History of Alanya: A Mediterranean History Uncovered (Podcast Interview)

Perched on a rugged peninsula jutting into the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, Alanya is today synonymous with sun-drenched beaches, bustling resorts, and vibrant nightlife. Yet, to see it only as a modern holiday paradise is to miss its true soul. This stunning corner of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast is a historical palimpsest, a place where every stone, every fortress wall, and every hidden cave whispers tales of pirates, Romans, Byzantines, and mighty Sultans. The history of Alanya is a dramatic saga of strategic genius, shifting empires, and cultural confluence, all set against one of the most breathtaking backdrops in the world.

Join us on a journey through time, as we peel back the layers of this ancient city, once known as Coracesium, then Kalonoros, and finally, Alaiye, before becoming the Alanya we know today.

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Listen to this podcast about "History of Alanya":

Part 1: In the Mists of Antiquity – The Foundation of Coracesium

The story of Alanya begins not with written records, but with the undeniable evidence of its geography and scattered archaeological finds. The towering rock peninsula, surrounded on three sides by the sea and protected by steep cliffs, was a natural fortress. Evidence of human habitation dates back to the Upper Paleolithic era (c. 20,000 years ago), with the famous Kadıini Cave serving as a shelter for early hunter-gatherers. Later, pottery fragments indicate settlement during the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages.

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The first major historical mention comes from the Hellenistic period. The city, then named Coracesium (from the Greek, possibly meaning "place of the raven"), was a formidable stronghold. Its reputation was such that in 197 BC, the Seleucid commander Antiochus III failed to conquer it. Its most famous—or infamous—chapter began when it became a haven for the Cilician Pirates.

From the 2nd century BC, this rugged coastline, known as Cilicia Trachea ("Rough Cilicia"), provided the perfect base for pirate fleets. The pirates of Coracesium were not mere thieves; they were a sophisticated naval power that challenged Rome itself. They built shipyards, taxed coastal cities, and even plundered as far as Italy, famously kidnapping a young Julius Caesar near Rhodes. He was held for ransom in a location many historians believe was Coracesium. The pirate threat grew so severe that it prompted a massive Roman response.

Part 2: The Roman Peace and Byzantine Cross – Taming the Pirate Stronghold

In 67 BC, the Roman Senate granted Pompey the Great unprecedented power to cleanse the Mediterranean of piracy in a campaign known as the *Bellum Piraticum*. His massive armada descended upon Cilicia, and the climactic Naval Battle of Coracesium took place right off the coast. Pompey’s disciplined legions defeated the pirate fleets and laid siege to their formidable fortress. Rather than slaughtering them, he showed clemency, resettling many pirates inland and effectively ending their reign of terror.

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With the pirates subdued, Coracesium was integrated into the Roman Empire, later becoming part of the Byzantine Empire. Under the Pax Romana, the city lost its rebellious edge and became a quieter, though still strategically important, provincial town. Christianity spread through the region, and the city became a bishopric. While grand monuments from this era are scarcer in Alanya than in other ancient sites, the foundations of the fortress walls and the occasional Byzantine chapel ruins speak to this long period of relative stability that lasted for nearly a millennium.

It was during the Byzantine era that the city gained a new name: Kalonoros, meaning "Beautiful Mountain." The name was apt, and the city’s formidable defenses continued to be maintained, now protecting it from new threats emerging from the sea—first Arab raids and later the forces of the Crusades.

Part 3: The Seljuk Zenith – The Birth of Alaiye

The most transformative chapter in Alanya's history began in the early 13th century. The Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, a powerful Muslim empire descended from Central Asian Turks, was expanding its influence to the Mediterranean coast. In 1221, the Sultan, Alaeddin Keykubad I, one of the most brilliant and powerful Seljuk rulers, set his sights on Kalonoros.

The story goes that the city's Christian ruler, a certain King Kir Vart, offered to surrender the fortress in exchange for the hand of the Sultan’s daughter. Alaeddin, unamused, replied, "I sometimes give away cities as dowries, I do not receive cities as dowries." He besieged and captured the city, and King Vart was allowed to retire to a nearby estate.

Recognizing the site's unparalleled strategic and potential economic value, Alaeddin Keykubad embarked on a monumental building spree. He renamed the city **Alaiye** ("The City of Alaeddin"), and it became his primary winter residence and a key naval base, second only to the capital, Konya.

