From Ancient Times to the Present: Antalya’s nicknames

Antalya is one of the most visited cities in the world,  every year it attracts an average of 10.5 million tourists.
From ancient times, through the Ottoman era, to this very day, Antalya has always been a thriving and lively city, and the city has been given many nicknames: 

Home of Attalos: Attalos was a King of Pergamon and the founder of modern-day Turkish city Antalya. As long as 2000 years ago King Attalos II of Bergama ordered his most favoured courtiers, "Go, find me such a place on the face of this earth that all kings, all rulers will hanker after it. Find me such a place that nobody will be able to take their eyes off it. Go and find me paradise on earth." In spite of the difficulty of carrying out such an order, even, in a sense, its impossibility, the courtiers set out and travelled far and wide. They travelled for weeks, for months but could not come upon a place such as the king desired. Until, travelling one day down the road known as Çubuk Beli, the gates of heaven opened to them amongst pines on the skirts of the Taurus Mountains on an enchanted Mediterranean evening! The snow-covered peaks of the Beydağları range, the green of the unspoiled forests, the silver sands and the indigo blue of the sea illuminated by the setting sun took away the breath of the Bergama courtiers. On descending from the mountains, they were enfolded in the colourful abundance of a heavenly plain. When they finally came to the place where the city of Antalya is located today and were faced with the unrivalled natural beauty which unfolded before them, they thought they had at last found paradise. Returning at a gallop, they told the king, "We have found paradise at your order!" King Attalos wanted to see the place described by his courtiers as "paradise" with his own eyes. When he arrived at the site of modern Anatlya, the king, too, agreed that he had reached paradise and immediately ordered the foundation of a city. Amongst this natural beauty, the people of Bergama built a glorious city within a short time and named it Attaleia, a derivation from the name of King Attalos. Later this name changed in turn to Stelai, Satalya, Adalya and Antalya...

Pamphylia (Very Fruitful Soils): In ancient geography, Pamphylia was the region in the south of Asia Minor, between Lycia and Cilicia, extending from the Mediterranean to Mount Taurus (modern day Antalya province, Turkey). It was bounded on the north by Pisidia and was therefore a country of small extent, having a coast-line of only about 120 km (75 miles) with a breadth of about 50 km (30 miles). as it is today, Antalya's soils were very fruitful, because of this, it was given this name.

Paradise on Earth: When King Attalos first set eyes on Antalya he called it “Paradise on Earth”. Its fertile soil and natural harbour made it favourable for settlers throughout the ages.

Sanjak of Teke: 'Teke' is one of the 9 major Turkmen tribes. The Teke clan formed two beyliks in Anatolia, the Hamidogullari Beylik around the Isparta-Burdur region and the Teke Beylik its neighbour to the south in the Antalya region. During the Ottoman era the region became known as the "Teke Sanjak" or Teke-eli Sancagi, the Hamidogullari were a branch of the Teke's.

The Pearl of the Mediterranean: Known as the 'Pearl of the Mediterranean', Antalya sits in a stunning, mountain-backed bay on Turkey's south west coast and is made for exploring. Founded in the 6th century B.C., it oozes history and charm with a picturesque old town filled with Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman houses. Its carpet shops and restaurants are ringed by ancient city walls, and you'll also enjoy strolling along the palm-lined boulevards and yacht marina. A choice of scenic sandy and pebble beaches await nearby, and among the beauty spots in the vicinity are awesome caves, historic sites and some breathtaking local waterfalls.

The Capital of Tourism: With its history, sea, cultural assets and high quality tourism facilities, Antalya is known as the capital of Turkish tourism. With Belek, Kemer, Side-Manavgat, Alanya, Lara-Kunda, and Kaş tourism centers, Antalya hosts more than 10 million foreign quests every year. Along with a cultural heritage deeply rooted in history, Antalya’s coves and highlands of unique beauty, pristine beaches, comfortable hotels and marinas, colourful entertainment venues, and art-filled festivals all make it a tourist destination that offers endless possibilities to its guests.

