Red Tower

One of Turkey's most notable architectural structures, the Red Tower stands guard to the Alanya castle. A simple octagonal structure from the outside, the interior of this tower is rather complicated. It was used to defend the shipyard (tersane), and was said to hold up to 2000 soldiers during a siege. Inside, there are 5 floors, with a tank built to provide drinking water to soldiers. There are many windows for observation and an unroofed terrace with a fortified wall. The view of the coast and Alanya from the fifth floor is truly breathtaking.

The Red Tower was used for military purposes well into the 20th century, after which it was renovated into a tourist attraction. In 1979, red bricks were used to reconstruct the upper floors, giving it its name today. There are also exhibition halls throughout the interior, displaying temporary exhibits. The Alanya Teleferik (cable car) runs from Kleopatra Beach to the castle district of Ehmedek. If this isn’t possible, both walking from Alanya’s city centre, and public/private transport is options that can be availed. Built in 1226 under the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Kayqubad I, the Aleppo architect Ebu Ali Reha was commissioned for the purpose. Both their names have been inscribed on the tower. In fact, the defences offered by the Red Tower (or Kizil Kule) gave the Sultan the name ‘the ruler of two seas’. Its historical significance also led to it being printed on the 250 thousand lira banknote from 1992 to 2005.