Alanya Citadel History

Alanya Citadel History

The Alanya Citadel (or Ickale) dates back to the 6th century AD and is the oldest part of the Alanya Castle complex. Most of the fortifications you can see today date to the 13th century.
Inside the Citadel are the remains of Seljuk cisterns, the palace of Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, the ruins of a Seljuk bath and an 11th Century Byzantine church.
Among the attractions of the Citadel is its high platform which offers magnificent views of the Mediterranean peninsula and the Taurus Mountains but also has a much darker history. According to legend, this platform was ominously referred to as the ‘Throwing Platform’ where prisoners condemned to death met their fate. Accordingly, prisoners were given the chance to reprieve themselves if they could throw a stone into the sea without it hitting the cliff. Unfortunately for the prisoners, this was an impossible feat and many met their end by being tied into a sack and thrown over the edge.
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