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His legacy defines Alanya to this day:

• The Red Tower (Kızılkule) The iconic symbol of Alanya. This stunning 33-meter-high octagonal tower was built in 1226 to protect the ancient Tersane (shipyard). Its ingenious design, using red brick and mortar, made it virtually impregnable. It remains one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture.
• The Seljuk Shipyard (Tersane) A masterpiece of maritime engineering. This series of five vaulted docks, carved directly into the sea cliffs, is one of the few medieval shipyards in the world that remains largely intact. For over a century, it was the heart of the Seljuk navy, building the ships that secured their control over the Mediterranean trade routes.
• The Castle (Alanya Kalesi) Alaeddin didn't just occupy the existing fortress; he massively expanded and fortified it. The 6.5 km of walls, punctuated by 140 towers, encircle the entire peninsula, creating a vast citadel. Within its walls, he built mosques, a covered bazaar (bedesten), baths, and a palace (now in ruins).
• The Citadel (İçkale) The innermost fortress at the very peak of the peninsula. This was the Sultan's final redoubt and military command center, offering breathtaking 360-degree views.
• The Süleymaniye Mosque Though the current structure is a 16th-century Ottoman reconstruction, it stands on the site of a mosque originally built by Alaeddin Keykubad.

Under the Sultan's patronage, Alaiye flourished not just as a military hub but as a center of culture, trade, and art, entering its true golden age.

Part 4: The Ottoman Era – A Quiet Backwater

Following the decline of the Seljuks, Alaiye passed into the hands of the Karamanid Dynasty, a Turkish Beylik that ruled the region. For nearly a century, it was a contested city, even briefly occupied by the Lusignan Kingdom of Cyprus.

In 1471, the expanding Ottoman Empire, led by Gedik Ahmet Pasha, annexed the city and its territory. For Alaiye, the Ottoman period was one of relative quiet and decline in national significance. As the empire's borders stretched far beyond the Mediterranean coast, Alanya's role as a crucial naval fortress diminished. It became a quiet provincial backwater, known more for its agricultural produce—citrus fruits, bananas, and later, tobacco—than for its military might.

It was administered as part of the larger province of Cyprus and later Konya. The castle became a garrison for a small contingent of janissaries, and the magnificent shipyard was used only for minor repairs. The city's history during these centuries was peaceful but unremarkable, a long slumber that preserved its Seljuk and medieval character far better than more bustling Ottoman port cities.

Part 5: The Turkish Republic and The Birth of a Tourist Paradise

The aftermath of World War I and the Turkish War of Independence saw the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the birth of the modern Republic of Turkey under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923. In a nation-building move to rid place names of foreign influences, "Alaiye" was officially changed to Alanya in 1935.

For decades, it remained a sleepy, difficult-to-access agricultural town. Its transformation began tentatively in the 1950s and 60s when intrepid travelers, often on the "Hippie Trail," began to discover its incredible beauty, cheap living, and fascinating history. Word spread of a hidden paradise with a colossal castle, pristine caves, and empty beaches.

The real turning point came in the 1980s. The Turkish government, recognizing the immense potential of its coastline, invested heavily in tourism infrastructure. Airports were built, roads were improved, and incentives were given for hotel construction. Alanya, with its incredible climate (over 300 sunny days a year), long beaches, and unique historical heritage, was perfectly positioned to become a major tourist destination.

European, and later Russian and Middle Eastern, tourists flocked to the new resorts. The population boomed, and the economy shifted almost entirely from agriculture to tourism. This rapid development brought wealth and modernity but also the challenges of overdevelopment and environmental pressure.

Walking Through History: Alanya's Living Monuments

What makes Alanya’s history so special is that it’s not confined to a museum. It’s a living, breathing part of the city.

• The Castle Walls You can walk or drive the entire length of the walls, exploring hidden corners and enjoying stunning vistas. Within the walls, the village of Ehmedek is still inhabited, with charming old houses nestled beside ancient ruins.
• The Red Tower and Shipyard These monuments are impeccably preserved and open to the public. Standing inside the cool, dark docks of the Tersane, you can almost hear the echoes of Seljuk shipwrights at work.
• The Caves The sea caves of Alanya, like the Phosphorous Cave (Fosforlu Mağara) and the Lovers’ Cave (Aşıklar Mağarası), are steeped in local myth and legend, adding a layer of natural wonder to the historical tapestry.
• The Traditional Houses Wandering the back streets up to the castle, you can find beautifully preserved examples of traditional Ottoman-era Turkish architecture.

Conclusion: Where Antiquity Meets the Azure Sea

The history of Alanya is a microcosm of Mediterranean history itself—a story of strategic location, clashing civilizations, and the relentless passage of time. From a pirate den defying Rome to the glittering capital of a Seljuk Sultan, from a quiet Ottoman orchard to a 21st-century tourism powerhouse, its identity has constantly evolved.

Yet, its soul remains ancient. The mighty Red Tower still stands guard over the bustling marina. The castle walls still encircle a living community. The shipyards still bear the marks of the Sultan's ambition. To visit Alanya is to enjoy the sun and sea, but it is also to take a walk through layers of history, each one more fascinating than the last. It is a place where you can sip a coffee in a café that was once part of a Seljuk caravanserai, and where every sunset over the Mediterranean is watched over by the silent, stony gaze of a thousand years of history.

Enjoy your trip to Alanya!