Turkish Riviera: The Turkish Riviera is the most stunning part of Turkey's Mediterranean coast with its perfect sun, clean beaches, ultra luxury resorts, nature and history. Antalya is the largest city on the Mediterranean with its charming harbour. It is typical of Turkey, a thriving modern city, with a historic heart in the centre of Kaleici, within the old city walls. This area has seen something of a renaissance in recent years, with many of the wooden Ottoman mansions being restored and turned into boutique hotels. The symbol of Antalya is the Yivli Minare built by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat in the 13th century. Culture lovers will find plenty of interest in the Archaeological Museum which has artefacts from the Paleolithic Age right through to Ottoman times. Antalya has a backdrop of stunning mountain scenery, and the city is set high on cliffs, with many of its grandest hotels overlooking the sea on the outskirts of the town. The beach area of Lara, approximately 12 km to the east is home to the best beach in the area, known for its golden sand, which is rapidly becoming a resort in its own right. To the west, the long pebble beach of Konyaalti is also popular. Heading up into the mountains, you can make the most of the beautiful scenery by visiting the spectacular Duden or Kursunlu Waterfalls to see a completely different side to the Turkish landscape. Antalya has a large number of five star hotels, many of which have meetings facilities, and this, together with the Pyramid Congress Centre which can hold up to 3000 delegates make it a popular venue for conferences.

The Pearl of the South: Antalya is one of the most beautiful Turkish cities where green blends in nicely with blue. Unmatched underwater beauties compete with the wonders on the land. Antalya, with its moderate climate and fertile land, allows for the cultivation of all kinds of vegetables, especially legumes. Besides meeting its own needs for nourishment, with its greenhouses, it supplies food to all of Turkey. In fact, the fruits and the vegetables Turkey exports are grown here at the highest possible quality. Naturally, such fertile land bears some products native to the region. Antalya has all the jams you can—and maybe even can’t—imagine. Perhaps the first time you try certain kinds of seafood will be in Antalya. The local cuisine is well established and very rich. That's why Antalya calls as the pearl of the South (South of Turkey - Mediterranean).

The European Solar Capital: Antalya where at least 300 days of sunshine per year exceeds 1,312 kWh sunshine strength is falling per square meter per year. The sun shines 300 days a year in Antalya and, even in winter, the thermometer rarely falls below 15°C. That's why Antalya is the European Solar Capital.

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How to take advantage of your time in Antalya

Antalya was until recently known as Turkey’s fastest growing city, only to be overtaken by Istanbul. It has been frequently called the ‘Turkish Riviera’ for its gorgeous Mediterranean coastline with long stretches of golden sand and aquamarine waters, upmarket shopping areas, rich history and culture and luxury hotels. Many tourists come from all around the globe to visit the sights of Antalya, so how should you take advantage of your time there?

If you want to see a lot of things and get around easily, the best time of year to visit the region is between March and June or September and November. Due to the Mediterranean climes, the temperatures can soar during the high season of July and August, plus families flock there on summer holidays. The winters are cooler, protected from the chilly weather by the Taurus Mountains, but often are very wet. You’ll also need to base yourself somewhere central in order to be able to reach everything you want to see and do quickly and easily. There are many hotels located in Antalya such as the Adonis Hotel with spectacular views from the cliff edges, or the tiny boutique hotels nestled in amongst the Kaleici old town of Antalya. If you choose to stay here, take some time to wander the maze of streets and pop down to the harbour for a boat trip along the coastline where you’ll explore hidden coves and be offered freshly grilled fish.

Of course you’ll want to spend some time relaxing on the beautiful beaches of the Antalya region, but remember to take some time to visit a few other things that Antalya has to offer. Golf is something that’s very big here with a number of golf courses set against stunning backdrops situated in the area.

