History Of Alanya

Alanya (; ), formerly Alaiye, is a beach resort city and a district of Antalya Province on the southern coast of Turkey, in the country's Mediterranean Region, east of the city of Antalya. As of Turkey's 2010 census, the city had a population of 98,627, while the district that includes the city and its built-up region had an area of 1,598.51 km² and 248,286 inhabitants.

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, 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 Kayqubad I, from whom the city derives its name. His building campaign resulted in many of the city's landmarks, such as the Kızıl Kule (Red Tower), Tersane (Shipyard), and Alanya Castle.

The Mediterranean climate, natural attractions, and historic heritage make Alanya a popular destination for tourism, and responsible for nine percent of Turkey's 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. In 2014 Mayor Adem Murat Yücel, of the Nationalist Movement Party unseated Hasan Sipahioğlu, of the Justice and Development Party, who had previously led the city since 1999. Adem Murat Yücel continues his duty as the Mayor of Alanya Municipality.

Names

The city has changed hands many times over the centuries, and its name has reflected this. Alanya was known in Latin as ''Coracesium'' or in Greek as ''Korakesion'' ( grc, Κορακήσιον) from the Luwian ''Korakassa'' meaning "point/protruding city". The Roman Catholic Church still recognizes the Latin name as a titular see in its hierarchy. Under the Byzantine Empire it became known as ''Kalonoros'' or ''Kalon Oros'', meaning "beautiful/fine mountain" in Greek. The Seljuks renamed the city ''Alaiye'' (علائیه), a derivative of the Sultan Alaeddin Kayqubad I's name. In the 13th and 14th centuries, Italian traders called the city ''Candelore'' or ''Cardelloro''. 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 in 1933.

History

Finds in the nearby Karain Cave indicate occupation during the Paleolithic era as far back as , and archeological evidence shows a port existed at Syedra, south of the modern city, during the Bronze Age around . A Phoenician language tablet found in the district dates to , and the city is specifically mentioned in the 4th-century BC Greek geography manuscript, the periplus of Pseudo-Scylax. The castle rock was likely inhabited under the Hittites and the Achaemenid Empire, and was first fortified in the Hellenistic period following the area's conquest by Alexander the Great. Alexander's successors left the area to one of the competing Macedonian generals, Ptolemy I Soter, after Alexander's death in . His dynasty maintained loose control over the mainly Isaurian population, and the port became a popular refuge for Mediterranean pirates. The city resisted Antiochus III the Great of the neighboring Seleucid kingdom in , but was loyal to the pirate Diodotus Tryphon when he seized the Seleucid crown from 142 to . His rival Antiochus VII Sidetes completed work in on a new castle and port, begun under Diodotus.

The Roman Republic fought Cilician pirates in , when Marcus Antonius the Orator established a proconsulship in nearby Side, and in under Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus (consul 79 BC), Servilius Vatia, who moved to control the Isaurian tribes. The period of piracy in Alanya finally ended after the city's incorporation into the Pamphylia province by Pompey in , with the Battle of Korakesion fought in the city's harbor. In Strabo, Strabo's reckoning, Coracesium marked the boundary between ancient Pamphylia and ancient Cilicia, Cilicia (Cilicia Trachaea, in particular); though other ancient authors placed the boundary elsewhere. Isaurian banditry remained an issue under the Romans, and the tribes revolted in the fourth and fifth centuries AD, with the largest rebellion being from 404 to 408.

With the spread of Christianity Coracesium, as it was called, became a bishopric. Its bishop Theodulus took part in the First Council of Constantinople in 381, Matidianus in the Council of Ephesus in 431, Obrimus in the Council of Chalcedon in 451, and Nicephorus (Nicetas) in the Third Council of Constantinople in 680. Coracesium was a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Side, the capital of the Roman province of Pamphylia Prima, to which Coracesium belonged. It continued to be mentioned in the ''Notitiae Episcopatuum'' as late as the 12th or 13th century. No longer a residential bishopric, Coracesium is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see.

Islam arrived in the 7th century with Byzantine-Arab Wars, Arab raids, which led to the construction of new fortifications. The area fell from Byzantine control after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 to tribes of Seljuq dynasty, Seljuk Turks, only to be returned in 1120 by John II Komnenos.

