Mersin and the Cilician Coast: From Kızkalesi to Silifke
Mersin and the Cilician coast stretch along the Mediterranean where the Taurus Mountains meet the sea, linking Kızkalesi's offshore castle to Silifke's hilltop fortress, the Heaven and Hell sinkholes, and the columned temple at Uzuncaburç. Tarsus's well associated with Saint Paul, Kanlıdivane's rock tombs, and Anamur's seaside Mamure Castle add Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman-era layers to a coastline rich in ancient remains.
## How Many Castles Does Kızkalesi Have?
The coastal town of Kızkalesi takes its name from the medieval castle rising on a small islet roughly 200 meters offshore, reachable by boat and bearing repairs attributed to Byzantine and Armenian-era builders. From the town's beach, its walls and towers are clearly visible, and the silhouette at sunset has become the town's best-known image. On the mainland side stands Korykos Castle, alongside the remains of ancient Korykos, once a significant Cilician port; a necropolis, arched structures, and traces of the old harbor can be explored on foot along the shore. Considered together, the two fortifications illustrate how the coastline's defenses once worked in tandem.
## Silifke Castle and the Göksu Delta
Silifke's hilltop castle overlooks the town and the wide valley of the Göksu River (known in antiquity as the Kalykadnos); most of the standing walls reflect medieval-era repairs. The old town below, a Roman bridge, and the local museum make Silifke a natural hub for the coastal route. South of town, where the Göksu reaches the sea, the Göksu Delta's reed beds and dunes form a wetland known for birdwatching; tradition holds that Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa drowned in the nearby river. The short distance between castle and delta makes it easy to combine history and nature in a single day.
## Why Are the Heaven and Hell Sinkholes So Different?
Cennet (Heaven) is a large sinkhole reached by several hundred steps, with the ruins of a Byzantine-era church and a cave mouth at its base believed to connect to an underground stream. Nearby Cehennem (Hell) is a much steeper pit, viewed only from its rim rather than entered, and together the two showcase the region's karst landscape. Not far away, Kanlıdivane centers on a steep-sided sinkhole ringed and dotted with rock-cut tombs and church remains. Further inland, in the Taurus foothills, Uzuncaburç (ancient Diocaesarea) preserves a columned Temple of Zeus and a city gate, making it one of the coast's notable Hellenistic-Roman sites.
## Tarsus and Anamur: The Coast's Two Ends
Tarsus is remembered as the birthplace of Saint Paul; a historic well in the city is visited in connection with that tradition, while the nearby Cleopatra Gate survives from the Roman-era city walls. The town's waterfall and the narrow stone streets of old Tarsus form a short, walkable route through the center. To the west, Mamure Castle near Anamur rises directly on the shoreline as a large medieval fortress with an inner keep, known to have been expanded under the Karamanid dynasty. Just beside it, the ancient city of Anemurium spreads across one of the coast's largest ancient sites, with a theater, bath ruins, and tomb monuments.
FAQ
How do you get to the sea castle at Kızkalesi?
The offshore castle at Kızkalesi is reached by small boats that depart from the town's shorefront, with departure points along the main beach and crossings that are usually short. Visitors can explore the sections of the castle that are open to the public, and the walls offer views out to open water as well as back toward Korykos Castle on the mainland. Because boat trips can depend on sea conditions, it helps to check current schedules with the jetty operators or local tour offices before planning a visit. Many travelers combine the sea castle with the mainland Korykos ruins on the same day to see both halves of the site's defensive layout.
Can Uzuncaburç and Kanlıdivane be visited as a day trip from Silifke?
Uzuncaburç and Kanlıdivane are two separate ancient sites located a relatively short drive from Silifke, and both can be visited in a single day using the town as a base. At Uzuncaburç, visitors see the columned Temple of Zeus, a city gate, and theater remains, while Kanlıdivane centers on rock-cut tombs and church ruins around its sinkhole. A road connects the two locations, though planning the route in advance and arranging a rental car or local tour is a practical way to fit both stops in comfortably. Together these two inland sites round out the ancient and religious heritage of the region beyond the coastal castles.