The rich history is one of the biggest draws of Antalya. The old town is surrounded by ancient stone walls made up of an old Clock Tower and Hadrian’s Gate, a series of Roman arches. Head a little way out of town to Aspendos, a stunningly well preserved theatre that dates back to Roman times.

If you’re travelling with kids, there are plenty of things to keep them occupied too. When they’ve tired of playing on the beach and taking part in some of the many water sports on offer, take them to Mini-City amusement park. In around 55 acres, it houses miniature models of buildings and architectural structures from all around Turkey, both ancient and modern. Marvel at the amazing replica of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus and the Celsus Library of Ephesus.

Don’t forget to sample some of the local cuisine too. Turkey is famous for its mixed pot of tastes from Central Asian flavours to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern. Meze is one of the favourite dishes for tourists because it offers something to everyone’s tastes. But if you’d like to sample a local speciality, find a street vendor selling mussels stuffed with pine nuts or patlican dolmasi, a popular stuffed aubergine dish.

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Antalya received 11.3 million tourists in 2011

Antalya City Governor Ahmet Altiparmak reported that Antalya City received 11 million 291 thousand 931 tourists in 2011. In addition, the number of visitors who come to Antalya in 2011, approximately 12 percent increase over the previous year reported.

Altiparmak, said: "In 2011, 10 million 704 thousand 636 tourists came to Antalya by air, 196 thousand 278 tourists came to Antalya by sea.
 
Also, 391 thousand visitors entered to our city as transit. With transit entries, the number of visitors coming to our province in 2011 amounted to a total of 11 million 291 thousand 931. In 2010, the number of visitors coming to our city was 10 million 37 thousand 44. So, Antalya City became one of the first five cities where is most attractive cities in the world in 2011.

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Alanya

Alanya is a beach resort city and a component district of Antalya in Turkey. It's 166 kilometres (103 mi) from the city of Antalya. 

Alanya has an area of 1,598.51 km² and (2010 Census) 248,286 inhabitants (city 98,627). Alanya is also home to around 10,000 European residents.

Because of its natural strategic position on a small peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea below the Taurus Mountains, Alanya has been a local stronghold for many Mediterranean-based empires, including the Ptolemaic, Seleucid, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. 

Alanya's greatest political importance came in the Middle Ages, with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm under the rule of Alaeddin Kayqubad I, from whom the city derives its name. His building campaign resulted in many of the city's landmarks, such as the Kızıl Kule (Red Tower), Tersane (Shipyard), and Alanya Castle.

Climate

Alanya has a typical Mediterranean climate. The Mediterranean Basin ensures that most rain comes during the winter, leaving the summers long, hot, and dry, prompting the Alanya board of Tourism to use the slogan "where the sun smiles". Storm cells sometimes bring with them fair weather waterspouts when close to the shore. The presence of the Taurus Mountain in close proximity to the sea causes fog, in turn creating visible rainbows many mornings. The height of the mountains creates an interesting effect as snow can often be seen on them even on hot days in the city below. The sea at Alanya has an average temperature of 21.4 °C (71 °F) annually, with an average August temperature of 28.0 °C (82 °F).

Festivals

The Alanya International Culture and Art Festival is held in the last week of May, and is a notable Turkish festival. Other regular festivals include the Alanya Jazz Days, which has been held since 2002 in September or October at the Kızıl Kule, which is otherwise home to the municipal ethnographic museum. The Jazz Festival hosts Turkish and international jazz musicians in a series of five free concerts.

Atatürk's visit to Alanya is also celebrated on its anniversary each February 18, centered on Atatürk's House and Museum. The Alanya Museum is home to archaeology found in and around the city, including a large bronze Hercules statue, ceramics, and Roman limestone ossuaries, as well as historic copies of the Qur'an. European residents of Alanya also often celebrate their national holidays, such as Norwegian Constitution Day, and the city set up a Christmas market in December 2010.