Following the Fourth Crusade's attack on the Byzantines, the Christian Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia periodically held the port, and it was from an Armenian, Kir Fard, that the Turks took lasting control in 1221 when the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Kayqubad I captured it, assigning the former ruler, whose daughter he married, to the governance of the city of Akşehir. Seljuk rule saw the golden age of the city, and it can be considered the winter capital of their empire. Building projects, including the Alanya Castle, twin citadel, city walls, arsenal, and Kızıl Kule, made it an important seaport for western Mediterranean trade, particularly with Ayyubid Egypt and the Italian city-states. Alaeddin Kayqubad I also constructed numerous gardens and pavilions outside the walls, and many of his works can still be found in the city. These were likely financed by his own treasury and by the local emirs, and constructed by the General contractor, contractor Abu 'Ali al-Kattani al-Halabi. Alaeddin Kayqubad I's son, Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev II, continued the building campaign with a new cistern in 1240.

At the Battle of Köse Dağ in 1243, the Mongol hordes broke the Seljuk hegemony in Anatolia. Alanya was then subject to a series of invasions from Anatolian beyliks. Lusignans from Kingdom of Cyprus, Cyprus briefly overturned the then ruling Hamidids, Hamidid dynasty in 1371. The Karamanids sold the city in 1427 for 5,000 gold coins to the Mamluk Sultanate (Cairo), Mamluks of Egypt for a period before General Gedik Ahmed Pasha in 1471 incorporated it into the growing Ottoman Empire. The city was made a capital of a local sanjak in the Mersin Province, eyalet of Içel. The Ottomans extended their rule in 1477 when they brought the main shipping trade, lumber, then mostly done by Venice, Venetians, under the government monopoly. On September 6, 1608, the city rebuffed a naval attack by the Order of Saint Stephen from the Duchy of Florence.

Trade in the region was negatively impacted by the development of an oceanic route from Europe around Africa to India, and in the tax registers of the late sixteenth century, Alanya failed to qualify as an urban center. In 1571 the Ottomans designated the city as part of the newly conquered Cyprus under the Ottoman Empire, province of Cyprus. The conquest further diminished the economic importance of Alanya's port. Traveler Evliya Çelebi visited the city in 1671/1672, and wrote on the preservation of Alanya Castle, but also on the dilapidation of Alanya's suburbs. The city was reassigned in 1864 under Konya Province, Konya, and in 1868 under Antalya, as it is today. During the 18th and 19th centuries numerous villas were built in the city by Ottoman nobility, and civil construction continued under the local dynastic Karamanid authorities. Bandits again became common across Antalya Province in the mid-nineteenth century.

After World War I, Alanya was nominally Partitioning of the Ottoman Empire, partitioned in the 1917 Agreement of St.-Jean-de-Maurienne to Italy, before returning to the Turkey, Turkish Republic in 1923 under the Treaty of Lausanne. Like others in this region, the city suffered heavily following Turkish War of Independence, the war and the Exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey, population exchanges that heralded the Turkish Republic, when many of the city's Christians resettled in Nea Ionia, outside Athens. The Ottoman census of 1893 listed the number of Greeks in the city at out of a total population of . Tourism in the region started among Turkish people, Turks who came to Alanya in the 1960s for the alleged healing properties of Damlataş Cave, and later the access provided by Antalya Airport in 1998 allowed the town to grow into an international resort. Strong population growth through the 1990s was a result of immigration to the city, and has driven a rapid modernization of the infrastructure.

Geography

Located on the Gulf of Antalya on the Anatolian coastal plain of Pamphylia, the town is situated between the Taurus Mountains to the north and the Mediterranean Sea, and is part of the Turkish riviera, occupying roughly of coastline. From west to east, the Alanya district is bordered by the Manavgat district along the coast, the mountainous Gündoğmuş inland, Hadim and Taşkent in the Konya Province, Province of Konya, Sarıveliler in the Karaman Province, Province of Karaman, and the coastal Gazipaşa district. Manavgat is home to the ancient cities of Side and Selge. East of the city, the Dim River flows from the mountains in Konya on a south-west route into the Mediterranean.

The Pamphylia plain between the sea and the mountains is an isolated example of an Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forests, Eastern Mediterranean conifer-sclerophyllous-broadleaf forest, which include Lebanon Cedar, evergreen scrub, fig trees, and black pine. The Alanya Massif refers to the area of metamorphic rocks east of Antalya. This formation is divided into three nappes from lowest to highest, the Mahmutlar, the Sugözü, and the Yumrudağ. The similar lithology extends beneath the city in a Window (geology), tectonic window. Bauxite, an aluminum ore, is common to the area north of city, and can be mined.

