Alanya City
Alanya is a seaside resort city and district of Antalya Province in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey, 120 km (75 miles) from the city of Antalya. The municipal district, which includes the city center, has close to 285,000 inhabitants. The population is almost entirely of Anatolian origin, but is home to around 10,000 European residents, with a growing presence in the city and its economy.
Because of its natural strategic position on a small peninsula into the Mediterranean Sea below the Taurus Mountains, Alanya has been a local stronghold for many Mediterranean-based empires, including the Ptolemaic, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. Alanyas greatest political importance came in the Middle Ages with the Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm under the rule of Alaeddin Keykubad I, from whom the city derives its name. His building campaign resulted in many of the citys landmarks, such as the Kızıl Kule (Red Tower), Tersane (Shipyard), and Alanya Castle.
The relatively moderate Mediterranean climate, natural attractions, and historic heritage makes Alanya a popular destination for tourism, and responsible for nine percent of Turkeys tourism sector and thirty percent of foreign purchases of real estate in Turkey. Tourism has risen since 1958 to become the dominant industry in the city, resulting in a corresponding increase in city population. Warm-weather sporting events and cultural festivals take place annually in Alanya.
Alanya is 135 km east of Antalya. In the East is the city Gazipasa and in the West Manavgat/Side. Alanya is also known as „Pearl of the Turkish Rivera" and is world-famous for its kilometers of fine and clean beach, crystal-clear water and the mild Mediterranean climate. The historical past, the various sights of nature and the multi-cultural way of life made Alanya an unforgettable experience. Through the different kind of water-sports, the colorful bazaar and the happy night-life Alanya is popular with local and European vacationists.
The first settlements are dated in the before-Christian time which we explain under History. Before tourism the origin settlers „Yörük" (a nomad race) lived from farming, fishing and stockbreeding. Over the winter month they lived in the mild climate of Alanya and in the summer they moved with their cattle to the Taurus Mountain. But through the tourism they settled down and opened boutiques and hotels.
The population structure in Alanya has changed within the last 15 years to a European and multicultural city. With the tourism businessman from Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and other cities have opened the first hotels and stores. Then the Turkish people who lived in a foreign country came back and invested their money in tourism.
With the built of the infrastructure, healthcare, modern hotels, buildings and stores the first holiday apartments have been purchased by European. To this day over 10.000 apartments were sold to European and the most of them are still living here as new and local friends. In Turkey Alanya is humorous known as a holiday place which was conquered and free from European.
The popularity of Alanya rest on the special qualities of the touristic equipment of the hotels and of the beaches. The long beaches are open for everyone. Also the hotels are not like at other places full of buildings for mass-tourism behind walls and fence. The hotels in Alanya have a capacity of 50-100 rooms and the furniture is comfortable and tasteful. The hotels are among the beach or near the centre of Alanya and managed professional in a familiar atmosphere. Discover the history, nature and culture of Alanya.
Experience the Turkish hospitality in a familiar atmosphere.
