Alanya is a seaside resort city in the Turkish province of Antalya with close to 400,000 inhabitants.[1] Because of the natural strategic position of the town on a peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea, it was rarely conquered by force, though it was integrated into many Mediterranean based empires. Alanya's greatest political importance came in the Middle Ages with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm under the rule of `Ala' ad-Din Kay-Qubad. Strong population growth through the 1990s was a result of immigration to the city, and has driven a rapid modernization of the infrastructure. The relatively moderate Mediterranean climate and historic heritage has made it a major destination for tourists, responsible for 9% of all tourism in Turkey.
Names
The city has changed hands many times over the centuries, and its name has reflected this. Alanya was first known in Latin as Coracesium or in Greek as Korakesion from the Luwian Korakassa meaning "point/protruding city." Under the Byzantine Empire it become known as Kalonoros, or "beautiful mountain." The Seljuks renamed the city Alaiye (علاعية), a derivative of the name of the Sultan `Ala' ad-Din Kay-Qubad. In his 1935 visit, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk finalized the name in the new alphabet as Alanya, changing the 'i' and 'e' in Alaiye, reportedly because of a misspelled telegram two years prior.[2]
History
Though first fortified in the Hellenistic period following the area's conquest by Alexander the Great, the castle rock was likely inhabited long before that under the Hittite and Persian Empires. Left to Ptolemy I Soter after 323 BC, his dynasty maintained loose control, and it became a popular spot for Mediterranean pirates who were at times loyal to Diodotus Tryphon of the Seleucid kingdom.[3] This period ended with the city's incorporation into the Cilicia Pedias province of the Roman Empire by Pompey in 65 BC. After the Empire's collapse and split, the city remained under Byzantine influence, becoming a suffragan of Side, in the metropolis of Pamphylia Prima.[4] Muslims began arriving in the 7th Century, and 681 marked the end of a bishopric in Alanya. The area fell from Byzantine control after the Battle of Manzikert to tribes of Seljuk Turks, only to be returned in 1097 by Alexios I Komnenos and forces of the First Crusade.
The Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia periodically held the port, and it was from an Armenian, Kir Fard, that Muslims took lasting control in 1221 when the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan `Ala' ad-Din Kay-Qubad exchanged governance of the city of Aksehir for it. Seljuk rule saw the golden age of the city, and it can be considered the winter capital of their empire. Building projects, including the twin citadel, city walls, arsenal, and Red Tower made it an important seaport for western Mediterranean trade, particularly with Ayyubid Egypt and the Italian city-states. Kay-Qubad also constructed numerous gardens and pavilions outside the walls, and many of his works can still be found in the city.
The Mongol invasion broke down Seljuk control, and the city fell to a series of beyliks, and even to Lusignans from Cyprus. The city was sold by the Karamanoğlu dynasty in 1427 to the Mamluk dynasty for a period before the general Gedik Ahmed Pasha in 1471 incorporated it into the growing Ottoman Empire. In 1571 the city was organized into the province of Cyprus, then later under Konya, and in 1868 under Antalya, as it is today. After World War I, Alanya was partitioned in the Agreement of St.-Jean-de-Maurienne to Italy, if only nominally. Like most in this region, the city suffered heavily following the population exchanges the heralded the Turkish Republic, when many of the city's Christians resettled in Nea Ionia, outside Athens. The Ottoman census of 1893 had put the number of Greeks in the city at 964.[5] Tourism in the region started among Turks who flocked to Alanya in the 1960s for the alleged healing properties of Damlataş cave, and later with the access provided by Antalya Airport gaining the city greater international appeal as a resort destination.