Transportation

The D 400 Highway, the Alanya–Mersin Route, connects Alanya from the east and west, encircling it, and linking through the city center via Atatürk Bulvarı. The D695, the Ankara–Akşehir Route, runs north–south and reaches the sea 41 kilometres (25 mi) west of the city near Side, connecting with the D400. 

Antalya Airport is 121 kilometres (75 mi) away and connects internationally. The new Antalya Gazipaşa Airport, first begun in 1992, is only 14.5 kilometres (9.0 mi) from the city, and was expected to have its first regular domestic flights on May 22, 2010, although international flights were not expected before the start of the 2011 tourist season.

There are bus and dolmuş systems out of Alanya's two bus depots, but buses are usually limited to the major roads, and inside the city transportation is by car, taxi, or foot, as many roads in the old town are closed to vehicle traffic. 

The harbor includes cruise ship piers, and also seasonal ferries and hydrofoils depart for Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.Further west of the city is the Alanya Yacht Harbor, a marina, which started services in 2008. The 85-km² (33-sq-mi) marina allowed Alanya to participate in the 2008 Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally. 

Alanya is also investing in a community bicycle program with 150 bicycles and twenty terminals.

Historical Places

THE CITADEL OF ALANYA The castle has a castle wall of 6.5 km length, 140 towers, about 400 cisterns, doors with inscriptions and as an open air museum reflects Seljuk art at its best, showing the fascination of Seljuk art. The castle was built by A. Keykubat, the Sultan of Seljuk. The ramparts start from Kızkule, extend down from Ehmedek, İçkale, Adam Atacağı, Cilvarda Burnu, Arap Evliyası Rampart and Esat Rampart and pass through Tophane and Tersane and end at Kızılkule at the starting point. The first construction the castle dates from the Hellenistic Period, but in fact the construction took its fascinating and monumental form during the Seljuk Empire. The altitude of the part called the inner castle and located at the highest place of western corner of the peninsula is about 250 meters. It was surrounded by walls from four sides as it was the centre of administrative and military organisation. Two Seljuk period cisterns made of bricks located in the middle part of the inner castle are still in good condition at present. Main buildings in the inner castle were constructed so as to lean on the castle walls, except for the western part. Sultan Keykubat has been built his palace here...The settlement in the castle continues also today. İn front of wooden and stone made houses, silk and cotton are woven, different figured calabash trees are coloured,otantic food has been served in little gardens. Further, on the road to the castle restaurant and cafes are located on the sea side. The castle road is open to vehicle traffic. You can also walk to it in circa one hour. KIZILKULE (The Red Tower) Located on the seaport. This grand building erected in 1226 for military and dockyard control purposes is one of unique monuments of the Seljuks, and is the symbol of Alanya with its octagonal figure. İn 1226, The Sultan of the Seljuk’s, Alaaddin Keykubat, ordered the builder of the Sinop Castle craftsman Ebu Ali Reha el Kettani from Halep to build the tower. İt was very difficult to carry the stone blocks to the top of the tower during construction, therefore the top was built of red bricks and accordingly was named Red Tower. Some walls of tower was made of ancient marble. The tower has octagonal planned towers of each 12.5 mt wide 33 mt height and a diameter of 29. İt’s has 5 floors including the ground floor. The top can be reached by big stone stairs.The sunlight reaches from the top to the first floor. There is a cistern in the middle of the tower. The tower was built against the attacks to the harbour and the dockyard and was used centuries for martial targets. After repairs between 1951 and 1953, the first floor of the building functions as ethnography museum. THE DOCKYARD İt began to be built in 1227 and finished in one year, near Kızılkule (red tower) six years later after the Seljuk’s Sultan A.Keykubad controlled the city. The sea side of the dockyard with five arch parts has a lenght of 56.5 mt and 44 mt deep.The dockyard is located on the most sunny place to take advantage of sunlight. The tablet in the entry of the dockyard carries the emblem of A.Keykubat and it is enriched with rosettes.Alanya’s dockyard is the first dockyard of the Seljuk’s on the Mediterranean Sea. Keykubat who ordered to build the Sinop Dockyard, named later as the “Sultan of the two seas.” In one part of the dockyard is the small mosque, on the other side the room of the guards. İn one of the archs is a well dried in course of time. entry is free to the dockyard which can be reached from the sea with