Alanya

Alanya was the Seljuk Sultanate's winter capital — the citadel up on the headland still has the original 6th-century walls. The cable car runs up to it now. The Red Tower (Kızıl Kule), a 13th-century octagonal harbor defense, is the city's emblem. Below the castle, a 2-kilometer beach curves around to Cleopatra Beach. The Damlataş Cave is reportedly the world's most concentrated source of asthma-helpful air. Mostly: come for the Mediterranean light against the Taurus Mountains.