10/3/2007 - Alanya

Alanya

With its vast beaches, historic sites, the innumerable fish restaurants of its modern hotel and motels and its cafes and bars, Alanya, is an outstanding holiday getaway. The first thing that greets the visitor is the 13th century Seljuk Castle, which sits like a crown atop of Alanya Peninsula. Besides the impressive castle, there is the shipyard and the Red Tower (Kızıl Kule) with monumental beauty. All along the road which runs beside the port are latenight cafes and bars and boutiques selling handicrafts, leather clothing, jewelry, handbags and local gourds painted with extraordinary colors. If you like to explore caves, then you must see Damlataş Cave.

Near the cave is the Ethnography Museum. You can reach by boat to the three other caves: the Phosphorous Cave with its phosphoric rocks, Girls Cave (Kızlar Cave), where pirates held their women prisoners, and Lovers Cave (Aşıklar Cave). The cool shade of Dim Brook Valley, 15 km east of Alanya, is an ideal place to get away and relax. The sea all around Alanya is excellent for swimming. Alanya is a paradise of sun, sea and sand.

History

Based on skeletal evidence found between the villages of Bademağacı and Oba northeast of the city, Alanya is believed to have been inhabited in pre-historic times. Alanya was sometimes considered part of Cilicia and sometimes part of Pamphilia. It was later ruled by the Hittites and Romans respectively. In a bad state of repair after a number of invasions and wars, the city was rebuilt by the Romans. In the Byzantine era, Alanya was called Kolonoros, which means the 'beautiful mountain'.

Climate

Because of its climate, plants from all over the world can be found in Alanya. Some of the most common are oranges, bananas, vegetables of all kinds, tropical fruits from South Africa and India such as papaya, guava, avocado and a variety of dates and coffees. Alanya has a typical Mediterranean climate with wet humid winters and hot dry summers. The average temperature around the year is 19ºC. The water averages 21ºC.

How to Get

Alanya is 135 km from Antalya. The highway connecting the two cities passes through a number of residential areas and tourist spots. Public buses provide transportation on the route of Alantur, Bus Station-Ulaş every ten minutes.

By Road

There is regular bus and minibus service.

Bus Station Tel: (+90-242) 513 26 50

By Air Link 

www.aytport.com

By Rail

The nearest train station is in Burdur.

The nearest airport is in Antalya 130 km away.

Antalya Airport Tel: (+90- 242) 330 32 33

By Sea

The port in Alanya is suitable for large size ships with heavy cargo, which is still being used both for touristic as well as commercial purposes. During the tourist season, there are passenger and cargo services between Alanya and Girne (Northern Cyprus). This is the most important customs port in the Turkish Republic for Northern Cyprus.

Sporting Activities

Rafting

The river, which offers the best rafting in the area is the Dim Brook which empties into the sea, 6 km east of Alanya. The 'Alraft' rafting facilities found on the river 20 km to the northeast of Alanya offer rafting excursions.

Mountain Sports

Recently there has been quite an interest in trekking and amateur mountain climbing. This interest is mostly due to the mountains of Akdağ (2451 m.) and Cebelireis (1649 m.) as they are very suitable places for these sports. Mt. Akdağ has been declared as a Winter Sports Tourism Center by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

The Alanya Triathlon

This international sports event, which is held every year in October, began in 1991. Broadcasting to the world via Eurosport TV, this non-stop event consists of three separate races: swimming, cycling and running.

Hunting

Because of the area's climate, terrain and vegetation, it has wonderful potential as a hunting area. Because of the rapid decline in the deer population they are now protected and hunting is prohibited but mountains goat hunting is allowed on a restricted basis.

It is possible to catch almost any kind of fish in Alanya. The main ones are gilt-headed bream, annular bream, swordfish, red gurnard, chub mackerel, shark, rock grouper, red sea bream, whiting, tuna, red mullet and gar.Fish that are encountered in fresh water lakes and streams include striped mullet, bass, carp and eels. In addition, trout are raised in the Dim Brook region.

Camping

There are many places to camp and to park motorhomes in and around Alanya.

Don't Leave Without

Seeing Alanya Castle, the Red Tower and Damlataş Cave,

Visiting the museums,

Tasting the local fish,

Buying a silk scarf

Contact Information and Links

www.alanya.bel.tr

www.alanya.cc

www.alanya.gov.tr

Municipality: +90 242 513 21 11