In 1539, Italian franciscan Marco da Nizza reached Zuni Pueblo and called it Cibola. Eventually returning to New Spain, the adventurers said they had heard stories from natives about cities with great and limitless riches. The later Spanish tales were largely caused by reports given by the four shipwrecked survivors of the failed Narváez expedition, which included Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca and a black moorish slave named Esteban Dorantes, or Estevanico. The stories may have their root in an earlier Portuguese legend about seven cities founded on the island of Antillia by a Catholic expedition in the 8th century, or one based on the capture of Mérida, Spain by the Moors in 1150. The remains of this site are separated onto three heights.In the 16th century, the Spaniards in New Spain (now Mexico) began to hear rumors of "Seven Cities of Gold" called "Cíbola" located across the desert, hundreds of miles to the north. Antiochus, the king of Kommagene, who lived in the first century after Jesus. It is on the east of Alanya, 60 kilometers far, has a coast on the Mediterranean Sea and located on the region which was known as mountainous Cilicia in the ancient times. There are huge tombs on the eastern peak and rooms that are carved in rocks. One of temples there was built in the name of Vespasianus, who was an Emperor of Rome, and the other one was built on behalf of Titus. It is located on two peaks which make up the top of a high and steep mountain, east of Alanya, 55 kilometers far. Odean is a typical mountainous Cilicia site with its waterworks, lime quarry-pit and necropolis. There are castle walls which date back to medieval age and the acropolis of an ancient city on the highest point of the peak. This site is on a high peak, overlooking the sea and it is located on the east of Alanya, 55 kilometers far. Trajanus, the emperor of Rome, who died in the 9th of August 117, passed away here and his ashes were sent to Rome. Its history dates back to 6th century BC. It is an ancient site located on the hillside of a little peninsula, east of Alanya, 45 kilometers far. The tiny bay in which there are ancient port remains has a beach that you can settle for swimming. Where the acropolis is connected to mainland is Liman Main Road. The promontry leans over the sea is the acropolis of the site. It is on the east of Alanya, 33 kilometers far. Epigraphs whose 3 sections were written in phoenician language in 7th century BC is on display at Alanya Museum. It is in the region which was known as Mountainous Cilicia in the ancient times. Leartes is located on the feet of a slope that is next to the entrance of a plateau in Toros Mountains, east of Alanya, 25 kilometers far. The entrance to the site which sustained its existence until the 13th century AD is a still-standing monumental gate. The site’s history is thought to be dating back to 7th century BC. It is on the east of Alanya, 20 kilometers far. Strabon, geographer of his time, spoke of the abundance of cedar trees, which were used for making ships, in the region known as Pamphylia. It is on the northwest of Alanya, 12 kilometers far. The historical backround of this site has not been clearly found out yet, though, there are a lot of epigraphs spread around which includes important informations about past. It is a historical site located on Toros Mountains, inherited from Romans, the northwest of Alanya, 30 kilometers far. Those who would like to sight-see the remains around had better wear clothes which are suitable for long walkings around rocky terrains and among tall bushes and keep water with themselves when it is summer.
It is free to visit some ancient sites around which archeological excavations are still being carried out and areas protected owing to their being ruins. The ash pans carved in stones which are on display at Alanya Archeology Museum, also reflect the burial traditions of Cilicia region. The ruins reflect the charasterictics of the region. These are sites of Pamphylia’s and Cilicia’s some of which are on the coast while some other are on steep slopes. Alanya, having hosted countless civilizations throughout history, is very rich in ancient remains.īoth on the west and east of Alanya are there plenty of ancient sites’ remains.