Mersin
(Formerly Icel)
Mersin is one of the most modern provinces of the palm lined avenues, city park
and modern hotels and a good base for visiting the nearby historical sites and
beaches. Mersin is the largest port on the Turkish Mediterranean region. There
is also a Free Trade Zone here and it is a business centre. In Mersin you may
find all the comforts of a modern city and all the characteristics of the
Mediterranean cities. Fish is abundant as well as most delicious in this region
and in the Mersin fish market you will find inexpensive fish restaurants which
are really enjoyable for those who love fish and “Raki” or wine. Although Mersin
dates only from the 19th century, it occupies an extremely ancient site. At
Mount Yumuktepe the excavations proved that there had been twelve successive
settlements beginning from the Neolithic Period. Icel has also hunting, fishing,
picnicking, mountaineering and caving attractions for sports fans.
Area: 15.853 km²
Population: 1.651.400 (2000)
Traffic Code: 33
Mersin that an important harbour city at the East Mediterranean shore, offers
every possible activities to travellers with streets overshadowed by palms, city
park, modern hotels, ruins near the city, numberless beaches. Moreover, the city
remembered in history with the name of Saint Paul (he is from Tarsus) and with
areas between Alanya and Mersin that was given from Mark Antuanious as a
marriage gift to cleopatra.
Nearly 108 kilometre lengths of Mersin shores composed from naturel beaches.
These beaches preferred because of their thin sands and cleanness, and their
suitability for underwater hunting. Kulakköy, Taşucu, Susanoğlu, Kuruçay, Lamas,
Yemişkumu, Kız Kalesi, Çeşmeli, Ören, Balıkova, İskele, Yenikaş, Ovacık, Büyük
Ecelive and Anamur Beaches are some of that beaches. For whom fond of history
and archaeology there is Viranşehir (Pomeipolis) which city built on area that
area was continuous settlement place since Neolithic Age, and city is an roman
city built at Rome Period.
City was Papacy in Christianity Period, than destroyed by an earthquake in 525.
Necropolis (graveyard), theatre, public baths, water canals, temple ruins are
exist. Eski (old) Mosque is an important building remains from Ottoman Period
(1870). It was restored at different times. Rome Public Bath hosts big amount of
visitors with it's interesting mosaics.
Districts: Mersin (center), Anamur, Aydıncık, Bozyazı, Çamlıyayla, Erdemli,
Gülnar, Mut, Silifke, Tarsus.
At the 320 kilometre length coast band of Mersin province that 108 kilometre of
them is sanded shores and formed with naturel beaches, is very rich by the means
of historical, cultural values. At the Mersin that is settlement place since
Neolithic Period, there are lots of archaeological and historical creations
remains from calceolithic, Hittite, Rome, Byzantine and Ottoman civilisations.
The places should be seen and visited in Mersin are listed bellow:
Tarsus: St. Paul Church, St. Paul Well, Gözlü Kule (tower), Donuk Taş (stone),
Ashabı Kehf Cave, Cleopatra Gate, Rome Road are important historical and
cultural values of county.
Mersin: Yumuk Hill and Soli Ruins are places to be seen.
Anamur: Anamurium Ruins and Mamure Castle are important historical places.
Aydıncık: 4 columned Monument Tomb would be seen.
Bozyazı: Arsione, Nagidos and Softa castle are places to be seen.
Erdemli: Kanlıdivane Ruins, Ayaş, Korikos, Adamkaya Embossments are
important historical and cultural values of county.
Gülnar: Meydancık Castle, Alahan Monastery at Mut,
Silifke: Cennet-Cehennem Caves, Silifke Castle, Tekir Ambarı, Jupiter
Temple, Ayatekla, Holmi Ruin, Silifke Aphrodisia, Uzuncaburç Tower, Olba are
most important ones.
Mersin is located in the Mediterrenan Region of Turkey.
Mediterranean Region
Location
Between
the south side of the magnificent Taurus Mountains and the Mediterranean sea in
rare scenery fine sand beaches and coves mysterious, ancient ruins and
attractive centres. Sun worshippers, Badenixen, wind surfing, water ski runners,
sailors, canoeists, mountain climbers, mountain bikers, cavers, golfers, Friends
of riding, hunting, hiking and culture will find their holiday paradise.
History and Mythology
History
and mythology, in the Mediterranean region closely woven into each other. Old
legends are still on everyone's lips, for example, the feuerspeienden chimera.
On the southern slope of Mount Olympos, the hero Bellerophon lydische Tell the
head off a chimera. Since it failed, they speie today as ever their fire. Or the
legend of the beautiful Daphne, located in the vicinity of Antakya zugetragen
have. Apollo was in love with the beauty, but his love Daphne had not
reciprocated. As their hinterherlief Apollo, it has turned into a laurel tree
turns. The St. Paul, as the Bible says, born in Tarsus. St. Nicholas was born in
Patara in the world and has lived in today's Kale.
Provinces
The
Mediterranean region is divided into eight provinces: Adana, Antalya, Burdur,
Isparta, Hatay, Icel, Kahramanmaras, Osmaniye.
Climate
The
Mediterranean region is spoiled by the sun: 300 days of sunshine a year make it
a full-year target. During the months of March and April, you can sum in the
Taurus mountains skiing and swimming beach at noon.