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, named after the Sultan Kayqubad I, are on the east side of the peninsula. Damlataş Beach, named for the famous "dripping caves", and Kleopatra Beach are to the west. The name "Cleopatra VII, Cleopatra" possibly derives from either the Ptolemaic dynasty, Ptolemaic princess' visit here or the area's inclusion in her dowry to Mark Antony. 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. Çevre Yolu Caddesi, another major road, encircles the main town to the north.

Climate

Alanya has a typical hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, Köppen: Csa). Located at the Mediterranean Basin, the subtropical high pressure zone ensures that most rain comes during the winter, leaving the summers long, hot, and dry, prompting the Alanya board of Tourism to use the slogan "where the sun smiles". Storm cells sometimes 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, in turn creating visible rainbows many mornings. 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. The sea at Alanya has an average temperature of annually, with an average August temperature of .

Main sights

On the peninsula stands Alanya Castle, a Seljuq dynasty, 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 of local government and as a defensive structure in case of attack. In 2007, the city began renovating various sections of the castle area, including adapting a Byzantine church for use as a Christian community center. Inside the castle is the Süleymaniye mosque and caravanserai, built by Suleiman the Magnificent. The old city walls surround much of the eastern peninsula, and can be walked. Inside the walls are numerous historic villas, well preserved examples of the classical period of Ottoman architecture, most built in the early 19th century.

The Kızıl Kule (Red Tower) is a high brick building, standing at the harbor below the castle, and containing the municipal Ethnography, ethnographic museum. Sultan Kayqubad I brought the architect Ebu Ali from Aleppo, Syria to Alanya to design the building. The last of Alanya Castle's , the octagonal structure specifically protected the Tersane (dockyard), it remains one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture. The Tersane, a medieval drydock built by the Seljuk Turks in 1221, is divided into five vaulted bays with equilateral pointed arches. The Alara Castle and caravanserai near Manavgat, also built under Kayqubad's authority, has been converted into a museum and heritage center.

Atatürk's House and Museum, from his short stay in the city on February 18, 1935, is preserved in its historic state and is an example of the interior of a traditional Ottoman villa, with artifacts from the 1930s. The house was built between 1880 and 1885 in the "karniyarik" (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 1967 Republican era building, The Alanya Museum is inland from Damlataş Beach.

Alanya is a member of the Norwich-based European Association of Historic Towns and Regions. In 2009, city officials filed to include Alanya Castle and Tersane as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and were named to the 2009 Tentative List.

Demographics

From only 87,080 in 1985, the district has surged to hold a population of 384,949 in 2007. This population surge is largely credited to immigration to the city as a result or byproduct of the increased prominence of the real estate sector and the growth of the Real estate bubble, housing market bubble. In 2007, the city itself had a population of 134,396, of which 9,789 are Demographics of Europe, European expatriates, about half of them from Germany and Denmark.17,850 total foreigners own property in Alanya. There are a lot of Iranians who have settled in the city. During the Persian New Year a lot of Iranians go to Alanya for vacation. The European expatriate population tends to be over fifty years old. During the summer the population increases due to large numbers of tourists, about each year pass through the city. Both Turkish people, Turks and Europeans, these vacationers provide income for much of the population.

The city is home to many migrants from the Southeastern Anatolia Region, Turkey, Southeastern Anatolia Region and the Black Sea Region, Turkey, Black Sea region. In the first decade of the 21st century, the town has seen a surge in Illegal immigration, illegal foreign immigrants from the Middle East and South Asia, both to stay and to attempt to enter European Union List of European Union member states by population, countries. , claim residence in Alanya while working abroad. Yörük nomads also live in the Taurus Mountains north of the city on a seasonal basis. Additionally, there is a small Ethnic groups of Africa, African community descendant from imported Slavery (Ottoman Empire), Ottoman slaves. In 2018, it was estimated that around 300 Finns live permanently in Alanya and 3,000 during the Winter. According to the TÜİK Institute of Statistics, as of October 2022, 55,000 foreigners live in the city, more than half of them are Russian speakers.

The city is nearly 99% Muslim, and although many ancient Church (building), churches can be found in the district, there are no weekly Christian Mass (liturgy), 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. In 2015, the town began renovations of the Greek Orthodox Church, Greek Orthodox Agios Georgios Church in the village of Hacı Mehmetli, and the church has been used for a monthly Russian Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox service. Alanya also provides the Atatürk Cultural Center to Christian groups on a regular basis for larger religious ceremonies.

