Alanya's Red Tower is located at Alanya Harbor. A 13th-century Seljuk structure, it was commissioned by the Seljuk Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I. The tower, notable for its architecture, was designed by Abu Ali Reha al-Kettani, a master craftsman from Aleppo and one of the finest architects of the period. The tower was built to prevent attacks from the sea and to protect the port and shipyard.
The octagonal tower was constructed using stone, marble blocks, and baked red brick. The tower walls are 12.5 meters wide, 33 meters high, and 29 meters in diameter. Daylight reaches from the top to the first floor of the five-story tower. Egg white was used to increase the durability of the mortar. The tower's red color is due to the egg yolk applied to its exterior, and it takes its name from this color.
Alanya's Red Tower was converted into a museum in 1979. The first floor houses the Alanya Ethnography Museum. Its exterior is decorated with inscriptions and is fully open to visitors. The tower's architecture and the views from its terrace captivate visitors. From the tower, you can see a bird's-eye view of the harbor, the arsenal, the shipyard, the city walls, the breakwater, and the shipyard beach.
Three inscriptions are located inside the tower. These inscriptions provide information about the building's architect, Abu Ali Reha el Kettani, and the year of its construction. Two other inscriptions praise Alaeddin Keykubad.
While the exterior of the Alanya Red Tower is quite plain, its interior design is sophisticated and complex. A cistern extends from the ground floor to the fourth floor. This cistern collects rainwater from small channels and is still functional today.
The tower's facades feature a total of fifty-six loophole windows. Additionally, there are 22 openings used to pour boiling pitch and water against enemies for defense. On the top floor, there are six water spouts (gargoyles) used to divert water from the walls.
A thrilling story!
