Alanya Castle, Medieval fortress in Alanya, Turkey
Alanya Castle is a fortress built on a peninsula jutting into the sea, surrounded by defensive walls studded with towers along its perimeter. The complex includes ruins of palaces and residences on the upper plateau, with harbor installations and fortifications positioned at water level.
The site was first settled in Roman times when it was known as Coracesium. During the 13th century, Seljuk rulers transformed it into one of their major defensive strongholds.
The fortress displays building elements from different cultures layered throughout the complex. As you walk through, you can see Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk construction techniques side by side in the walls and structures.
The walk up to the fortress is steep and can be tiring during hot weather, though the stone steps and paths are well-defined. Bring water and plan to spend several hours exploring the different levels and sections of the complex.
The fortress contains thousands of underground water cisterns built during medieval times to store water and support defense during sieges. Some of these storage systems remain functional today and reveal the ingenuity of past inhabitants in managing water resources.
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