ANTALYA CASTLE
ANTALYA CASTLE
Antalya Castle is located in Muratpaşa district. It has an important place both today and for the unforgettable periods of history such as the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Every time you look at this castle, which helped defend the city in many wars, you can see how many events it has witnessed. Magical moments of history are still preserved in the walls of the castle. It is a historical castle that you should put at the top of your list of things to visit when you come to Antalya. Let’s talk a little bit about this historical castle.
How to Go to Antalya Castle?
You can reach Antalya Castle with your private car, or you can take many public buses to the castle.
History of Antalya Castle
Antalya Castle, was built by Attalos King of Pergamon II. in 1226. The purpose of the castle is to defend the city against attacks from the sea and to create a military base. There is a gate in the eastern part of the castle. This gate was built in the name of Hadrianus, the Emperor of the time. Today, this important structure is called the Üç Kapılar or Kale Kapısı. There are many depictions about the city walls that extend to the Castle Gate in time. Evliya Çelebi, who came to Antalya between 1671 and 1672, mentioned that the walls were 4400 meters long and had eighty towers on it.
In 1216, Seljuk ruler Izzeddin Keykavus conquered Antalya for the second time. After Antalya was conquered for the second time, the walls on the west side were restored to strengthen the castle. In 1225, I. Alaeddin Keykubat, the Seljuk ruler of the time, had the second city walls built, aiming to divide the inside of the castle into three regions. It is also known that the walls were restored between 1244 and 1245 during the Seljuk period. In 1914, the people living in the castle complained that the city did not receive wind because of the walls. For this reason, the city walls were demolished by Hüsnü Karakaş, who was the mayor of the period.
Today, the inside of Antalya Castle is called Kaleiçi. It contains more than 3000 houses. There are also many cafes, restaurants, entertainment venues and tea gardens.
Kaleiçi
The place, which is surrounded by the sea on one side and walls on the other, is called Kaleiçi. Many people live in Kaleiçi. It is a place that is frequently visited because it is a place that has not worn out over the years and is still a place where old Antalya houses and streets can be watched. In 1972, it was declared a protected area by the High Council of Real Estate, Antiquities and Monuments in order to prevent the deterioration of the old times. This culture was preserved and restoration works were carried out by the Ministry of Tourism. These works were deemed worthy of the Golden Apple Tourism Oscar Award in 1984.
When you come to Kaleiçi, you can visit its magnificent streets, houses smelling of history, streets where the present and the past blend in harmony, cafes, entertainment venues and shops. For those who can’t get enough of visiting, there are many and various hotels and hostels inside. Do not forget to visit the shops where you can buy souvenirs that you can take to your loved ones and that will make you remember this small but fascinating place as you see it. We also recommend you to visit the Yivli Minare Mosque, which has become the symbol of both this place and Antalya while you are in Kaleiçi.
