Alanya Bedesten
Located within Alanya Castle, the Alanya Bedesten is one of the structures that reflect the castle’s historic commercial life. It is one of the key stops to explore alongside the other Seljuk and Ottoman-era monuments at Alanya Castle.
About
The Alanya Bedesten is one of the structures located within the historic fabric of Alanya Castle. Although Alanya Castle has been inhabited since the Hellenistic period, it acquired a significant portion of its current monumental appearance during the Anatolian Seljuk period. Within the castle, there are mosques, churches, bathhouses, cisterns, residences, and commercial structures from various periods. The Bedesten stands out as one of the commercial structures within this historical complex.
Bedestens are important parts of commercial life in historic cities. The Alanya Bedesten can be considered one of the structures demonstrating that life within the castle was not limited to military and administrative buildings, but that daily and economic life also flourished here.
When visiting the Bedesten, exploring the historical fabric of Alanya Castle as a whole—rather than viewing just a single structure—offers a more enriching travel experience. In the immediate vicinity, the Süleymaniye Mosque, Ehmedek, the Akşebe Sultan Mosque and Tomb, the Inner Castle, and numerous historic cisterns can be seen. The walls of Alanya Castle stretch approximately 6.5 kilometers in length, and the castle grounds serve as an open-air museum.
The fact that traditional settlement continues within the castle today allows visitors to witness the living urban fabric coexisting with historical remains. Alanya Castle has also been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2000.