boats or by walk. THE GUN HOUSE There's a gun house next to the dockyard. It was built with the aim of defence on a rock ten meters above the sea level. It's also known that cannons for battleships were made in the three-storey and rectangular building made of stone blocks and constructed in 1277. There have been some efforts made by the Ministry of culture and the Municipality of Alanya to make the Dockyard and the Gun House naval museums. EHMEDEK It was rebuilt and began to be known as the "middle castle" during the Selcuks' Era, replacing the little one on the northern Side of the citadel left by the Byzantine Empire. It's clear from the inscription on its front door that it was built in 1227. It's thought to have been named after the master builder "Ehmedek" of the Selcuks' Era. The middle castle consisting of two parts with three towers is located on a strategically important place and at the same time it can protect the inner one where the Sultan's palace is. The walls of the towers we can see today were built during the Byzantine Era, carving rocks. The three cisterns in the middle castle are still used today. There are pictures of ships on the walls dating back to Selcuks' period. THE SULEYMANİYE MOSQUE It was built just outside İçkale on the top of the castle in 1231 when the city was being reconstructed by Alaaddin Keykubat, the Sultan of Selcuks. However the mosque was not in good condition in the following years and it was rebuilt by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in the 16th century during the Ottoman Era.. The mosque with a single minaret is known as Alaaddin, Kale or Sülaymaniye. The building is made of rubble stones and it is square in shape. It has a brick dome based on an octagonal frame. Fifteen little earthenware jars were placed in the part functioning as the hanger of the dome in order to ensure its acoustics. That quality is felt during religious practice, The final public place is found below three brick domes on a four-foot basis. The covers of doors and windows are fine examples of wood carving of the Ottoman. BEDESTEN It's in the citadel, near The Süleymaniye Mosque. It's thought to have been be built in the 14th or the 15th century during the Karamanoğulları period as a bazaar or an inn. It's a rectangular building made of stone blocks. It has 26 rooms and a courtyard that is 35 metres long and 13 metres wide. Today this historical building is used as a hotel, a restaurant and a cafe. The shops of the medieval times, overlooking the courtyard are now redesigned as hotel rooms. There's a big cistern at the end of the stairs in the garden. The garden overlooks the above walls on one side, and the Taurus Mountains, the Mediterranean and the beach on the other side. Bedesten can be visited with the permission of the person who runs it. THE MINTING HOUSE They are the buildings on Cilvarda Bay that has bluffs, nearly 400 meters long and they are at the end of the peninsula. Although known as "the Minting House" in public, those buildings made of stone blocks have never been used for issuing money. One of the stone buildings of the 11th century is a little church and the others were possibly used as monasteries. The dome of the little church has remained standing. There's a cistern on the rocks. Although there's a passage of steps carved in the rocks from İçkale to Cilvarda Bay, it can't be used today. As for sea transport it is difficult and dangerous. It looks magnificent both when looked at from İçkale and while turning the bend of the bay by boat. THE SMALL MOSQUE OF AKBESHE SULTAN It's in the citadel northwards of Bedesten and nearly 100 metres past Süleymaniye Mosque. It was built in 1230 by Akbeşe Sultan, the first commander of Alaaddin Keykubat in the citadel of Alanya. Its outer part is of stones blocks and the inner side, also the dome are of bricks. It has a square shape and two rooms. One of the rooms is a small mosque and in the other one there is the tomb of Akbeşe Sultan. There are three other tombs in the room. It's clear that the apse of the small mosque isny 7 decorated with painted files. The inscription there means: "God Knows the secrets of earth and heavens. Small mosques of God are only built by those who believe in Him and in doomsday. It was built in 1230 when the great Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat reigned, by poor Akbeşe, who needed God's compassion." There's a cylindrical minaret made of bricks in body on the base of rubble stones, a few metres far from the small mosque. THE ANDIZLI MOSQUE It's in Tophone district. The mosque named so because of a tree called elecampane nearby was built in 1277 by Emir Bedrüddin. It has some characteristics peculiar to the architecture of the Selcuks period. It's made of stone blocks and has a minaret which is not high. Its pulpit is one of the finest examples of Selcuks art of carving wood. You can go to the mosque