- Benefits of Turkey's southernmost resort
- View Alanya from above
- Walk around the city
- Go down to the sea
A wide section of the Turkish Riviera, where the small cozy town of Alanya is now located, according to local legends, was once the property of Cleopatra. A strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea, protected from the currents of northern air by the Taurus Mountains, was presented to the Egyptian queen by Mark Antony.
Alanya is the southernmost resort in Turkey. It is famous among beach lovers for its open spaces. The beaches here occupy several tens of kilometers, and the hotels are built at a decent distance from each other, so vacationers will not be able to complain about the crowdedness and lack of privacy corners.
Advantages of Turkey's southernmost resort
Why should a traveler choose Alanya over all other resorts? It has several advantages:
- the presence of Gazipasa international airport, which allows you to be on the Mediterranean coast in 3-4 hours in high season;
- long sandy beaches and clear sea;
- the air and water temperature is several degrees higher than in other resorts in Turkey, which is especially appreciated by vacationers who come here in April or October;
- the pricing policy of the resort of Alanya is quite democratic;
- the presence of numerous entertainments for the whole family: playgrounds, amusement parks, discos, restaurants.
View Alanya from above
If you get tired of a serene vacation on the beach by the turquoise sea, then you can go to explore the ancient, medieval Alanya. It is here that the only surviving Seljuk fortress is located not only in Turkey, but throughout the world. It was built in the 13th century on the site of ancient Roman fortifications, which the Byzantines converted into a small citadel. By the way, several Orthodox churches were located on its territory at that time. The Turks, while erecting their fortress, did not touch the Byzantine sacral buildings, and tourists can still see them now.
For 12 years in the southernmost resort of Turkey, Alanya, a stronghold with more than a hundred bastions, with eight dozen towers, surrounded by three rows of strong walls, appeared. This citadel has never been conquered by an enemy army.
You can climb to the observation deck in the fortress on a special lift. All guests are advised to bring a few pebbles with them for one experiment. It is said that the Ottomans turned their citadel into a prison. But every criminal who was here had a chance to be saved. He was taken out to a platform above a rock standing by the sea, and presented with three pebbles. If the poor man could throw stones to the water, he received freedom, if not, he remained in custody. Tourists also train in throwing stones, but few manage to cope with the task. However, this, of course, is not the main attraction of the fortress. From the observation deck, a magnificent panorama of the city spread out below opens.
Walk around the city
After visiting the fortress, you can go to the Old Town, as if frozen in the Middle Ages. It seems that the southernmost resort of Turkey has not changed since the time of the Ottoman Empire: small houses randomly occupy the slopes of the hill, above which the citadel soars, the muezzin announces the beginning of prayer, and the old people sit in taverns for days on end.
You can try local tea, and at the same time inspect the collection of antiques, in the Historical Museum of Turkish Life. It is located in one of the old houses in the Old Town.
From the museum you can walk to the Red Tower, a 29-meter monument that symbolizes the power of the Turkish army. This building was built in 1221 and is now the hallmark of not only Alanya, but the whole of Turkey. The tower also has an observation deck.
Go down to the sea
Romantics, once in Alanya, will gladly go to explore the numerous caves on the coast, which were previously used by pirates. The most popular cave is Maiden. It contained young captives before being sent to the slave markets. They will also like the Lovers' grotto, where they must definitely come with their soulmate.
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The quality of rest often depends on the successful choice of the hotel. It is better to take care of this in advance and choose the best accommodation option for comfort and price.