Geography
Located on the Gulf of Antalya in the south west Anatolian coastal plain of Pamphylia, the town is bordered by the Taurus Mountains on the north and the Mediterranean Sea on the south and is considered part of the Turkish riviera. The municipality occupies roughly 43.5 miles (70 km) of coastline. The Pamphylia plain between the sea and the mountains is an isolated example of Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests.[6] The town is divided by a rocky peninsula which is perhaps the most distinctive feature about the city. The harbor and Keykubat beach, named for Sultan Kay-Qubad, are on the east side of the peninsula, and Damlataş beach, named for the famous "dripping caves," and Cleopatra beach are on the west side. Legend and locals claim the name derives from either the Ptolemaic princess' visit here or the area's inclusion in her dowry from Mark Antony. Regardless, the area was indeed under some Egyptian hegemony in the 1st century BC.
Atatürk Bulvarı (Boulevard), runs perpendicular to the sea, and divides the southern, much more touristic side of Alanya from the northern, more native side, that extends north into the mountains, and Çevre Yolu Caddesi circles the main town on the northern border.
Climate
Though famous for its beaches, Alanya has a relatively moderate continental Mediterranean climate. The Mediterranean Basin ensures that most rain comes during the winter, leaving the summers long, hot, and dry. Storm cells sometime bring with them fair weather waterspouts when close to the shore. The presence of the Taurus Mountain in close proximity to the sea causes fog many mornings, in turn creating visible rainbows many days. The height of the mountains creates an interesting effect as snow can often be seen on them even on hot days in the city below.
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Average high °F (°C) | 59 (15) |
60 (16) |
62 (17) |
68 (20) |
75 (24) |
80 (27) |
86 (30) |
87 (31) |
84 (29) |
77 (25) |
69 (21) |
62 (17) |
(22) |
Average low °F (°C) | 44 (7) |
44 (7) |
48 (9) |
51 (11) |
59 (15) |
64 (18) |
69 (21) |
69 (21) |
66 (19) |
59 (15) |
53 (12) |
48 (9) |
(13) |
Rainfall in. (mm) | 8.9 (22.7) |
6.8 (17.2) |
4.2 (10.6) |
2.5 (6.4) |
1.4 (3.6) |
0.3 (0.8) |
0.1 (0.3) |
0.2 (0.5) |
0.4 (1) |
3.2 (8) |
6.7 (17.1) |
8.8 (22.4) |
(1105) |
Source: Weatherbase |
Architecture
On the peninsula stands Alanya Kale (Castle), a Seljuk era citadel dating from 1226. Most major landmarks in the city are found inside and around the castle. The current castle was built over existing fortifications and served the double purpose of a palace from where the region could be governed and as a defensive structure in case of attack. The city is currently renovating various sections of the Kale and castle area, including a Byzantine church, which is intended to be used for a Christian community center.[7] Inside the castle is the Süleymaniye mosque, built by the later Ottoman Sultan, and the caravanserai. The old city walls surround much of the eastern peninsula, and can be walked. Inside the walls are numerous historic villas which are well preserved examples of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, most built in the early 19th century.
The Kızıl Kule (Red Tower) is the most famous site in Alanya. The 33 meter high brick building is located at the harbor below the castle. Inside the Tower is the municipal ethnographic museum. Sultan Ala ad-Din Kay Qubadh I brought the accomplished architect Ebu Ali from Aleppo, Syria to Alanya to design the building.[8] Completed in 1226 as the last of the castle's 83 towers, the octagonal structure specifically protects the Tersane (arsenal) which dates from 1221. So well made was it that it remains one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture.