through the door below, near Kızılkule.minaret that ends with a balcony has an interesting look. THE TOMB OF SITTI ZEYNEP It's on a rock on the way to the citadel. It's thought to be of the Selcuks or Ottoman period. It is square in shape and consists of two rooms., there is a long sarcophagus and the other room is empty. Evliya Çelebi wrote that the building was a lodge of Bektaşi Dervishes, we have no certain information about Sitti Zeynep. The name of the pious foundation of the tomb was Sitti Zeynep Gin't Zeynül Abidin" in that foundation's records of the Ottoman Empire during Kanuni Sultan Süleyman period. The person who had a tomb there is thought to have been an enlightened mystic. Three tombs, two meters long each, were carved in the rock where the tomb is situated in the antique era. Antique tombs were once used as water tanks.. HIDIRELLEZ CHURCH It is within the boundaries of Hacı Mehmetli Village in Hıdır İlyas, ten kms far from the center of Alanya. The church that is thought to have been founded on a slope overlooking the Mediterranean at the beginning of the 19th century is used for worshipping by Christian and Muslim visitors today. It is rectangular in shape, its roof is built of brick, its walls are made of stone and it has a little apse. There's a mezzanine floor wooden decorated in the church. The frescos on the walls have been detoriated. It's understood from the inscription that the church was repaired in 1873. The inscription being exhibited in Alanya Museum was written in Turkish (the language of Karamans), using the Greek alphabet. The church was closed when the people of Orthodox Church living in Alanya and speaking Turkish, went to Greece because of the exchange in 1924. Hıdırellez Church that has got a water source nearby is also known as the Church of Antalya Kaleiçi. Entrance to ruins is free. SHARAPSA INN It’s a building from the 13th Century, 13 km to the west of Alanya on the highway. The caravanserai was built by Gıyaseddin Keyhusrev the Sultan of Seljuk between the years 1236-1246 on the historical Silk Way. The building which was built on a piece of land about 1000 square metres has walls built of bulky cut stones. The caravanserai which was one of the most important accommodation point of the the middle ages is to be used as amusement centre today. THE CITADEL OF ALARA The Citadel of Alara was built in 1232, 37 kilometres westward from Alanya on the demand of Alaaddin Keykubat, the Sultan of Selcuks and it is 9 kilometres far from the sea. The aim of the citadel that was on the Silk Road was to protect the crowds stopped at the inn near the Alara creek. It's built on a steep hill of 200 meters up to 500. It looks magnificent. It consists of an inner and outer part. A dark entrance-hall of 120 steps enters the citadel. It is important to be careful about the wild plants and ruins, since it is not organized as a place to be visited. There are tunnels made by carving rock in the citadel. There is a small palace, the rooms of the workers, a mosque and a Turkish bath in the ruins. Those who would like to go to the top of the citadel through the walls and paths have to climb at least one hour and be equipped properly. However, the view from the top is worth climbing. ALARA INN It’s located on a tableland 800m far away the Citadel of Alara on the Alara Stream. Whole caravanserai has been built of cut bulky stones on a land of piece of 2 thousand square metres. The inn, built in 1231, was restored a few years ago and is to be used as restaurant and shop centre.The warders hut keeps its specialities today. The second door of the caravanserai opens out to the guest rooms. There are small rooms next two sides of the long hall. There is a fountain, a small mosque and a bathhouse in the caravanserai. The signatures of the stone craftsmen which searched out during the reparation are very conspicuous. Keykubat said in the epigraphs in Alanya he was,” the sultan of the land and the two seas, the owner of the Arabic and Persian countries” and in the epigraphs in Alara Inn he got the titles,”The conqueror of Greek, Damascus, Armenian and european countries.” Alara Inn must have been paid for visitting. You can have your meal in the restaurant in the Inn as well as the small eating houses on countryside and you can swim till mealtime. KARGI INN It is in the western part of Alanya, the north of the Kargı creek. We have no idea of the year when it was built since it has no inscription. It is a stone building 46 meters wide and fifty meters long. ItÕs thought to have been used as a caravanserai in Kesikbel, on the road that played a role of a bridge between the Mediterranean and central Anatolia in Roman times, Selcuk and Ottoman Era.  There are air shafts on the ceiling of each room and the rooms are found around the courtyard in the middle. There are mangers for animals carved on the rock opposite the door. The building is in ruins

