Kızıl Kule

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The Kızıl Kule (Red Tower) is a main tourist attraction in the Turkish city of Alanya. The building is considered to be the symbol of the city, and is even used on the city's flag. Construction of the building began in the beginning of the reign of the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Ala ad-Din Kay Qubadh I and was completed in 1226. The sultan brought the accomplished architect Ebu Ali Reha from Aleppo, Syria to Alanya to complete the building.[1] The name derives from the more red color brick he used in its construction.[2] So well-made was it that it remains one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture. Though more preservation has gone into the building, it clearly is the best preserved Seljuk building in the city. The octagonal red brick tower protects the Tersane (arsenal) which dates from 1221. The building itself is 33 meters high and 12.5 meters wide.[3] Like many buildings in the city, the Tower flies a Turkish Flag from its crenelations.

In 1979 The city opened the Ethnographic Museum of Alanya inside of the tower.[4] Besides providing visitors with a history of the tower and town, the museum gives attention to the heraldry, in particular the Seljuk double headed eagle that graces the flag. The building is open from 8:00-12:00 in the morning and 1:30-5:30 in the afternoon, and is closed on Mondays [5]. Admission to the tower and the museum is on one ticket, and costs between 3 and 5 YTL.