Kızılkule (Red Tower) is a defensive and observation structure built in 1226 by Sultan I. Alaaddin Keykubad of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire to protect Alanya Castle and the planned Alanya Shipyard from attacks from the sea. It takes its name from the red bricks used in its construction. Located in the port area of Alanya, the structure occupies a commanding position overlooking the sea. It has an octagonal plan and five floors. It is considered one of the leading examples of 13th-century Seljuk defensive architecture and currently serves as an ethnographic museum.

^{Kızılkule (Kültür Portalı)}

History

Kızılkule was built in 1226 by Seljuk Sultan I. Alaaddin Keykubad and designed by Aleppo architect Ebu Ali Reha el-Kettani. The inscription on the north facade of the building indicates that it was built in April 1226. Another inscription on the same facade mentions the name of the architect, while the inscription on the south facade attributes titles such as ‘ruler of nations,’ ‘sultan of two seas,’ and ‘protector of justice’ to Alaaddin Keykubad.

Evliya Çelebi, who visited the region in the 17th century, describes Kızılkule as a sturdy octagonal tower on the sea side of Alanya Castle and notes that it could accommodate 2,000 people during a siege. The structure underwent restoration between 1951 and 1953, and in 1979, the ground floor was opened to visitors as an Ethnography Museum displaying items unique to the Alanya region.  

Architectural Features

Kızılkule is an octagonal tower with a diameter of 29 metres and a height of 33 metres on the eastern side. On the western side, the structure is approximately 3 metres shorter due to the sloping terrain. The lower walls were constructed using regularly cut rectangular limestone blocks and recycled materials such as classical column shafts, while red bricks were used for the upper sections. The entrance door is small and unassuming, leading to the ground floor via a narrow corridor.

The structure consists of five floors: ground floor, first floor, mezzanine, open floor (second floor) and terrace (fourth floor). The octagonal elephant foot in the centre is the main support of the structure. Above the foot, at the height of the first floor, there is a large water cistern. The mouth of this cistern is located on the open floor and is still functional today. The mezzanine floor consists of a narrow corridor with openings for pouring boiling tar and water.

Different floor plans have been applied on each floor. On the ground and first floors, there are iwan-shaped spaces opening onto vaulted corridors, while on the exterior facades, there are sloped slit windows and parapet openings for defence purposes. On the open floor and terrace, there are two large vaulted spaces on each side of the octagon and courtyards opening onto them. The terrace floor has defensive battlements and a walkway. There are a total of 56 loopholes, 22 boiling pitch and water pouring openings, and 6 corbels on the facades. A large ship graffiti on the northwestern wall of the fortress is noteworthy.

Inscriptions and Decorative Elements

The four-line inscription on the north facade of Kızılkule states that the structure was completed in 1226 and commissioned by Alaaddin Keykubad. Another inscription reading ‘Allah’a minnet’ (Thanks to Allah) is located 10 metres above the ground on the same facade. To the right of the entrance door is an inscription bearing the name of the architect, Ebu Ali. The inscription on the south facade contains words of praise for the ruler.

Current Use

Kızılkule is currently used as an Ethnography Museum. The entrance and first floor of the building are arranged to display ethnographic works such as carpets, kilims, clothing, kitchen utensils, weapons, weighing scales, lighting tools, weaving looms, and tents reflecting the Yörük culture of the Alanya region. Additionally, the structure occasionally hosts cultural and artistic events. The tower also stands out as a viewpoint offering a view of Alanya's eastern coast and the historic peninsula.

The Relationship Between Kızılkule and the Shipyard

Kızılkule is part of a defence system that was conceived as a whole with the Alanya Shipyard, which was completed in 1228. This shipyard in the Mediterranean and the Sinop Shipyard in the Black Sea played a strategic role in Alaaddin Keykubad's maritime activities. Both structures were built during the same period, and numerous caravanserais were constructed along the trade route between them. For this reason, Alaaddin Keykubad was known as the ‘Sultan of the Two Seas.’ The Alanya Shipyard is the only Seljuk shipyard that has survived to the present day.