Mersin
Mersin that an important harbour city at 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 city remembered in history with the name of Saint Paul (he is from Tarsus) and with areas between areas between Alanya and Mersin that was given from Mark Antuanious as a marriage gift to Cleopatra. Mersin is important for Turkey’s economy, and Turkey‘s largest seaport is located there. Mersin’s nickname within Turkey is “Pearl of the Mediterranean” (Turkish: Akdeniz’in incisi) and the city will host the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Mersin is under the Mediterranean weather influence. In the summer it gets hot, and dry as in the winter in gets warm, and rainy. It gets below freezing about 6 days of a year. Due to high humidty, locals prefer to spend their summer at the villages that has higher elevation, and cooler weather.
Places to Visit;
Mersin Museum has sections organized according to chronological order of archaeological data’s. Mersin Atatürk House exhibits items related to the visit of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to Mersin.
Makam-ı Serif Mosque and Danyal Prophet Mausoleum (Center): Makamı Serif Mosque was built in 1857 and at the east of the mosque, there is the mausoleum of Danyal Prophet. Ashabı Kehf Cavern (Tarsus) is 14 kilometers away from Tarsus, close to Ulaş Village. This cavern is mentioned in the Holy Quran, and can be climbed down via 15 – 20 stages. Ulu Mosque is in Tarsus, and was built by Ibrahim bey (Ramazanogulları Principality) on the ruins of St.Pierre Church in 1579. Yalan Dünya Cave, Cennet ve Cehennem, or the Caves of Heaven and Hell, Narlıkuyu Cave are located in the province and worth to see.