The Tersane, a medieval drydock, is located adjacent on the water to the Tower, not far from the modern harbor. The structure is 187 by 131 feet, which is divided into five vaulted bays with equilateral pointed arches. Atatürk's House and Museum, from his short stay in the city on 1935-02-18 is preserved in it's historic state and is a good example of the interior of a traditional Ottoman villa, with artifacts from the 1930s. The building itself was built between 1880 and 1885 in the "karniyarik," or stuffed eggplant, style. Bright colors and red roofs are often mandated by neighborhood councils, and give the modern town a pastel glow. Housed in a more Republican era building, an archaeology museum is inland from Damlataşh beach, and home to classical pieces found in and around the city as well as historic copies of the Qur'an. With its rich architectural heritage, Alanya is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions.[9]
Population
From only 87,080 in 1985, the city has surged to currently hold a population of 384,949, with 134,396 in the city center, and of which about 45,000 are European.[10] During the summer the population increases due to large numbers of tourists, about 1.1 million each year pass through the city. Many social classes meet in Alanya. Wealthy Turks and Europeans who vacation or reside part-time here are the revenue source for much of the population. The town is also home to many national immigrants from the west, particularly the southwest of Turkey, of Kurdish, Turkish, and Armenian heritages. In the 2000s, the town has seen a surge in illegal foreign immigrants from the Middle East and South Asia, both to stay and to attempt to enter European Union countries.[11]
The town is near 99% Muslim, and although many ancient churches can be found in the city, there are not regular Christian services. In 2006, a German language protestant church with seasonal service opened with much fanfare, after receiving permission to do so in 2003, a sign of the growing European population in the city.[12] Israeli tourists, often from cruise ships, constitute the Jewish population. These are sometime the targets of discrimination, particularly at times of high tension, such as the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, when shopkeepers denied Israelis entry.[13]
Education
The city boasts a 95% literacy, with public, private, and religious based schools available, and a roughly 1:24 student-teacher ratio. There remains however a limited number of secondary schools outside of the city center, disadvantaging the less affluent neighborhoods. Akdeniz University, with 17,287 students is the largest higher education in the area, and is located between Alanya and Antalya. The University operates a School of Business Administration in Alanya. Georgetown University operates an annual study abroad program for American students known as the McGhee Center, named for the United States Ambassador to Turkey from 1952-1953 George C. McGhee, and based in his villa.
Government
Alanya was set up as a municipality in 1872, electing its first mayor in 1901. Today, Alanya is governed by a mayor and a municipality council made up of twenty-five members which meet during the first week of every month, with the exception of budget meetings. Elections are held every five years, with the next to be held in 2009. All meetings are open to the Alanya public. The council currently has thirteen members of the Motherland Party, which has maintained some local loyalty in the region, six members of the Justice and Development Party, three members of the Republican People's Party, two of the True Path Party, and one independent. Mayor Hasan Sipahioğlu is also of the Motherland Party.
Just as the province is divided up into districts, the Alanya District is divided up into 17 municipalities, including the city center, and 92 villages. Alanya is greatly influenced by the provincial government in Antalya, and the federal government in Ankara, which appoints a governor for the district, currently Dr. Hulusi Doğan. Though Alanya has been part of Antalya Province since the Ottoman Empire, an Alanya Province has been a goal of many area politicians. Nationally, in the 2002 parliamentary election, the province voted with the the Republican People's Party, who were followed closely by both the Justice and Development Party and the True Path Party. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, of the Justice and Development Party, is the only native Alanyalilar Member of Parliament representing Antalya Province in the Grand National Assembly, where he chairs the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population.
Economy
The tourist industry here is worth just under 1.1 billion euros, and is therefore the principal industry. The area is further known for its many fruit farms, particularly lemons and oranges, and large harvests of tomatoes, bananas and cucumbers.
Tourism
Since the first modern motel was built in 1958, considered the first year of the tourist industry in Alanya, hotels have raced to accommodate the influx of tourists, and the city now claims 133,361 hotel beds.[14] Damlataşh cave, which originally sparked the arrival of outsiders because of the cave's microclimate, with an average temperature of 72°F (22°C) and 96% humidity, is accessible on the west side of the peninsula with trails from Damlataşh beach. Many tourists, especially Scandinavian, German, Russian and Dutch, now regularly vacation in Alanya during the warmer months. Tourists are drawn to the area because of reasonable prices, pleasantly warm weather, sandy beaches, access to Antalya's historic sites, and fine cuisine. Many beach activities are aimed at tourists, including wind surfing, parasailing, and banana boating.
