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Mersin. Photo by Nedim Ardo臒a.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Mersin

Mersin Province is a province located in Southern Turkey between Antalya and Adana on the Mediterranean coast.

Mersin city is the provincial capital of the eponymous Mersin Province of Turkey and its nickname in Turkey is “Pearl of the Mediterranean”. The 2013 Mediterranean Games were hosted in Mersin city.

Mersin city is a large city and a port on the Mediterranean coast of Southern Turkey with an estimated population of 1,891,145 inhabitants.

Turkey鈥檚 largest seaport is located in the city thereby making Mersin city an important hub of the country鈥檚 economy.

The top 10 fascinating facts about Mersin include the following.

1. Visitors Can Tour the Aynaligol Magarasi in Mersin

Gilindire Magarasi. Photo by Selinay Kaygusuz.

The Aynaligol Magarasi also known as Gilindire Magarasi is basically a cave in Ayd谋nc谋k in Mersin. The cave has a total length of 555 meters and has a clearance of 22 meters.  The cave covers an area of over 264 acres.

Stalagmites, stalactites as well as 鈥減illar wall of drapery dripstones, leakage stones and cave needles鈥� which divide the interior into many chambers are the main features of the cave.  

Outside the cave the nearby bays are the habitat of the Mediterranean monk seal while bats inhabit some parts of caves main gallery.

2. Mersin Hosts the Ancient City of Diocaesarea Olba

Diocaesarea Olba. Photo by Zeynel Cebeci.

Mersin is said to be a place where history lives due to the unique historical sites in the region. One of the most notable places to visit is the Diocaesarea Olba which is an ancient city.

The ancient city hosts the Hellenistic Temple of Zeus, the Arch of Colonnaded street, the Byzantine Gate and the Roman Temple of Tyche in the first location.

The second location of the city contains the Grande aqueduct, a roman theatre and nymphaeum

Since the acropolis is in the middle of nowhere visitors either walk to the place of use cars as no public transport is available.

A vast valley of many romans’ rock tombs with beautiful carving, a small church and a cistern can be found behind the Grande aqueduct.

3. Mersin Is Home of Mersin Yerk枚pr眉 Waterfall 

Yerkopru Waterfall. Photo by Hasip Pektas .

The Yerkopru Waterfall was registered as a monument by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks on 3^rd May 2011.

It is located some 35 kilometers away from the town center.

The waterfall flows from a height of 30 meters and is 200 meters long. The waterfall is 10 meters wide and its base is 10-15 meters deep.  There are stalactites in their natural form around the waterfall.

4. Mersin Is Home to The Kizkalesi Castle

Kizkalesi. Photo by Klaus-Peter Simon.

Kizkalesi Castle or the Maiden Castle as it is sometimes called, is actually an island castle in Mersin province which a major tourist attraction site.

The castle covers most of the island at an area of about 15,000 square meters.  The island castle is located at about 300 meters from the show in the Mediterranean Sea and 60 kilometers from Mersin City.

The are eight bastions each with a unique shape with the main gate being on the north side and on the westside is a minor gate and a gallery. This is a popular castle which is quite beautiful.

The castle has an interesting legend which locals share with tourists who visit while motorboats are used to transport tourists to the castle.

5. Visitors Can Tour the Mersin Archeology Museum

The Mersin Archeology Museum is a popular attraction site in Mersin. It boasts of exhibition halls, archeopark application areas for children, a library, a souvenir shop and social areas.

A total of 1435 works are exhibited in the museum for visitors to see. In the time tunnel on the ground floor, visitors can take a journey into history and watch how civilizations developed.

Burial traditions of different cultures in the dead cult area are displayed in the museum as well as ethnographic artifacts used by people from past and the present.

6. Visitors Can Tour the Alahan Manastiri

The Alahan Manastiri also known as the Alahan Monastery is a large church ruins in Mersin province particularly around Mut district.

The fifth century building was built by a priest named Tarasis whose sarcophagus and epitaph and found in the monastery after Christianity was adopted officially in the region.

The monastery which is listed as the 12^th place to visit in Turkey was added as a candidate to the World Cultural Heritage site in the year 2000.

The monastery is made up of a stunning complex of ecclesiastical buildings in an idyllic mountain setting which is easily accessible by road.

7. Visitors Can Tour the Ataturk House Museum

The Ataturk House Museum is a nice museum for visitors interested in the establishment of the Republic of Turkey and knowing more about its founding father Mustafa Kemal Atat眉rk.

The house which the founding father used to stay when he visited the region was converted into a museum in 1984 by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Banknotes, coins, commemorative coins and postage stamps issued since the proclamation of the Republic are displayed in the museum and in one of the rooms are the personal belongings of Ataturk

8. Visitors to Mersin Can Tour Gulek Castle

Gulek Castle was built in the 12^th or 13^th century and is a large fortification of considerable antiquity which retains evidence of Byzantine and Arab periods of occupation.

The Gulek Castle was of great strategic importance to various peoples who lived in the area. Its is a great attraction site for people who want to learn about historical sites in Mersin

9. Mersin Boasts of An Excellent Seafront for Walking

There are a few beaches for swimming in the heart of Mersin. However, Mersin boasts of one the best seafront promenades in Turkey which is excellent for walking.

The famous Marina which is a yacht port area, recreation, and shopping zone so loved by both locals and foreigners is located right on the promenade

10. Mersin鈥檚 Attraction Sites Are Innumerable

Apart from the interesting sites listed in the foregoing, Mersin boasts of many other attractions.

Some of the attractions include caves of Heaven and Hell, the city of Kanlidivane, Sason Canyon, Ast谋m Cave and Adam Kayalar where human sculptures were placed at the bottom of the canyon among other amazing environmental monuments.

In Mersin there is an Aquapark and a Luna park in Mezitli and Marina respectively.