Alanya Castle stands on a steep peninsula rising approximately 250 meters above the sea. Serving as a symbol of the settlement formerly known as Kandeleri, the castle is steeped in historical layers and local lore.
The origins of the fortress trace back to the Hellenistic period. Historical records indicate that the castle was originally established as Korakesion in the 2nd century BC by the warriors of the Roman pirate Tryhos, before being captured by the Romans in 64-65 BC due to unrest regarding pirate activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Most of the castle's current historical fabric dates to the 13th century. Following the city's conquest in 1220-1221, the Seljuq Sultan of Rûm Alaeddin Keykubad I took control of the area and had the fortress rebuilt as part of a major construction campaign.
The monumental walls surrounding the castle span a total length of 6.5 kilometers. Built in a planned layout, the fortifications incorporate Ehmedek, the Inner Castle, Adam Atacağı, Cilvarda cape, Arap Evliyası, and Esat Bastion, passing through Tophane and the Shipyard (Tersane) to end at the Red Tower (Kızılkule).
Architecturally, the massive defense system includes 83 towers and 140 bastions. To serve the medieval city's water requirements within the walls, approximately 1,200 cisterns were constructed, some of which remain in use today.
Over the centuries, control of the fortress shifted through various hands. Following the Seljuqs, it passed to the Beylik of Karaman and the Mamluks, before finally being conquered by Suleiman the Magnificent under the Ottoman Empire. Once the area was pacified, the castle ceased to be purely defensive, leading to the construction of numerous villas inside the walls during the 19th century.
At the summit of the peninsula lies the Inner Castle, which has been organized as an open-air museum today. This is the exact site where Seljuq Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad had his palace built, and residential life continues within the castle grounds to this day.
Today, visitors can reach the Inner Castle by motor vehicles, via a roughly one-hour walk, or by taking a cable car, enjoying views of the peninsula and the surrounding Mediterranean Sea.
Wikimedia research dossier · Last checked: 2026-09-20 09:24:50
