As the promontory where the fortress is situated is not easily accessible either from sea or land it was not inhabited continually throughout the history. It was surrounded by city walls first during the Hellenistic era and later new additions were constructed according to the demands of the time.
The monumental fortress of Alanya is truly the sturdiest and the most splendid of all fortresses in Anatolia today. The oldest known inscriptions too, it may be assumed that the whole fortress was built by Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat ı between 1226-1232.According to the inscription on it, the octagonal structure known today as the Red Tower (Kızıl Kule) was the first structure built by the Seljuk's in Alanya and it is the key point of the fortress. The defense line that starts here, in accordance with the topography of the land ascends in a zigzagging manner although not always regularly. After a certain distance it joins a complex of buildings called Ehmedek, which was built, on top of a Hellenistic tower. The city wall, which turns southward after Ehmedek and descends, in order, to Adam Atacağı Cilvarda Burnu, Arab Evliyası Tower, Esad Tower and then by Tophane and Tersane, ends where it starts, at the red Tower.
Since the land between the Red Tower and Ehmedek is not so steep, in order to slow down attacks from the north, curtain walls were built outside the main city walls, in many places ditches were dug in the bedrock at the first lien of defense against attacks. The first lien of the fortress must have been considered secure since no such defense elements were used. One-hundred-forty towers are seen on top of the city walls that stretch a total of
Today, only a few of these gates are in good state of preservation. The fortress of Alanya, as observed on the map, may be divided into three sections based on the city walls and various defense lines. Dışkale (the outer Fortress) in the area surrounded by the walls that extend through Kızıl Kule, Ehdemek, Arab Evliyası, Tophane and then reach Kızıl kule again. Kızıl Kule, Tersane and Tophane are the most prominent Seljuk monuments in Alanya. Ortakale (the middle fortress) in the area surrounded by Ehdemek, Arab Evliyası and the walls of the outer fortress.
Seljuk monuments such as the Akşebe Mausoleum, baths and a building complex know as Ehdemek, as well as Ottoman Monuments such as the Süleymaniye Mosque, the hostel, the marketplace, and a late Byzantine chapel called Arab Evliyası are located in the Middle fortress. Iç kale (the inner Fortress) located on the highest point in the northwestern corner, of the promontory is the last shelter and point of defense. The area surrounded by high walls resembles a falcon crest and it was used for military purposes Seljuk monuments like palaces of the sultans and other important people, military establishments, training schools, cisterns as well as a church lasted to the late Byzantine era are found in the Inner Fortress. There is also an interesting little corner know as Adam Atacağı.
