Antalya wears this soaring redbrick tower from the 1200s as a proud emblem of its rich history, religious diversity and architectural ingenuity.
Yivli Minaret is an iconic 13th-century tower that rises above one of the city’s most famous mosques. The giant redbrick sculpture is a permanent feature of the Antalya skyline and provides scenic photo opportunities with a backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea. The minaret is part of a mosque in Antalya’s Old Town district.
The summit of the famous tower is 125 feet (38.1 metres) high in the sky. Stretch your neck muscles to get a glimpse of its coned peak. The column has an intriguing shape made from eight rounded pillars. Take photos from nearly any part of the city of the impressive structure peering over its surrounding buildings.
The base of the tower is made from stone and is 18 feet (5.5 metres) wide. Admire the charming mosaics and tiles that decorate the bottom part of the structure. Enter through the door on the north side and climb the 90 steps to the fluted minaret’s balcony. Enjoy the panoramic view of the city’s historic centre and the sea. Look up at the tower in the evening to see its beauty emphasised by lights.
The mosque has six domes and is one of the region’s oldest multi-dome mosques. Peruse its picturesque gardens and contemplate the spiritual and serene tone of one of Antalya’s most important religious sites.
The spiritual site is also known as the Alaaddin, after the sultan who ordered its construction. He transformed it from a Byzantine church to a mosque in the 1200s. To learn more about the history, visit the Antalya Ethnographic Museum in the complex.
Yivli Minaret is one of the main attractions of the city centre. It is next to several parks, including Cumhuriyet Meydan and Tophane Parki. Take a bus to the centre of Antalya and follow signs or ask locals for directions to the famous mosque. Make sure to see other historic attractions in the area, such as Hadrian’s Gate and the Hidirlik Tower.
