Each night they knew the tower by the harbor was guarded by a garrison of 40 soldiers under a single commander. The bulking largesse of the fort was imposing as seen from ships and vessels entering the port of Alanya. It was a formidable target for takeover with each floor designed with a different floor plan to obstruct infiltration. It was whispered hearsay that close to 2000 people could be packed within for shelter in the event of siege, the hollowed central pillar a store for water supplies while in siege. To the townspeople, this was a marvel, a breakthrough of the 13th Century.

This wonderment is retained even today, the monument seen instead as one of the last remaining traces of Seljuk architecture. From its rooftop, Alanya spreads out in a smattering of red tile against lush green. The bay is a brilliant blue in contrast, the Mediterranean Sea a vast expanse spreading beyond. If you’re trying to find that postcard image of Alanya, you’d either need to find yourself a yacht or climb Castle Hill. Either option frames Kizil Kule in a charming way against the city and the sea.