Turkey`s

TURKEY
MERSİN/TARSUS
Historical
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Building
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Historical Monuments in
Mersin / Tarsus
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0800-000-0000
Adamkayalar (literally "man-rocks") is a location in
Mersinsin ProvinceProvince, Turkey famous for rock carved figures.On the rocks facing the gorge, there are carved figures in 9 niches. These are the figures of 11 males, 4 females and 2 children and 1 ibex. (The name
Adamkayalar means Men-rocks) On pediment, there
are also the figures of Roman eagles (Aquila).
Cleopatra Gate: Enterance is made to Tarsus through a door which reveals the llife expewriences
of thousands of years. The only remained door
from 3-door city walls, which were built in the
byzantine period, is the Cleopatra Gate. It was
built by using Khorasan mortar. The edge of the
door, which is in the length of 6.17 meters and
in the width of 6.18 meters, is in the shape of
horseshoe. When the Egypt’s famous qwueen
Cleopatra came to Tarsus to meet the Roman
General Antonio, it is said that she entered the
city from this gate.
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St. Paulus Well: St. Paul who has an important value in Christian World, was born in Tarsus. A well
stands at a place for a long time , whish is believed to be the house of St. Paulus. Some Wall remains are found at the archeological excavations
made.
Kızkalesi (English: Maiden's castle) is a town in Mersin Province, Turkey.
The town, known in Antiquity as Corycus or Korykos (Greek: Κώρυκος), is
named after the ancient castle built on a small island just facing the
town.Ancient Corycus was a big city. It became parts of Seleucid Empire, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Seljuks, Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia, Oghuz
Turks of Karamanids, and finally Ottoman Empire. In Turkish history, it is
known as Prince Cem Sultan's departing point from Turkey in 1482 after his
defeat in civil war on his way to Rome. After Cem’s departure, Kızkalesi became the winter settlement of nomadic Turkmens tribes known as Ayaş. It is
declared as a seat of township in 1992.
Cennet and Cehennem (English: heaven and hell) are the
names of two big sinkholes on the Toros Mountains, in
Mersin Province, Turkey. The sinkholes among the touristic attractions of the province.
Antique Street: This ancient Street, made 2100 years
ago, with polygonally placed basalt Stones is 6.5
meters wide. Its ridged structure and the sewage
system are the features that separates it from othen Anatolian roads. On the West and the east
side of the road, there are stylobats belonging to
different ages and a Roman house. The granite
coloumns on the stylobat and the street’s basalt
Stones brought from abroad is also an indication
of the wealth at that age.
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Nusrat Minelayer: Nusrat Minelayer made history
as ‘the most famous minelayer of the world’ due
to changing the fate in Çanakkale Operations on
18th March, 1915. It won a historic victory by
sinking the English and French ships on Çanakkale Naval Warfare on that date. It is being exhibited in its authentic form in Tarsus.
Şahmeran: According to the legend; the king of the
snakes Şahmeran was in love with the daugther
of king of Tarsus. While the pretty princess was
bathing in the Old Hamam which is still in use
today, Şahmeran used to secretly watch the
princess from the dome on top of Hamam where the king of the snakes ascend. Once, while
watching the princess, Şahmeran fell down into
the Hamam and Princess’s guards cut his head.
İt’s believed that the stains on the Hamam’s
walls are traces of Şahmeran’s blood.
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The Grand Mosque (Ulu Mosque): It was constructed by Gover-
Tarsus Waterfall: Tarsus Waterfall, located on Berdan
Stream, is formed by the change of the river bed in 600
A. D. after the fall of the stream from the height of 4-5
meters. The area which the waterfall exists in is conglomerate; the rocks can be caved easily. The emergence of
the graves is the demonstration that the region was
used as a graveyard in the Roman period.
nor Ibrahım, the son of Piri
Pasha from the Ramadan
Seigniorial in 1579. The
Grand Mosque, which
reflects Turkısh Islamic Art
in each square meter and
which is made of face stone
wholly, is constructed on
the remains of St. Pierre
Church . The graves of Abbasid Khalif Me’mun and
Sheikh Mohammad Hasan
from the sheikhs of Kadri
religion exist in the Grand
Mosque, as well as the seats of Phropet Sit and Lokman Hekim.
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St. Paulus Church: The building, located in Tarsus
Grand Mosque square and dedicated to St. Paulus, is
estimated to have been found in the 17th-18th centuries A. D. The church in two lines is seperated into
three with four columns and covered with vault. On
the northeast of the church there is a place of the bell
tower. In the senter of the ceiling there are the frescos
of Christ, Johannes, Matthew, Marcos and Lucas. On
the western internal part and above the enterance,
there is a wooden ssecond ceiling supported by the
first two columns. The Christians regularly visit the
church for pilgrimage pruposes.
Tarsus American College: Tarsus American College, which
was founded under the name of ‘St. Paul’s Instıtute at
Tarsus’ in 1888, is the first Christian missionary school
founded in Turkey. İts name changed into Tarsus College during World War 1 and Turkish Muslim students
also started to be educated there. Its building is an interesting sample of Ottoman architecture and draws
attention with its neo-classical style enterance gate
and the high roof.
Eshab-ı Kehf: Eshab-ı Kehf is a hollowed visiting place
Kırkkaşık Covered Bazaar: It was consrtucted together with
Grand Mosque in 1579 and was used as hospice and madrasa.
Whole of the covered bazaar which is designed as rectengular
is made of stone and 5-store dome is knit on it. The bazaar takes its name from spoon ornamentation on th exterior.
for both Christians and Muslims. Eshab-ı Kehf means
‘cave mates’. According to the legend, seven faithful
yong and a dog whoe didn’t want do abandon their
monotheist beliefs, took shelter in Eshab- Kehf and
slept there for 309 years After that long period, one of
them got up and went to the city center. As the money
he used belonged to ancient times, everything was revealed. When people went to the cave, they saw there
nothing but ony seven birds.
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Old Tarsus Houses: In Tarsus, having a rich past, ancien houses continue protecting its importance today
keeping the history alive. These houses, constructed
by using stone, adobe brick and wood, are made in having two parts: one of which is downstairs used as a
storehouse and the other of which is upstairs used as
a living place. The majör of the houses directly prior to
Republican Age, were decorated with woodenand
handmade iron decorations, stone doors used as a
completing accessories.