suburbs of Alanya are all easily accessed by public transport.
Okurcalar (mostly villas) is situated 32 km west of Alanya and has 12,000 inhabitants. The famous historical Alara Castle is located here and the famous Alara brook takes its name from the castle.
Avsallar (mostly villas) is situated 23 km west of Alanya and has 8,400 inhabitants. Crystal-clear water and clean beaches are the attraction of this area. You can shop in comfort here, there is a small Health Centre and also several pharmacies.
Konakli (apartments & villas). Konakli is a very pleasant village It is a very popular area for tourists, as well as investors, as it is quiet and away from the busy centre. Konakli is mostly villa-living as opposed to apartments. An idyllic holiday resort situated approx. 15 km from Alanya with 28,000 inhabitants. Konakli has the oldest historical culture of this area. This resort caters for all your needs, there is a small Health Centre and several pharmacies. A local farmers market takes place here every Wednesday.
Oba (mostly apartments) is about 3 km east of Alanya. A small river with the same name runs through this suburb. In the green landscape, oranges, mandarins, lemons, avocado and strawberries are grown. Oba is the most popular and most beautiful suburb of Alanya. A newly constructed shopping centre and a pedestrian zone also adds to the attraction of this suburb.
Tosmur (mostly apartments) is approx. 3.5 km to the east of Alanya with 6,000 inhabitants. Many fruits and vegetables are grown in this area. A small Aqua Park offers pleasure for young and old. There is also a bazaar where you can buy souvenirs, textiles and food.
Kestel (mostly villas) is about 7 km east of Alanya. Dim Cave (the 2nd largest limestone cave in Turkey) is located here. Additionally, there is the famous Dim ﾇay (Dim River), a very popular excursion destination in the middle of the Taurus mountains, in marvellous nature, where you can relax, eat delicious grill dishes and swim in the cold and clear water of the creek
Mahmutlar (mostly apartments) is the largest suburb, approx. 13 km east of Alanya with 23,000 inhabitants. It’s a beautiful place with a 4.5 km long beach and its own town centre. Every Tuesday and Saturday the local farmers’ market takes place. There is also a private clinic and pharmacies located in the centre. There are also historical sights, such as The Syedra Castle and the ancient city Iotape. This suburb is particularly popular with the Irish, both as a holiday resort and for property investment.
Kargicak (mostly villas) is about 20 km to the east of Alanya with 4,200 inhabitants. The first-class bananas are harvested here as well as a variety of fruit and vegetables.
Demirtas (mostly villas) is the last settlement of Alanya, located about 30 km east and has 4,000 inhabitants. A small place where you can enjoy being surrounded by beautiful nature without interference. Citrus fruits and vegetables are grown here.
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