Education and health

The city has 95% literacy, with Public school (government funded), public and private school, private schools, and a roughly . Rural villages are, however, disadvantaged by the limited number of Secondary education, secondary schools outside the city center. Alantur Primary School, which opened in 1987, was built and is maintained under the Turkish "Build Your Own School" initiative, supported by the foundation of Ayhan Şahenk, the founder of Doğuş Holding.

In 2005, Akdeniz University of Antalya launched the Alanya Faculty of Business, as a satellite campus that focuses on the tourism industry. The school hosts an International Tourism Conference annually in coordination with Buckinghamshire New University. The city also has plans to open a private university in 2012. Georgetown University operates an annual study abroad program for American students known as the McGhee Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies, named for the United States Ambassador to Turkey from 1952 to 1953 George C. McGhee, and based in his villa. Başkent University Medical and Research Center of Alanya, a teaching hospital run by Başkent University in Ankara is one of nineteen hospitals in Alanya. Other major hospitals include the 300-bed Alanya State Hospital and the 90-bed Private Hayat Hospital.

Culture

Alanya's culture is a subculture of the larger Culture of Turkey. The city's seaside position is central to many annual festivals. These include the Tourism and Arts Festival, which marks the opening of the tourism season from at the end of May or beginning of June. At the opposite end of the season, the Alanya International Culture and Art Festival is held in the last week of May, and is a notable Festivals in Republic of Turkey, Turkish festival. Other regular festivals include the Alanya Jazz Days, which has been held since 2002 in September or October at the Kızıl Kule, which is otherwise home to the municipal Ethnography, ethnographic museum. The Jazz Festival hosts Turkish and international jazz musicians in a series of five free concerts.

The Alanya Chamber Orchestra, formed of members of the Antalya State Opera and Ballet, gave its inaugural performance on December 7, 2007. The International Alanya Stone Sculpture Symposium, begun is 2004, is held over the month of November. The Alanya Documentary Festival was launched in 2001 by the Alanya Cinémathèque Society and the Association of Documentary Filmmakers in Turkey. Onat Kutlar, Turkish poet and writer, and founder of the Istanbul International Film Festival was born in Alanya, as was actress Sema Önür.

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Atatürk's visit to Alanya is also celebrated on its anniversary each February 18, centered on Atatürk's House and Museum. The Alanya Museum is home to archaeology found in and around the city, including a large bronze Hercules statue, ceramics, and Roman limestone ossuary, ossuaries, as well as historic copies of the Qur'an. European residents of Alanya also often celebrate their national holidays, such as Norwegian Constitution Day, and the city set up a Christmas market in December 2010. Iranian peoples, Iranians also celebrate the Persian New Year, Nowruz, Nevruz, in Alanya.

Government

Alanya was set up as a municipality in 1872, electing its List of mayors of Alanya, first mayor in 1901. Today, Alanya is governed by a mayor and a municipality council made up of thirty-seven members. Eighteen councilors are from the far-right Nationalist Movement Party, seven are from the center-left Republican People's Party, and twelve are of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which is currently in power in the national government. Mayor Adem Murat Yücel of the Nationalist Movement Party was elected in 2014 by unseating the incumbent Hasan Sipahioğlu, who had previously been mayor since 1999. Elections in Turkey, Elections are held every five years, with the next to be held in March 2019. Alanya also has a deputy mayor, who often represents the city at its sporting events, and together the mayor and his team represent Alanya in the provincial assembly in Antalya.

Alanya District is divided up into , including the city center, and . Alanya is greatly influenced by the provincial government in Antalya, and the national government in Ankara, which appoints a List of governors of Alanya, governor for the district, currently Dr. Hulusi Doğan. Although Alanya has been part of Antalya Province since the Ottoman Empire, many local politicians have advocated a separate Alanya Province, a position supported by associations of foreign residents.

Nationally, in the 2007 Turkish general election, 2007 election, the province voted with the Justice and Development Party, who were followed closely by the Republican People's 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 of Turkey, Grand National Assembly, where he chairs the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Population. Çavuşoğlu is the current Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Turkey), Turkish Foreign Minister and also served as the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Economy

The tourist industry in Alanya is worth just under per year, 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. About 80,000 tonnes of citrus fruits were produced in 2006 across . The greengage, greengage plum and the avocado are increasingly popular early season fruits where citrus fruits are becoming unprofitable.

Despite the seaside location, few residents make their living on the sea, and fishing is not a major industry. In the early 1970s, when fish stocks ran low, a system of rotating access was developed to preserve this sector. This innovative system was part of Elinor Ostrom's research on economic governance which led to her 2009 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, Nobel Prize in Economics. In 2007, locals protested the establishment of some larger chain supermarkets and clothing stores, which have opened branches in Alanya.

