The famous Turkish resort awaits guests every summer and its expectations are invariably met. There are several vacationers for every city dweller in the season. Such an influx of those wishing to plunge into the warm Mediterranean Sea helps the region to receive a significant contribution to the budget, and the townspeople - to look confidently into tomorrow. But not only package tours live a foreign tourist, and when asked what to see in Alanya, its residents have to answer quite regularly.
Leading its history from the Hellenes, Alanya boasts medieval architectural sights, beautiful natural areas, and modern entertainment for every taste. There is something to do here for children and adults, curious and observant, active and lazy, gourmets and shopaholics.
TOP 10 attractions in Alanya
Alanya fortress
On an impregnable rocky peninsula, protruding far into the sea, stands a medieval fortress, photos of which are often adorned with advertising tourist brochures. The most famous landmark of Alanya was built in the 13th century. Sultan of the Seljuk Ala-ad-din Kei-Kubad. It is famous for the fact that during his reign the Sultanate of Konya reached its highest prosperity.
For the construction of the citadel, the sultan chose a place on a high cliff, where the ruins of the fortifications of the ancient Romans and Byzantines have been preserved. The builders used the foundation and materials of the previous defensive structures to build the fortress. Some of them have survived on the territory of the Alanya fortress to this day, and during the tour you can look at the brick cisterns and the Church of St. George from the Byzantine era.
To get there: by cable car from Cleopatra beach or by bus. N4.
Red tower
Kyzyl Kule stands out among the defensive structures of Alanya. The Red Tower even takes a place on the city flag, and Alanya residents call it the hallmark of the resort.
The honor of building the tower belongs to the same sultan Ala-ad-din Key-Qubad, who decided to entrust the project and its implementation to a real professional. An Arab fortification engineer and architect Ebu Ali Reha el-Kettani was discharged from Aleppo to Anatolia, who fulfilled the order perfectly. The tower has no analogues in the region and is considered one of the most striking examples of the defensive architecture of the Middle Ages.
In 1226, construction and decoration work was completed. The tower was named Red because of the color of the brick. For many centuries, she successfully coped with the assigned tasks and protected docks and port facilities from enemy encroachments.
Kyzyl Kule has been open for visitors since 1979:
- The height of the octagonal building is 33 m, the diameter is 29 m.
- The length of each of the eight tower walls is 12.5 m.
- 85 stone steps inside Kyzyl Kule lead to the fifth floor.
- The inner space is occupied by a reservoir where water can be stored.
- Alanya Ethnographic Museum is open on the ground floor.
Most of the museum's exposition inside the Red Tower is devoted to heraldry. After visiting the museum, you will learn why the city's flag depicts a two-headed eagle.
Tersane Shipyard
This attraction of Alanya has collected a huge number of admiring reviews from tourists. Look at the shipyard built in the first third of the 13th century. every day hundreds of visitors come to the city. Tersane looks especially advantageous in the evening, when the illumination lights up with hundreds of lights. In the early morning, hardworking boats of local fishermen leave the quays, and in the afternoon you can take a boat trip and admire the Mediterranean landscapes and views of the city from the water.
Tersane appeared in 1228 for the needs of the Seljuk Sultan's flotilla. It took only a year to build it. The shipyard built warships and repaired those that returned battered by battles and waves. Outwardly, the shipyard is a vivid example of the architecture of the Seljuk era - solid dimensions, arched supports and monumental stonework allowed the structure to stand for 800 years practically unchanged.
Suleymaniye Mosque
When familiarizing with the sights of Alanya, it may seem that the most solid buildings appeared in the city during the reign of Sultan Ala-ad-din Kei-Qubad. This statement is true, and another confirmation of this is the Suleymaniye Mosque. It was erected in 1231 by order of the Seljuk ruler. The authors of the project pursued an important goal: they were going to achieve ideal acoustic properties of the room, for which a half dozen balls were suspended from the ceiling.
In fairness, it should be noted that the original mosque of the 13th century. collapsed three centuries later, and in the 16th century. Sultan Suleiman I the Magnificent built a new architectural masterpiece with perfect, as before, acoustics.
