Alanya Castle

Alanya Castle, situated in the southern Turkish city of Alanya. It is a medieval fortress built in the 13th century, during the Seljuq Sultanate of Rûm. Alaeddin Keykubad I conquered the city in 1220, and soon after, the castle was built. The castle is also known for the Kizil Kule (Kizil Tower), which is part of its building campaign. The structure was erected on the ruins of earlier Byzantine and Roman fortifications. The castle's function changed from being purely defensive to serving as a residential area during the Ottoman Empire's rule, and many villas were built inside its walls in the 19th century. Today, the site operates as an open-air museum. In 2009, city officials submitted Alanya Castle and Tersane for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and both were added to the 2009 Tentative List.