Beginning in 2003, with the provisional elimination of restrictions on Foreign purchases of real estate in Turkey, 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. Sixty-nine percent of homes purchased by foreign nationals in the Antalya Province and 29.9% in all of Turkey are in Alanya. Buyers are primarily individuals, rather than investors. This housing boom put pressure on the city's many gecekondu houses and establishments as property values rise and property sales to locals fall. A height restriction in the city limits most buildings to (). This keeps high rise hotels to the east and west of the city, preserving the central skyline at the expense of greater tourist potential. The fringes of the city however have seen uncontrolled expansion.

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 claims beds. Damlataş Cave, which originally sparked the arrival of outsiders because of the cave's microclimate, with an average temperature of and , is accessible on the west side of the peninsula with trails from Damlataş Beach. Many tourists, especially Scandinavians, Germans, Russians, and Dutch (ethnic group), Dutch, regularly vacation in Alanya during the summer, warmer months. They are drawn to the area because of property prices, warm weather, sandy beaches, access to Antalya Province#Places of interest, Antalya's historic sites, and fine Cuisine of Turkey, cuisine.

Other outdoor tourist activities include wind surfing, parasailing, and banana boat (boat), banana boating. Attractions include Europe's largest waterpark, Sealanya, and Turkey's largest Kart racing, go-kart track. Hunting season also attracts some tourist for wild goat, pig and partridge hunting in area nature reserves.

Media

Alanya has 10 local daily newspapers. One of these is ''Yeni Alanya'', which includes the news and lifestyles magazine ''Orange'' and is available in English, German and Turkish. Two native German language newspapers are published in Alanya, the ''Aktuelle Türkei Rundschau'' and ''Alanya Bote'' for the community of German speaking residents and visitors. A monthly magazine ''Hello Alanya'' published in Alanya for foreigners, appearing in English and Dutch. The free regional newspaper, Riviera News, is printed in English and is widely available in Alanya.

Five radio stations broadcast from the city. Alanya FM broadcasting, FM Radyo broadcasts on 106.0 FM and is partnered with Radio Flash, on 94.0 FM, both broadcasting popular music. Other stations include Alanya RadyoTime on 92.3 FM, which broadcasts a variety of Turkish music, news, and talk programming. Two television stations are local to Alanya, Kanal Alanya, and Alanya Televizyonu, abbreviated ATV, which is partnered with Alanya RadyoTime.

Transportation

The D 400 Highway, the Alanya–Mersin Route, connects Alanya from the east and west, encircling it, and linking through the city center via Atatürk Bulvarı. The D695, the Ankara–Akşehir Route, runs north–south and reaches the sea west of the city near Side, connecting with the D400. Antalya Airport is away and connects internationally. The new Antalya Gazipaşa Airport, first begun in 1992, is only from the city, and was expected to have its first regular domestic flights on May 22, 2010, although international flights were not expected before the start of the 2011 tourist season. No train routes go to Alanya or Antalya Province, and there are no train stations in the district.

There are bus and Dolmuș, dolmuş systems out of Alanya's two bus depots, but 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 town are closed to vehicle traffic. The harbor includes cruise ship piers, and also seasonal ferry, ferries and hydrofoils depart for Kyrenia in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Cruise ships docking at Alanya have increased 50% in 2013, with 53 estimated to have brought 56,000 passengers the end of the year. Further west of the city is the Alanya Marina, which started services in 2008 while still under construction, completing its expansion in 2010. The 85-km² (33-sq-mi) marina allowed Alanya to participate in the 2008 Eastern Mediterranean Yacht Rally. The city is also investing in a community bicycle program with 150 bicycles and twenty terminals.

Sports

Alanya is home to a Women's professional sports, woman's basketball team, Alanya Belediye, which started in the Turkish Women's Basketball League, first division but was relegated after the 2002 season. The city hosts a Süper Lig Football (soccer), soccer team, Alanyaspor. The club was founded in 1948, and play home games at Milli Egemenlik Stadium. It played in the Bank Asya First League, Second League between 1988-1997 and 2014–2016. The club finally promoted to top level in 2015–16 season. In 2007, the city began constructing a new soccer facility with the intention of hosting winter competitions between major teams. The public Alanya Municipality Sports Facility is located adjacent to Milli Egemenlik Stadium, which is one of thirteen facilities.