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Kemer Marina

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Alanya

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Alanya

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Alanya-ANTALYA

Alanya is located on a peninsula which is bordered by the Taurus Mountains in the north and the Mediterranean Sea on the south. This ancient city was named either Pamphylia or Cilicia because of it lies between the two region. There is no definite information about the first founding of Alanya. Prof. Dr. Kılınç Kökten’s researches in1957 in Kadıini Cave which is located 12 km from the centre of the city, shows us the history of the region that goes to late Paleolitic period.

When or who was founded Alanya is unknown. Known in Latin as Coracesium, or in Greek as Korakesion from the Luwian Korakassa meaning “point-protruding city.”Left to Ptolemy I Soter after 323 BC, his dynasty maintained loose control, and it became a popular spot for Mediterranean pirates who were at times loyal Diodotus Tryphon of the Seleucid Kingdom. This period ended with the city’s incorporation into the Roman Empire by Pompey in 65 BC. After the empires collapse and split the city remained under Byzantine influence, becoming known as “Kolonoros,” or beautiful mountain. The area fell from their sphere of influence after the Battle of Manzikert to tribes of Seljuk Turks, only to be returned in 1097 by Alexios I Komnenos and forces of the First Crusade. The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia periodically held the port, and it was from an Armenian, Kir Fard, that Muslims took lasting control in 1221 when the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat exchanged governance of the city of Akşehir for it. The the city was renamed Alaiye, a derivative of Alaaddin. Seljuk rule saw the golden age of the city, and it can be considered the winter capital of their empire. Building projects, including the twin citadel, city walls, arsenal, and Red Tower made it an important port for western Mediterranean trade, particularly with Ayyubid Egypt and the Italian city-states. Keykubat also constructed numerous gardens and pavilions outside the walls, and many of his works can still be found in the city.

The Mongol invasion broke down Seljuk control, and the city fell to a series of beyliks, and even to Lusignans from Cyprus. The city was sold by the Karamanoğlu dynasty in 1427 to the Mamluk dynasty for a period before Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1471 incorporated it into the growing Ottoman Empire. In 1571 the city was organized into the province of Cyprus, then later under Konya, and in 1868 under Antalya, as it is today. In his 1935 visit, Atatürk finalized the name in the new alphabet as Alanya.

NATURAL BEAUTIES

When the nature dealt out beauties, Alanya has gotton its share extremely. Alanya is one of the most beautiful coasts of the Mediterranean sea.The kilometres long beach is generally sandy. İn many places is sand so fine it doesn't stick on body... Just after The Mediterranean sea which turns to blue-turquoise color near to Alanya, rise the West-Taures mountains. The Taurus Mountains create a quite different world with its pine and cedar trees, its streaming rivers from the top and its valleys.When the oranges blossom, whole the city smells like musk: whole year colorful flowers adorn paths, relaxes your eyes and spirit.You can find caves in Alanya eigther in land or in sea; they are fascinating, mystical and healing...And sun is living...Alanya is the place where the sun smiles to you.

For more information: http://www.alanya.bel.tr/translationEN/

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