Kizil Kule - Red Tower Alanya, Turkey

Kizil Kule (Red Tower) - main tourist attraction in the Turkish city of Alanya. Building is considered to be the symbol of the city and is even used on the city's flag. The large popular resort center of Alanya lies at one end of a rocky promontory which juts out into the Mediterranean between two long sandy beaches. A 13th century Seljuk fortress-one of the most magnificent sights on the coast-crowns the headland. About 150 towers punctuate the walls of the well- preserved double walled citadel. Within the outer walls are ruins of mosques a caravanserai and a covered bazaar; in the inner walls are a ruined cistern and a Byzantine church. Although Alanya's history dates back to Roman times it rose to prominence under the Seljuks when in 1220 Alaeddin Keykubat made it his winter residence and naval base. The surviving buildings reflect the importance of the city in Seljuk times.