Eastern Mediterranean
South of the Old City, what is also called the St Paul Memorial Museum (St Paul Anıt Müzesi) was originally built in 1850 as a Greek Orthodox church to…
Must-see attractions in Eastern Mediterranean
Eastern Mediterranean
The Tarsus Museum, which was at the time of research in the process of moving from its former location in the city’s cultural centre to a disused…
Eastern Mediterranean
Walk a kilometre southwest of the Old City along İsmet Paşa Bulvarı to get to the Roman Kancık Kapısı, literally the 'Slut's Gate', but better known as…
Eastern Mediterranean
Most of the city's 1200-strong Christian population worships at this fine Orthodox church dating to 1860. Rebuilt with Russian assistance after a…
Eastern Mediterranean
Narlıkuyu's Mosaic Museum is in a compact 4th-century Roman bath called the Kızlar Hamamı (Maidens Bath). The wonderful mosaic on the floor depicts the…
Ömürlü Kemal Atli Cultural Centre
Alanya
This carefully prepared ethnographic museum displays life as it would have been for Ottoman Turks in Alanya in the 19th century, over two floors…
Eastern Mediterranean
Southeast of the Old City are several historical mosques that have played other roles, including the Old Mosque, a medieval structure that was originally…
Alanya
Sandy and quite secluded in low season, and with fine views of the fortress, Cleopatra's Beach is the city's best. Alanya's main beaches are also decent…
Alanya
This large tower would have served as a coastal watchtower and arsenal during the Seljuk era. If you're game you can follow the walls from here towards…
Eastern Mediterranean
Along the pedestrianised section of Atatürk Caddesi is a museum in a beautiful six-room villa where Atatürk spent 11 days in October 1925. It's full of…
Eastern Mediterranean
This Roman-era stone bridge over the Seyhan River at the eastern end of Abidin Paşa Caddesi was probably built under Hadrian (r AD 117–138) and repaired…
Alanya
The İç Kale, or inner fortress, contains the remnants of a Byzantine church and the scattered ruins of cisterns. It's right at the top of the fortified…
Alanya
The area near this cave is often used for a swimming stop by many of the excursion boats setting out from Alanya harbour. Despite its name, the glittering…
Eastern Mediterranean
A wonderful 60m-long stretch of Roman road was uncovered in the heart of the Old City in 1993; note the herringbone design and the sewer system directly…
Eastern Mediterranean
Also called the Alaeddin Camii (Aladdin's Mosque), the Seljuk-era Merkez Camii dates from 1226, although it's seen many renovations over the centuries…
Eastern Mediterranean
The Yağ Camii, with its imposing portal and typical Seljuk-style architecture, started life as a Crusader church dedicated to St James but was converted…
Eastern Mediterranean
Just on the edge of the Old City is St Paul's well, where the holy man did slake his thirst some two millennia ago. In the leafy courtyard the ruins of…
Eastern Mediterranean
Catch a dolmuş (₺3) in front of the Eski Cami to a cooling 15m-high waterfall (şelale) on the Tarsus River (the Cydnus River in ancient times), around 4km…
Alanya
According to local tradition, a secret tunnel once connected this cave with Alanya Castle, allowing pirates to secretly spirit their treasures away. Many…
Eastern Mediterranean
This mosque, in the heart of the Old Town, was built by the Mamluks of Egypt in 1268 and is one of the city's oldest places of worship. It has a peaceful…
Eastern Mediterranean
The main building of the Makam Cami (Official Mosque) was built in 1857, with a minaret added 10 years later. The older foundations to the north are…
Eastern Mediterranean
The Italian-ministered Roman Catholic church was built in 1846 and occupies two houses in the city's old quarter, with the chapel in the former living…
Eastern Mediterranean
A sprawling market fills the back streets north of Kemal Paşa Caddesi. The easier way to see it is to follow Uzunçarşı Caddesi (Long Market Street), the…
Alanya
This bedesten (vaulted covered market) with a rectangular courtyard in the centre dates from the Ottoman era. For many years it functioned as a hotel.
Alanya
Enjoy this wonderful viewpoint looking across the city and Cilician mountains while walking up to the castle through the steep streets of the Tophane…
Eastern Mediterranean
The remains of the Prophet Daniel are believed to be buried deep within the foundations of the older part of the present-day Makam Cami.
Alanya
This fine 16th-century mosque, which replaced a Seljuk structure dating to the 13th century, is the oldest in Alanya.
Eastern Mediterranean
Tekir Ambarı (literally `Striped Granary') is actually an ancient water cistern (su sarnıcı) carved from rock, which can be entered via a spiral staircase…
Eastern Mediterranean
To the east of Silifke's centre, on the main road heading to Taşucu, this local museum showcases Roman figurines – one in impressive full uniform – and…
Eastern Mediterranean
Just off İnönü Caddesi, what was until recently the city's ethnography museum has now reopened as an art gallery with some ethnographic exhibits,…
Eastern Mediterranean
Ancient Silifke's necropolis, alongside busy İnönü Bulvarı, has been fenced off so all you can do is peek between the railings at the rather sad ruins of…
Alanya
Close to Cleopatra's Beach and the cable car to the castle, this stalactite-studded cave has humidity levels of 98% and is said to produce a certain kind…
Eastern Mediterranean
This 13th-century castle towers over the Alara River and valley about a kilometre north of Alarahan. There are several courtyards accessed by worn steps…
Eastern Mediterranean
In Antakya's Old Town, this prominent Protestant church was built by the French in 1860 and once served as the French Consulate. Today it is managed by…
Eastern Mediterranean
Four kilometres east (and downhill) from Uzuncaburç are the remnants of Olba, including a small theatre, an aqueduct, a fountain and an abundance of rock…
Eastern Mediterranean
The Sermaye Camii (1719) has a wonderfully ornate serefe (balcony) on its minaret that has become something of an icon in Antakya and is frequently…
Eastern Mediterranean
This functioning Roman Catholic church near the train station was built in 1853. Mass is said at 11am on Sunday year-round. On other days, it is at 6pm …
Alanya
Built in 1227 to protect the Inner Fortress, this is the northern part of Alanya Castle and consist of three towers in two distinct parts.
Eastern Mediterranean
One of the last remnants of Antakya's once-vibrant Jewish community is this synagogue on Kurtuluş Caddesi. Its Torah dates to the 16th century and is…
Alanya
Kuyularönü Camii, renovated in 2005, is a an island of spirituality amid the bland knock-off designer-T-shirt shops and plastic-fantastic souvenir stores…
