Cleopatra’s Wedding Gift

by Elena Levon

 ALANYA ~ TURKEY

After the death of Julius Caesar, the Romans who ruled these regions, handed over the Kilikia region to Antonius.

While the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII , known for her captivating beauty, was touring in the Mediterranean, she met Antonius.

After falling in love, Cleopatra and Mark Antony got married.

Antonius eager to impress his new bride, who has everything any woman can wish for and who is incredibly hard to please,

chose the city then known as Korakesion, now Alanya, as a wedding gift to his beloved Cleopatra…

If you look around travel blogs, tour packages, trip advisor and other travel materials, you will rarely see pictures and stories of stunning Alanya.

Most travelers and tourists usually choose Istanbul, Cappadocia, Mira & Pamukkale, when visiting Turkey.

All the above places are remarkable, but none of them hold 1 million years old caves with natural blue water

Dim Cave – 1 million years old

Damlatas Cave ~ The stalactite and stalagmites inside the cave were formed in 15 thousand years.

Gorgeous Taurus Mountains

View from my balcony at VILLA TURKA

Taurus Mountains from Alanya Castle

Historic Castle with breathtaking views

Byzantine Church. Inside Alanya Castle. Citadel Of Alanya Build in 1226

View of Cleopatra Beach from Alanya Castle

View of Cilvarda Bay from Alanya Castle

Small Hammam ( on the right )  Ehmedek.

Dimchai Mountain River, where you can have dinner on water and watch the beautiful scenery

Dim Cai

It’s also a place where you can swim and ski on the same day…

In Alanya the color of the sea turns from blue to turquoise.

It’s truly a magical place …

It is also known that the cedar and pine trees extending as far as the coast, had been cut by Cleopatra and sent to Egypt to be used in the construction of ships for her fleet…

Legend has it that this is the exact place where naked Cleopatra made her way every morning, through the secret pathway from the top of the mountain to swim in these turquoise waters.

It really felt great being back in the arms of Turkey, with it’s colorful energy, warm hospitality, delicious food and my favorite Turkish coffee…

I stayed at one of the most spectacular places in all Alanya!

***

VILLA TURKA

***

I felt like a true princess, living behind the historic walls of Alanya Castle …

It’s hard to believe that this place has been in business for only about 9 months.

I would give it 5 diamonds for service, representation, character,  price and breathtaking views…

My room …

View of Red Tower and harbor from my balcony at Villa Turka

The delicious, home made breakfast is served daily and is included … you can have it in your room or on your private veranda overlooking the harbor, sea, Taurus Mountains and the whole Alanya City …

View from my room

Night view of Red Tower and harbor from Villa Turka …

Full moon from Villa Turka

I spent my days catching up with my mom, whom I haven’t seen for 9 years, exploring the history of Alanya and it’s million years old caves ….

The Alanya Castle is a must!

Most tourists are being taken there by huge tour buses or cabs ( which are incredibly overpriced ) but I would suggest to hike up to it and get a little lost ..

you never know what you might find..

This place is hidden on the other side of the main entrance to the castle…

The Aksebe Mousoleum. Build in 1230

If you are walking by yourself … you will be able to hear strange noises in the grass all around castle …

Your hike will be rewarded with these kind of views …

watching sunset from the highest point ..

sitting inside of the old Turkish Hammam

When you walk up to the Castle you are able to see how local women weave clothing

Suleymaniye Mosque was built by Seljukian Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat in 1231. It’s the oldest mosque in Alanya.

Ehmedek gate ( pictured below ) is special to the people of Alanya. During Ramadan in the days when there was no electricity, a gun would be fired to let the people know it was time for dinner. The sound of the fire would echo from the Taurus Mountains and even all the nearby villages would hear. Though there is no more need for this, as there is electricity and clocks, the tradition is kept and the gun is still fired even today …

Ehmedek Gate

Border Between Bashfulness & Boldness

” A promise “

Kızıl Kule ( Red Tower ) Completed in 1226

here you can rest after a hike ..

View of The Harbor and the castle walls from Red Tower

Inside The Shipyard

inside the ship..

The Lighthouse of Alanya

After the visit to the castle, I walked back to my villa and stumbled upon what is known by locals as one of the best places in Alanya, that makes Turkish Gozleme…

The making of Gozleme

Alanya is also a home to some serious nightlife …

Alanya’s colorful nightlife

You can choose between tourist clubs and local bars… But I guarantee, you will enjoy both very much…

This city doesn’t sleep …

At one of the local dive bars ” Harem ” I was even introduced to a couple of Alanya mobsters…

who couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw me there…

since ” tourists ” don’t usually go to ” Harem “.

I had a wonderful time sipping on my “Black Russian” and listening to an amazing singer…

Locals requested songs and send her drinks and money through a waiter as a “thank you”.

Loved the fact that when she was performing, what must have been the most popular love song in Turkey,

the whole place sang with her…

I got chills…

Now, that was truly what we, travelers, call ” off the beaten path ” …

Also, if you’re a solo female traveler, walking the streets of Alanya, don’t be surprised when you turn around to confront the one who dared to whistle at you and see not a man whom you for sure were going to teach a lesson…

but a parrot! …

While in Alanya I highly recommend to rent a small boat and see the surrounding caves…

Don’t do 100 something euro tour with big ships!

First of all, it’s a rip off and second, you will never be able to actually go into the caves.

Walk to the marina and negotiate with a local fisherman to take you on his small boat for an hour around Alanya. He will show you all the beautiful caves …

I paid $ 20…

and got to see this ~

Old Monastery

Lovers Cave ..

Fosforlu Cave

Cilvarda Bay

Korsanlar Cave

Alanya truly is captivating.

No wonder it once belonged to

Cleopatra…

_____________________

 The woman behind the words …

↓

” Memories “

Internet Movie Data Base

Official Website