Every day, thousands flock there in Alanya
The historic Süleymaniye Mosque, built by Sultan Alaeddin Keykubat in Alanya, continues to welcome thousands of tourists every day with the start of the tourism season.
Alanya, known for its tourism, also attracts tourists with its history. Thousands of tourists flock to Alanya Castle, the only Seljuk castle preserved to this day, taking a journey back in time through the city's history. The most visited site is the historic Süleymaniye Mosque, which has maintained its splendor for 793 years along with the Bedesten Bazaar. The historic Süleymaniye Mosque, built in 1231 by Alaeddin Keykubat, is crowded daily with the intense interest of thousands of tourists. Tourists, especially from Northern European countries, as well as from Russia and Poland, show great interest in the mosque and ensure they wear shawls, skirts, and headscarves before entering. In addition to foreign tourists, local citizens of Alanya and visitors also frequent the mosque, where Muslims perform their prayers. The historic mosque hosts an average of 6,000 tourists daily, and after visiting, foreign guests often shop in the Bedesten Bazaar and enjoy their holidays.
MAYOR ÖZÇELİK: WE VALUE OUR HERITAGE
Osman Tarık Özçelik, the Mayor of Alanya, who consistently emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage in the tourism city of Alanya and its impact on tourism, stated, “We place great importance on preserving and presenting our cultural values in Alanya, which stands out with its history, nature, and culture, to future generations and to all of humanity. For this reason, we continue our efforts without interruption to protect our human heritage and transform our city into one of the preferred destinations for cultural tourism.”
"PROVIDING INFORMATION TO OUR VISITORS"
Alanya Mufti İhsan İlhan, speaking about historic mosques and madrasas, stated that both local and foreign visitors are provided with information about the religion and history. İlhan said, “Our friend Ali Gökduman, who serves as a guide in English and Russian, specifically for Süleymaniye Mosque. Just as all the historic mosques in Turkey are visited, local and foreign guests also visit the historic mosques in Alanya. It is certainly nice for us that our guests visit these places in a manner that respects our religion, traditions, and customs. Our staff takes the necessary precautions and informs tourists about our culture and history.”
HISTORY OF SÜLEYMANİYE MOSQUE
The structure, built in the first half of the 13th century by I. Alaaddin Keykubat and later destroyed by lightning, was rebuilt by Suleiman the Magnificent using old materials. Known also as Alaaddin Mosque, Castle Mosque, and Middle Fortress Mosque, the structure dates back to the 16th century with its plan, building type, dome and arch shape, and stone and wood craftsmanship. The main part of the mosque consists of a square area covered with a hemispherical dome, divided into three sections by cross arches, and a front area covered with three small domes. The domes are made of brick, while the walls are partly brick and partly square stones. A minaret has been added to the northwest corner of the prayer hall, and a vaulted cistern has been constructed opposite the northeast corner. Next to the cistern is a covered ablution area.
