4 Best Sights in The Turquoise Coast, Turkey

Views of the splendid castle or kale, on a mighty crag surrounded on three sides by the sea, dominate all roads into Alanya. The crenellated outer walls are 6½ km (about 4 miles) long and include 140 bastions. The road pierces these outer walls through a modern break, dividing as it heads up the summit. One section leads to the İç Kale (inner fortress), the other to the Ehmedek (garrison); both have places to park. Near the entrance to the Ehmedek are the remains of the original bedestan (bazaar); the old shops around its open courtyard now touting souvenirs. Along a road to the top of the promontory, a ticket office defends the inner keep. Inside are the ruins of a Byzantine church, its 6th-century frescoes of the evangelists faded almost beyond recognition.

The Seljuk sultan Keykubad probably also had a palace here, although discoveries by the McGhee Center of Georgetown University indicates that in times of peace the Seljuk elite likely preferred their pleasure gardens and their hunting and equestrian sports on the well-watered plain below. Steps ascend to the battlement on the summit. A viewing platform is built on the spot where condemned prisoners and women convicted of adultery were once cast to their deaths. The ticket is also valid for the Ehmedek. Admire the ruined monastery down below but do not attempt to descend toward it—the mountainside is very treacherous.

The crown jewel of Alanya is this beach that's right next to the city center. In fact, its main draws are its central location, making it one of the easiest to access, and its array of activities, including tennis and beach volleyball. There are many beachside cafés and restaurants along the shore, and there are plenty of opportunities for water sports. Amenities: food and drink, parking (free), showers, toilets, water sports. Best for: swimming, walking.

It's worth dropping by the small Alanya Archaeological Museum just to see the petite but perfectly preserved Roman bronze statue of a gleaming, muscular Hercules from the 2nd century AD. There is also a lovely seafaring mosaic, artifacts from the area's ancient maritime culture, some interesting stone altars, a bronze Pegasus statue, and limestone ossuaries. Note the Ottoman Greek inscriptions by the entry in Karamanlı—Turkish written with the Greek alphabet.

A minor masterpiece of Mediterranean military architecture, the 100-foot-high Kızıl Kule was built by the Seljuks in 1226 to defend Alanya's harbor and the nearby shipyard known as the tersane. Sophisticated technology for the time was implemented by an architect from Aleppo who was familiar with Crusader castle building. The octagonal redbrick structure includes finely judged angles of fire for archers manning the loopholes, cleverly designed stairs to cut attackers off, and a series of troughs to convey boiling tar and melted lead onto besieging forces.

Today, the Red Tower's passages are a cool relief from the summer heat, and the view from the top is captivating. Don't miss taking the short walk south along the fortified sea walls to the tersane, where waves crash into the old shipyard's five workshops, each under a vaulted stone arch. Ships could be pulled up into each for building or repairs, and the cover was likely also useful for storing war supplies. They now contain replica ship hulls and equipment, with explanations about their construction and use.