Beginning in 2003, with the provisional elimination of restrictions on land purchases by non-nationals, the housing industry in the city has become highly profitable with many new private homes and condominiums being built for European and Asian part-time residents. This in turn has put pressure on the city's many gecekondu houses and establishments as property values rise. Nightclubs and bars aimed at tourists are numerous, usually located close to the water or the larger hotels. A height restriction in the city keeps high rise hotels to the east and west of the city, preserving its skyline at the expense of greater tourist potential.
Transportation
The D400 Turkish Highway connects Alanya from the east and west, and runs through the city center as Atatürk Bulvarı. Alanya is serviced by air through the Antalya Airport outside of Antalya, 75 miles (120 km) east of the city, to which it connects via a bus and dolmuş system branching out of the city's two bus depots. Buses are usually limited to the major roads, and inside the city transportation is by car, taxi, or foot, as many roads in the old part of town are closed to vehicle traffic. The harbor includes cruse ship piers that allow for large boats to dock in Alanya, and also for seasonal ferries and hydrofoils to depart from there, often for Northern Cyprus.
Sports
Alanya is home to a woman's basketball team, Alanya Belediye, which started in the first division but was relegated after the 2002 season. The city hosts a second level soccer team, Alanyaspor, though soccer fans in the city are mostly divided between the three major Istanbul teams. Alanya is perhaps more famous for the annual triathlon [1] held every October, and for the city's role in the European Beach Volleyball championship tournament, currently sponsored by Nestea, which takes place every May [2].
Logo | Club | League | Venue | Established |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alanyaspor logo | Alanyaspor | Iddaa League B: Group B | Milli Egemenlik | 1948 |
Sister cities
Since making agreements with Talsi, Trakai, and Keszthely in 2006, Alanya increased its number of sister cities to eight, seven of which are located within the European Union. Previously in 2005 Alanya had applied with Sister Cities International for an additional sister city located in the United States.[15] The most significant tie is with the city of Nea Ionia, where many of Alanya's Christians were forcibly resettled in 1923.
Further reading
- Redford, Scott. Landscape and the state in medieval Anatolia: Seljuk gardens and pavilions of Alanya, Turkey. Oxford: Archaeopress; 2000. ISBN 1-8417-1095-4
References
- ^ "Nüfusu ve Demografik Boyutları". Alanya municipality. 2002. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
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(help) - ^ Yetkin, Haşim. "When Atatürk visited Alanya". SunSearch Consulting Ltd. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- ^ "Alanya – Korekesion". Daily Life, Culture, and Ethnography of Antalya. Antalya Valiliği. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- ^ Pétridès, S (1908). "Coracesium". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- ^ Karpat, Kemal H. (1978). "Ottoman Population Records and the Census of 1881/82-1893". International Journal of Middle East Studies. 9 (3): 271.
- ^ World Wildlife Fund (2001). "Terrestrial Ecoregions". National Geographic. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
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(help) - ^ "Ancient church will be restored in Alanya". 2007-01-06. Retrieved 2007-01-14.
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(help) - ^ "Kızıl Kule (Red Tower)". Alanya Cities and Historical Sites. Turkish Class. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- ^ "Turkey". Association of Historic Towns of Turkey. European Association of Historic Towns and Regions. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- ^ "Nüfusu ve Demografik Boyutları". Alanya municipality. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
- ^ Stevens, Kristen (2006-12-19). "Migration matters in globalized Turkey". Turkish Daily News. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
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(help) - ^ "The church on holiday - German-language tourist ministries in Europe". Evangelical Church in Germany. May 2006. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
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(help) - ^ Chason, Miri (2006-08-15). "Turkey: Sign reads 'Israeli murderers keep out'". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ Hakları, Telif (2002). "Belediye Tarihi". Retrieved 2007-01-15.
- ^ "Desired Sister Community: General Information". Sister Cities International. Retrieved 2007-01-03.
See also
External links
- Travel Guides: Alanya guide at Wikitravel, World66 Alanya travel guide, SunSearch city guide