Alanya's waterfront location makes it suitable for certain events, and is perhaps most famous for its annual triathlon, part of the International Triathlon Union series, which has been held every October since 1990. Marathon swimming competitions have also been connected to the triathlon since 1992. Building on the triathlon's success, Alanya hosted a modern pentathlon in 2009. Alanya is also the regular host of The Turkish Open, part of the Nestea European Beach Volleyball championship tour, which takes place in May. In 2007, the Turkish Volleyball Federation persuaded the Confédération Européenne de Volleyball, European Volleyball Confederation to build a beach volleyball training facility in Alanya, and make it the exclusive "center of beach volleyball in Europe".

The city is also a frequent host to national events, such as the annual beach team handball, handball tournament. Alanya is the traditional finish site of the seven-day Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, though organizers reversed the route in 2012, and started the event in Alanya instead. Other cycling events include the Alanya International Mountain Bike Race. Additionally, the Union Européenne de Cyclisme, European Cycling Union had its 2010 European road cycling championship and 2010 ordinary congress meeting in Alanya.

Neighbourhoods

*Akdam
*Akçatı
*Alacami
*Aliefendi
*Asmaca
*Bademağacı
*Basırlı
*Bayır
*Bayırkozağacı
*Bayırköy
*Başköy
*Beldibi
*Beyreli
*Bucakköy
*Burçaklar
*Büyükpınar
*Bıçakçı
*Cikcilli
*Demirtaş
*Dereköy
*Deretürbelinas
*Değirmendere
*Elikesik
*Emişbeleni
*Esentepe
*Fakırcalı
*Gözübüyük
*Gözüküçüklü
*Gümüşgöze
*Gümüşkavak
*Güneyköy
*Güzelbağ
*Hacıkerimler
*Hacımehmetli
*Hocalar
*Karakocalı
*Karamanlar
*Karapınar
*Kargıcak
*Kayabaşı
*Kestel
*Keşefli
*Kocaoğlanlı
*Kuzyaka
*Kızılcaşehir
*Mahmutlar
*Mahmutseydi
*Obaalacami
*Payallar
*Paşaköy
*Saburlar
*Sapadere
*Seki
*Soğukpınar
*Süleymanlar
*Taşbaşı
*Toslak
*Tosmur
*Türkler
*Türktaş
*Tırılar
*Ulugüney
*Uzunöz
*Uğrak
*Uğurlu
*Yalçı
*Yaylakonak
*Yaylalı
*Yenice
*Yeniköy
*Çakallar
*Çamlıca
*Çıplaklı
*Öteköy
*Özvadi
*Üzümü
*İmamlı
*İncekum
*İshaklı
*İspatlı
*Şıhlar

International relations

Twin towns - sister cities

The most significant tie is with the city of Nea Ionia, where many of Alanya's Christians were population exchange between Greece and Turkey, resettled in 1923 after the Treaty of Lausanne. Alanya is twinned with:

* Dergachyovsky District, Russia
* Fushun, China
* Geoagiu, Romania
* Gladbeck, Germany
* Goa, India
* Keszthely, Hungary
* Mahdia, Tunisia
* Ankara, Turkey
* Nea Ionia, Greece
* Murmansk, Russia
* Oer-Erkenschwick, Germany
* Rovaniemi, Finland
* Šilutė District Municipality, Šilutė, Lithuania
* South-Eastern Administrative Okrug, South-Eastern AO (Moscow), Russia
* Špindlerův Mlýn, Czech Republic
* Talsi Municipality, Talsi, Latvia
* Trakai District Municipality, Trakai, Lithuania
* Wodzisław Śląski, Poland
* Gmina Wronki, Wronki, Poland
* Zelenogorsk, Saint Petersburg, Zelenogorsk, Russia
* Borås, Sweden

Friendly cities

* Nowy Sącz, Poland
* Turek, Poland, Turek, Poland

Notable residents

* Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Turkish diplomat and politician; current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey

See also

*List of governors of Alanya
*List of mayors of Alanya

References

Further reading

*
* Redford, Scott. ''Landscape and the state in medieval Anatolia: Seljuk gardens and pavilions of Alanya, Turkey''. Oxford: Archaeopress; 2000.

External links

*

Alanya Map

Cleopatra Beach

Alanya Guide

{{Authority control

Alanya,
Mediterranean port cities and towns in Turkey
Turkish Riviera
Populated places in Antalya Province
Populated coastal places in Turkey
Fishing communities in Turkey
Alanya District
Districts of Antalya Province
World Heritage Tentative List for Turkey
Catholic titular sees in Asia