Best Preserved Mediterranean Shipyard here in Alanya

Alanya Shipyard, which has survived from 1228 to the present with its five arched eyes, greets its visitors like a "five in one" necklace adorning the neck of the historical peninsula. This elegant medieval structure, built as proof that the Seljuks would stay in these waters after meeting the warm waters of the Mediterranean, proudly holds the title of being the oldest shipyard still in operation in the world.

Construction and History of the Shipyard
After the castle and shipyard he had built in Sinop, the farthest point of the Anatolian peninsula in the Black Sea, Sultan I. Alaaddin Keykubat had a tower and shipyard built in the Mediterranean after the conquest of Alanya. Completed in 1228, two years after the Red Tower, the shipyard was instrumental in the Seljuk Sultan receiving the title of "sultan of the land and the two seas".

Since the master from Aleppo who built Sinop Castle also built the Red Tower, perhaps both shipyards were his work. The location of the shipyard's construction was strategically calculated not only because it was close to the Red Tower, but also to make the most of daylight.

Architectural Structure and Features
The shipyard's sea-facing facade is 56.5 meters long. It consists of five arched eyes, each 7.70 meters wide, the longest 43 meters long and the shortest 32 meters long. Since the walls are made of cut stone and the arches and vaults are made of brick, the vents in the structure both illuminate the interior and provide fresh air flow.

Each of these five eyes was designed to be able to build a ship, and is one of the most important examples of Seljuk naval architecture. The durability of the structure has allowed it to survive for 800 years and still be functional.

Frescoes and Functional Spaces
The space with Zulfiqar frescoes on two opposite walls was used as an engineer or commander's room during the Seljuk period and as a mosque during the Ottoman period. The windowless space right across from it was designed for security purposes. These details show that the shipyard served not only as a production site but also as a defense and management center.

The shipyard ends with the closed space at the end of the five-section workshops, which are entered through the main entrance between the two spaces. There is a window on the vaults of this last space for ventilation and lighting and a secret passage leading to the shipyard tower.

Tophane Tower
As part of the shipyard, a separate tower was built on a rock 10 meters above the sea to protect the shipyard. Since large cannons were placed in the shipyard and harbor to protect them from attacks from the sea, this three-story rectangular structure built with cut stones is called the Tophane Tower.

This tower is an important part of the defense system of the shipyard complex and is a detail that emphasizes the strategic importance of the structure.

Alanya Shipyard Today
Today, Alanya Shipyard is both preserved as a historical structure and serves as a museum hosting various art events. Thanks to the wooden track set up for visitors to walk around comfortably, it is possible to examine the exhibited works closely.

Among the works exhibited in the museum are an ancient crane, an Ottoman-era Çekevele boat whose coating has not been completed, various ship parts, shipbuilding tools, ancient anchors, tools used in determining the direction of ships, star meters and the Alanya star map.

Cultural Events
Firstly in 1995 by the famous painter professor the Shipyard, which hosted Hüsamettin Koçan's exhibition, hosts classical music concerts on certain dates under the title of "Music Tones Rising from Historical Places". Instead of the hammer and saw noise, the sounds of string, keyboard and wind instruments now echo.

In addition, various projects are in the preparation phase so that the shipyard can be used as an active shipbuilding center again. These projects aim to increase both the cultural and functional value of the historical structure.

Transportation to the Shipyard and the Surroundings
There are various options for transportation to the shipyard. You can walk by following the walls continuing from the Red Tower, reach it by swimming in the turquoise waters of Soğuk Kapı Beach, or use the sea route by joining daily boat tours. There is also the opportunity to do SUP (Stand-Up Paddle) in front of the Shipyard in the early morning hours.