Surroundings, Alanya

On the shores of a small bay about 35km/22mi from Alanya lie the ruins of ancient Syedra. Remnants of the lower town (baths, necropolis, parts of walls) can be seen close to the road and on the adjoining hillside while, higher up and a little to the northeast, the site of the acropolis overlooks the Sedir Çayi from the top of steep rocky cliffs. More ruins are found at Belen/Demirtas (Yenidamlar).

Some 50km/30mi southeast of Alanya on the coast road along the "Turkish Riviera" is the little town of Gazipasa. The town itself stands about 3km/2mi inland from the sea, on an alluvial plain formed by a number of streams flowing into the Mediterranean at this point. Here the headland known to the ancients as Cape Selindi falls steeply to the sea in almost vertical cliffs, its summit crowned by a ruined castle. In antiquity this was the site of the Phoenician town of Selinús (sela = "cliff"). In A.D. 117 the Emperor Trajan died here while returning from his Parthian campaign. For a period thereafter the town was known as Traianopolis.

The ruins of this ancient town are situated about 65km/40mi east of Alanya, off the coast road near the village of Güney. The Roman town, known in antiquity as Cragus, stood high above the cliff which drops sharply to the sea. Quite substantial remains survive from the acropolis and there are more ruins on the slope down to the harbor. These include the agora (colonnade) and other remnants of the lower town. They are overlooked by a medieval castle.

East of Antiocheia ad Cragum, the coast road makes its way towards Cape Anamur, the most southerly point of Asia Minor, known in antiquity as Anamurion (remains of fortifications, theaters, baths, necropolises).Anamur lies on the east side of the cape, at the foot of the Taurus mountains about 4km/2.5mi upstream from the mouth of the Sultan Suyu. 7km/4.5mi further on, beyond the turn-off to Ermenek, Anamur Castle (Anamur Kalesi, Mamure Kalesi), makes an imposing sight on a headland jutting into the sea. The fortress was one of the most notorious and feared of corsair strongholds in the early Middle Ages and was subsequently enlarged and strengthened by the Crusaders. It is encircled by formidable walls, with 36 round or square towers mostly excellently preserved, and parapet walks reached by staircases inside the walls. The main entrance to the castle, which has three courts or wards, is through a tower on the west side. (Arabic inscription.)