Externally, the mosque is distinguished from similar ones by only one minaret, but the graceful carving of window openings and gates is made in the best traditions of Eastern architecture.
Damlatash
In the center of a popular beach resort on Turkey's Antalya coast, you will find a cave of extraordinary beauty. It was accidentally discovered during construction work in the port of Alanya in 1948.
A narrow 50-meter passage leads into the cavity of the cave, behind which a hall with bizarre stone formations, whose age is about 15 thousand years, opens. The main hall has two floors, its height is about 15 m. The name of the natural attraction of Alanya is formed by two Turkish words and means "stone drop".
Surprisingly, in the air of Damlatash, the nature itself "collected" a lot of healing factors, and therefore staying here is very useful for people suffering from respiratory diseases. Inside Damlatash, there is always a stable temperature (about + 22 ° C), high humidity, the maximum level of carbon dioxide and negative ions.
Dim cave
Another interesting object for tourists who are fond of speleology is located 12 km away. northeast of Alanya in the Western Taurus mountain range. At an altitude of 1649 m above sea level on Mount Jebi-Reis in 1986, researchers discovered the Dim Cave. Today it ranks second in the ranking of the largest underground formations in Turkey.
The length of the main cavity of the cave is more than 400 m. In addition, to the left of the entrance, there is a “big hall” with an area of 200 sq. M. m., which is decorated with the purest underground lake.
Dim cave is slightly cooler than Damlatash - no more than + 19 ° С at any time of the year. Affected by a solid height above sea level.
Archaeological Museum
The exposition of the Alanya Archaeological Museum is a great occasion to take a break from the hot sun in the cool shade of the exhibition halls with an interesting collection. Scientists are still replenishing it with new rarities, because the land of Turkey is rich in artifacts like no other region in the world. What has already been discovered is exhibited in 14 halls of the city museum opened in 1967.
It is a thankless task to build a scale for the value of exhibits, but nevertheless, some of them are worth noting. The museum proudly displays stone inscriptions made in the 7th century. BC. and the Quran written by hand. Collections of ancient weapons and ancient coins are of undoubted interest for history buffs. Admirers of beauty will pay attention to the sculpture of the ancient hero Hercules, found in the mountains during excavations. According to researchers, the statue was cast no later than the 2nd century. BC.
Part of the exposition is exposed in the open air. In the courtyard of the museum, you can look at hand-made carpets, items of national clothing, jewelry and tools used in the old days in Alanya and the entire Antalya coast of Turkey.
Water park in Alanya
What Russian doesn't like water parks, especially if it's a water park in Turkey? During a beach holiday, you also want active entertainment, and therefore water slides and other attractions of varying degrees of extreme are so popular with tourists.
Water Planet water park is built on a high rocky shore 30 km away. from the resort of Antalya. It has its own hotel, and you can stay there during your vacation to enjoy the entertainment free of charge and every day.
Attractions and water games in Water Planet are designed for children of all ages and parents of any degree of activity.
Sea Alania Park
The marine park in the suburbs of Alanya will appeal not only to fans of various water attractions, but also to those who are crazy about dolphin shows. In Sea Alania, the tailed artists give several performances every day, in which they are assisted by other representatives of the animal world of the southern seas - lions and seals. Guests of the water park in Alanya can not only watch the show, but also swim with the dolphins.
Diving enthusiasts have the opportunity to study in detail the life of underwater inhabitants. The park has an attraction with a dive to the bottom of a typical corner of the Mediterranean Sea.
When planning an excursion to the Alanya Marine Park, do not forget to check the opening hours on the website and buy tickets in advance - the attraction is very popular at the height of the beach season.
Dim-Chai Valley
Only 6 km. separate the center of the resort from the valley of the Dim-Chay river, which flows in the vicinity of Alanya. Having artificially dammed the river, the Turks received a reservoir where valuable fish species are raised. For tourists, an active recreation area has been equipped on its shores and, having arrived at Dim-Chay, you can fish, fly bungee, admire the surroundings from the height of the observation deck, smoke a hookah and dine in the fresh air, choosing from the menu your favorite Turkish dishes.
To get there: by minibus from the central market or by taxi. Direction - "Dim Tea Picnic".
