Güvercinada, Ottoman fortress on Pigeon Island in Kuşadası, Turkey.
Güvercinada is a fortress on an island off Kuşadası featuring a pentagonal structure with defensive towers. The complex sits on the island's higher ground and occupies most of its space with interconnected fortifications.
The fortress was built in 1533 under orders from Ottoman admiral Hayreddin Barbarossa as a defense position for sea trade. It served as a military arsenal and operational base for controlling the coastal waters.
The fortress represents Ottoman military architecture with its sturdy stone walls and defensive design. Visitors can sense how this structure once served as a crucial protective post controlling sea routes.
Visitors reach the island via a raised walkway about 350 meters long that is easy to cross on foot. The site is best explored during daylight hours when the stone structures and architectural details are clearly visible.
The construction stones came from a quarry on the mainland that was specifically developed for this project. The southern entrance gate still displays an empty space where a historical inscription once hung.
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