Walking Through Time in Alanya: A Traveler’s Tale Among Ancient Walls
As the morning sun cast golden rays over the Mediterranean, I found myself standing at the foot of a monumental history—Alanya Castle, a timeless guardian perched on a dramatic peninsula, wrapped in six kilometers of stone walls and the whispers of five great civilizations: Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottoman.
They say you don’t just visit Alanya, you travel through time. And as I stepped into the first gate of the castle, I felt like I had entered a living museum.
Korakesion – The Pirate Haven
Back in the 2nd century BC, this place was known as Korakesion. It wasn’t just a city—it was a pirate stronghold. Geographer Strabo once described it as a city built upon an unassailable steep rock, the first you’d see entering Cilicia from the west. The natural cliffs and sheltered harbor made it ideal for pirates and rebels, especially under the rule of Diototos Tryphon. You can still trace the ancient Hellenistic walls, built with giant blocks, standing stubbornly after thousands of years.
Pompeius and the Roman Order
In 65 BC, Roman commander Pompeius crushed the pirate fleet in a legendary sea battle off this coast. That day, Korakesion became Roman. The city expanded, coins were minted, and Rome left its unmistakable stamp here. A few of those ancient coins now rest quietly in Alanya Museum—tiny messengers from the past.
Kalonoros – The Byzantine Beacon
Later, in Byzantine times, Alanya was called Kalonoros, or “beautiful mountain.” It became a beacon for sailors and a flourishing port. Walking the Cilvarda Cape, I stumbled upon the crumbling walls of a long-forgotten monastery and gazed out where monks once watched the endless sea. The round towers and the church in İçkale are echoes of a time when this place was sacred, spiritual, and serene.
Alaiye – The Seljuk Jewel
The real transformation happened in 1221 when Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat took Kalonoros from Kyr Vart and renamed it Alaiye. The Sultan didn’t just capture the castle—he built a vision. He fortified the old walls, added majestic new ones, and gifted the city with architectural masterpieces: the towering Red Tower (Kızılkule), the elegant Seljuk Shipyard (Tersane), and his palace in İçkale. I could almost hear the hammering from the shipyard echoing off the waves as I stood between the Tophane and the sea.
From Hamams to Mosques – Echoes of Faith and Trade
The Akşebe Mosque, Andızlı Mosque, and the ancient Seljuk and Lower Castle hamams each tell a different story of worship, community, and life. These places were not just religious centers—they were gathering spots for merchants, travelers, and thinkers. In the 14th century, Alaiye was a bustling trade hub. Egyptian merchants came for cedar wood; Italians bought sugar, linen, and spice. Even the Florentines and Genoese left their footprints here.
Alaiye to Alanya – The Ottoman Chapter
After a brief period under Cypriot control, Alaiye passed through the hands of local beyliks before joining the Ottoman Empire in 1471. The Süleymaniye Mosque, built on the heights of Upper Castle, is a classic Ottoman masterpiece. Nearby, you can still explore the bazaar (bedesten) and traditional Alanya houses, standing proudly on cobbled alleys.
A Name Given by Atatürk
And in 1935, during a visit to the region, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk renamed this city Alanya, gifting it the identity it still holds with pride.
From Ibn Battuta to Evliya Çelebi
Many travelers wrote about Alanya. Ibn Battuta praised its timber exports to Egypt; Evliya Çelebi in 1671 detailed the daily life in Middle Castle—300 houses, six schools, and 150 shops. He wrote of stair-stepped streets and donkey rides through narrow lanes—something you can still experience today if you stray off the tourist path.
The Castle Today – A Living Time Capsule
Today, as I stand atop the Inner Fortress (İçkale) and look down on the azure sea, I can feel each era breathing through the walls. Every step on these ancient stones tells a story, every breeze carries the scent of cedar and the salt of history.
If you’re a seeker of stories and silent ruins that speak—Alanya Castle is not just a place to visit, but a legend to live.
