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Alanya is a seaside resort in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, 120km from the city of Antalya. The district has close to 100,000 inhabitants and over 100,000 hotel rooms.
Because of its natural strategic position on a small peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea, Alanya has been a local stronghold for many Mediterranean based empires. Alanya's greatest political importance came in the Middle Ages with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm under the rule of `Ala' ad-Din Kay-Qubad.
The city has changed hands many times over the centuries, and its name has reflected this. Alanya was first known in Latin as Coracesium or in Greek as Korakesion from the Luwian Korakassa meaning "point/protruding city." Under the Byzantine Empire it become known as Kalonoros, or "beautiful mountain." The Seljuks renamed the city Alaiye, a derivative of the name of the Sultan `Ala' ad-Din Kay-Qubad. In his 1935 visit, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk finalized the name in the new alphabet as Alanya, changing the 'i' and 'e' in Alaiye, reportedly because of a misspelled telegram two years prior.
Located on the Gulf of Antalya on the Anatolian coastal plain of Pamphylia, the town is between the Taurus Mountains to the north and the Mediterranean Sea, and is part of the Turkish riviera, occupying roughly 43.5 miles (70 km) of coastline. The town is divided by a rocky peninsula which is perhaps the most distinctive feature of the city. The harbor and Keykubat beach, named for Sultan Kay-Qubad, are on the east side of the peninsula, and Damlataş beach, named for the famous "dripping caves," and Cleopatra beach are to the west.
Atatürk Bulvarı (Boulevard), runs parallel to the sea, and divides the southern, much more touristic side of Alanya from the northern, more native side, that extends north into the mountains. Çevre Yolu Caddesi circles the main town to the North.
On the peninsula stands Alanya Kale (Castle), a Seljuk era citadel dating from 1226. Most major landmarks in the city are found inside and around the castle.
The Kızıl Kule (Red Tower) is another well-known building in Alanya. The 33 meter high brick building stands at the harbor below the castle, and contains the municipal ethnographic museum.
The Tersane, a medieval drydock built by the Seljuk Turks in 1221, 187 by 131 feet, is divided into five vaulted bays with equilateral pointed arches. Atatürk's House and Museum, from his short stay in the city on 1935-02-18 is preserved in it's historic state and is a good example of the interior of a traditional Ottoman villa, with artifacts from the 1930s.
With its rich architectural heritage, Alanya is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions.
The relatively moderate Mediterranean climate, and historic heritage makes Alanya a popular destination for holidaymakers, responsible for 9% of all tourism in Turkey. The countryside here is attractive too and was at one time covered with oranges, bananas and other warm-weather crops.
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