History

The district of Alanya contains sixty-five villages and two small towns: Avsallar and Mahmutlar. Mahmutlar was the first town municipality of Alanya (1974). However, the history of Mahmutlar goes far, far back in time. At least to the 3rd century BC – maybe long before that!

Older than the Roman Empire	A little younger house, but still old

Within the boarder of the Mahmutlar area, you find the remain of two antique cities. Leatres-Leatri, 850 m up in the mountains and Naula – just a little east of Mahmutlar centre. Both places are worth a visit for those who enjoy studying history.
Leatres-Leatri (sources: Mahmutlar Belediye & Antalya WS) - dates back to ancient Rome (44 BC – 476 AD) and Byzantium period (330 AD - 1453 AD). According to the epigraphs, the city was founded by Claudius. The important ruins of the town remaining at present are Cacicella excedra, Agora Basilica, Apollon temple, Odeon, Emperors' Street and observatory towers. Limestone, which is a material of this region, and marble were used in the constructions. The metropolis of the city is in the south and the acropolis is in the southeast. Today it is known that in relation to this historical town, coins were minted in the names of Trojan and Empress Herennia Etruscill. Found here are churches, baths, cisterns, various dwellings, a small stadium, a theater, colonnaded streets and worshipping places. Almost all are in bad condition. The remnant next to the stadium is the centre of a church standing with its side naves and abscissa and having traces of red and light blue coloured frescoes in the interior. The numerous inscriptions and the reliefs depicting the claws of an eagle and ox heads, often seen in these ruins, inherently takes one back deep into history. According to the inscriptions that are available, this area lived its best period between the first and third centuries. The temples that the city had between these centuries are dedicated to Zeus-Megistos, Apollon and Caesar.
 

  Naula (sources: Mahmutlar Belediye & Akmedanmed) – has some ruins dating back to the Byzantium period such as a theatre, a temple, a columned street, two observatory towers, a hole used to keep wild animals, two fountains, all of which reflects Roman life. Naula, mentioned as the port of Leatres in the ancient sources, lies concealed behind the summer resort houses near the coastal road in Mahmutlar and, surrounded by banana plantations, the site has two-storied tower-like structures rising upon the fortifications. The city walls were built from slate stone and brick masonry. Four churches identified within the city are noteworthy for their monumental size. Church A, all that remains is its apse wall, which carries traces of wall paintings. Church B, its apse, south and north walls remain still standing. This monumental structure has a length of approximately 20 m and the walls are plastered and traces of wall paintings are discernible in places. A niche in the southeast wall of the apse should have been used as a prothesis. To the west of the naos and off the axis of this church is a two-storied building with windows. Church C is located today within the garden of a village house. Only its apse is standing and there is no other evidence regarding this structure. Church D is located in the back yard of a village house, near the banana plantation. Only its apse and part of the north wall remain and the apse has a twin window. Tesserae on the ground suggest the presence of an original mosaic floor, concealed beneath the earth filling. Our first observations and impressions based on the materials and masonry techniques are that the church and the city walls were constructed at the same time. The fifth church, whose existence is known from the sources, should be identified next year.

If you want to read more, here is a Turkish/English document:   

Byzantine Surveys.pdf