4 caves in Alanya can only be seen from the sea

Alanya, Turkey

Alanya has many fascinating caves, 4 of which are hidden in the peninsula and can only be seen clearly from the sea. Centuries ago, these caves were used as a refuge by pirates, who ruled Alanya Bay at that time.

Around two hundred BC, Alanya was a stronghold of pirates. The harbor is sheltered by the rocky mountains that make this the perfect base of operations. From hiding in the rocky peninsula, pirates lurk to plunder cities and attack passing ships. The rulers of the Roman Empire at that time were clearly unhappy with pirates because this was a threat to their cargo ships at sea, on their way to Rome full of goods and slaves from what is now Turkey. The Romans really suffered when pirates began kidnapping the daughters of wealthy Roman families and holding them for ransom. The Roman Emperor sent their best naval officer, Pompeus, to catch the pirates. Pompeus took this mission very seriously and by 78 BC he had destroyed all the pirates, the last of which were destroyed in the sea battle at Coracesium – the old name of the pirates. Alanya.

Today, visitors to Alanya want to experience these caves with an exciting Alanya Bay cruise. From your boat, visitors can admire the beauty of stalactites. The blue color of the water and delight in the cool sea water. So what are these beautiful caves?

Pirate's Cave

Despite the rapid pace of tourism development, today in Alanya there are still places to remind us of pirates. The best known cave is probably the Pirate Cave (Korsanlar Magasari) on the eastern side of the peninsula. This cave can only be seen and reached by boat. The best time to visit this cave is on a sunny afternoon. What's really great about such a trip is that visitors can see Alanya from a completely different perspective. From the water, the huge rocky peninsula where the ancient castle is located is actually more impressive and the sea has an attractive blue color.

The captain skillfully maneuvered his boat into the Pirate Cave 10 meters wide and 6 meters high. Visitors can imagine what happened at this place hundreds of years ago. The pirate cave also has a secret passage that leads through the rocks and up to the castle. This is considered a useful escape route when pirates are attacked.

Lover's Cave

An equally attractive cave is the Lover's Cave, so called because lovers once secretly met here. The east entrance of the cave is about two meters above sea level. Also, this cave is said to have a secret passage through the mountain that takes you to the west side of the peninsula.

Phosphorus Cave

The third cave is Phosphorus cave, where you can see all kinds of colors radiating from the water. According to locals, the colors in the water can be seen more clearly at night. This cave is located on the western edge of the peninsula, from here you can see Cleopatra beach in the distance.

Cleopatra's Cave - Cleopatra's Wedding Gift

When Alanya escaped the pirates, Roman Emperor Antonius considered it the most appropriate place to take his newlywed bride, Egyptian queen Cleopatra, for her honeymoon. Cleopatra immediately fell in love with Alanya and so Antonius gave it as a wedding gift to his beautiful wife.

It is said that while staying in Alanya, Cleopatra used to take a dip in the sea at a specific location each morning. Visitors can take a boat around theperoit to get there, where Cleopatra Cave can be seen. Located in a sheltered cove, this cave has a hidden passage that the queen will use to get to and from her private beach. However, so far, this mysterious passage has not been found.

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Alanya, a seaside town on the south coast of Turkey, offers a unique combination of relaxation, history and adventure. Set between the glorious Mediterranean and the Taurus Mountains, Alanya's historic center sits on a rocky peninsula with an impressive 13th-century castle overlooking vast beaches. Most visitors come to Alanya to enjoy the sun and the sea. Long, wide beaches with clean fine sand and clear water are the main attractions for tourists. Many of the beaches here have a European flag (signifying that the beach meets international regulatory control standards for clean and high-standard beaches.

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