Alanya
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Alanya
Alanya is a beach resort city and component district of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey. It is located on a peninsula which is bordered by the Taurus Mountains in the north and the Mediterranean Sea in the south. Formerly it was known as Alaiye.
Because of its position between the Mediterranean Sea and the Taurus Mountains Alanya has been a local stronghold for many Mediterranean-based empires, including the Ptolemaic, Seleucid, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Alanya's greatest political importance came in the Middle Ages, with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm under the rule of Alaeddin Kaykubad I, from whom the city derives its name. He made it the winter capital of the empire. Building projects, including the twin citadel, city walls, arsenal, and Red Tower made it an important port for western Mediterranean trade. Keykubat also constructed numerous gardens and pavilions outside the walls, and many of his works can still be found in the city. In 1571 Ottomans organized the city into the province of Cyprus, then in 1864 under Konya, and in 1868 under Antalya, as it is today. In his 1935 visit, Atatürk finalized the name in the new alphabet as Alanya.
The Mediterranean climate, natural attractions, and historic heritage make Alanya a popular destination for tourism. Alanya makes 9 % of Turkey’s tourism sector. Since 1958 tourism has been the main industry in the city. Alanya’s nickname in English translation is Where the sun smiles (due to its typical Mediterranean climate with long, hot and dry summers). The city's seaside position is central to many annual festivals. These include the Tourism and Art Festival, the Alanya International Culture and Art Festival, or the Alanya Jazz Days.
Alanya District is divided up into 17 municipalities, including the city center, and 92 villages. Alanya was set up as a municipality in 1872. The district of Alaya covers the area of 1,582 square kilometers (the district includes the city and the built-up areas). The population of the district is 248,286 with the density 393.7 inhabitants per square kilometer. It is almost entirely of Turkish origin, with around 10,000 European residents. The city itself has a population of 134,396. The city is 99% Muslim. During the summer the population increases due to large numbers of tourists, about 1.1 million each year pass through the city. Besides tourism, the area’s economy is created also by many fruit farms
Alanya is one of the most beautiful coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. The kilometres long beach is generally sandy. The Taurus Mountains, which rise just after the sea, create a quite different world with its pine and cedar trees, its streaming rivers from the top and its valleys. The town is divided east–west by a rocky peninsula, which is the distinctive feature of the city. The harbor, city center, and Keykubat Beach are on the east side, Damlataş Beach and Cleopatra Beach are to the west. Atatürk Bulvarı, the main boulevard, runs parallel to the sea, and divides the southern, much more touristic side of Alanya from the northern, more indigenous side that extends north into the mountains.
On the peninsula there stands Alanya Castle, a Seljuk era citadel dating from 1226. Most major landmarks in the city are found inside and around the castle. Inside the castle is the Süleymaniye mosque and caravanserai. The old city walls surround much of the eastern peninsula, and it can be walked on. Inside the walls are numerous historic villas, well preserved examples of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, most built in the early 19th century. To the other well-known buildings belong for example Kizil Kule (The Red Tower) or Tersane (dockyard). With its rich architectural heritage, Alanya is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions. In 2009 Alanya Castle and Tersane were named to the 2009 Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Because of its position between the Mediterranean Sea and the Taurus Mountains Alanya has been a local stronghold for many Mediterranean-based empires, including the Ptolemaic, Seleucid, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Alanya's greatest political importance came in the Middle Ages, with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm under the rule of Alaeddin Kaykubad I, from whom the city derives its name. He made it the winter capital of the empire. Building projects, including the twin citadel, city walls, arsenal, and Red Tower made it an important port for western Mediterranean trade. Keykubat also constructed numerous gardens and pavilions outside the walls, and many of his works can still be found in the city. In 1571 Ottomans organized the city into the province of Cyprus, then in 1864 under Konya, and in 1868 under Antalya, as it is today. In his 1935 visit, Atatürk finalized the name in the new alphabet as Alanya.
The Mediterranean climate, natural attractions, and historic heritage make Alanya a popular destination for tourism. Alanya makes 9 % of Turkey’s tourism sector. Since 1958 tourism has been the main industry in the city. Alanya’s nickname in English translation is Where the sun smiles (due to its typical Mediterranean climate with long, hot and dry summers). The city's seaside position is central to many annual festivals. These include the Tourism and Art Festival, the Alanya International Culture and Art Festival, or the Alanya Jazz Days.
Alanya District is divided up into 17 municipalities, including the city center, and 92 villages. Alanya was set up as a municipality in 1872. The district of Alaya covers the area of 1,582 square kilometers (the district includes the city and the built-up areas). The population of the district is 248,286 with the density 393.7 inhabitants per square kilometer. It is almost entirely of Turkish origin, with around 10,000 European residents. The city itself has a population of 134,396. The city is 99% Muslim. During the summer the population increases due to large numbers of tourists, about 1.1 million each year pass through the city. Besides tourism, the area’s economy is created also by many fruit farms
Alanya is one of the most beautiful coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. The kilometres long beach is generally sandy. The Taurus Mountains, which rise just after the sea, create a quite different world with its pine and cedar trees, its streaming rivers from the top and its valleys. The town is divided east–west by a rocky peninsula, which is the distinctive feature of the city. The harbor, city center, and Keykubat Beach are on the east side, Damlataş Beach and Cleopatra Beach are to the west. Atatürk Bulvarı, the main boulevard, runs parallel to the sea, and divides the southern, much more touristic side of Alanya from the northern, more indigenous side that extends north into the mountains.
On the peninsula there stands Alanya Castle, a Seljuk era citadel dating from 1226. Most major landmarks in the city are found inside and around the castle. Inside the castle is the Süleymaniye mosque and caravanserai. The old city walls surround much of the eastern peninsula, and it can be walked on. Inside the walls are numerous historic villas, well preserved examples of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, most built in the early 19th century. To the other well-known buildings belong for example Kizil Kule (The Red Tower) or Tersane (dockyard). With its rich architectural heritage, Alanya is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions. In 2009 Alanya Castle and Tersane were named to the 2009 Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.