Turkish Mersin is not only a large port city, but also a wonderful corner where you can relax and have fun. There are sandy beaches, shady parks, and luxury hotels. Numerous entertainments will not let you get bored, and the sights of different eras will allow you to get acquainted with history.
Mersin is located in the province of the same name in southeastern Turkey. The southern part of the city is washed by the Mersin Gulf, the northern one is framed by the picturesque Taurus Mountains. The mild Mediterranean climate allows you to relax in Mersin from May to October. The mountains surrounding the city save from the heat. The warm azure sea gives you the opportunity to swim from dawn to dusk.
What to see in Mersin?
Mersin is rich in sights. If you go to the western part of the city, you can see the ancient ruins of a fortress belonging to the Hittites, they remained from the construction of the 13th century BC. Almost in the center of the city, surrounded by majestic skyscrapers, the ruins of the ancient settlement of the ancient Romans of Sola have been preserved. In the 6th century, an earthquake destroyed the settlement, but the remains of a necropolis, a temple, public Roman baths decorated with mosaics and frescoes have survived.
To find out how Mersin has developed since ancient times, you need to visit the museum. The compositions are located in the open air - here you can see bas-reliefs, antique statues, archaeological finds, a Greek church.
Among the mosques, it is worth paying attention to Eski - a mosque built during the Ottoman Empire. And among the monuments of Christianity, one cannot but visit the ancient Tarsus - the city where St. Paul was born. In Tarsus there is a temple in his honor, and next to it is a sacred well with healing water.
At 200 meters from the coast is the Maiden's Castle, built by one of the emperors for his daughter. The castle is mesmerizing during the day, and especially at night, when the powerful illumination is turned on. The location of the castle is explained by a legend - the daughters predicted death from a snake bite, and the sea was supposed to protect her. Unfortunately, the prediction came true, despite all the precautions.
In the northwest of Mersin, there are the Hell and Rai caves, which once served as temples. Having visited the caves, you can safely convince your friends that hell and heaven exist.
How to have fun and what to buy?
Architecture and monuments of ancient history are not the only entertainment in Mersin. It has everything that is typical for a modern metropolis - shopping centers, nightclubs, restaurants and fashionable hotels.
The sea makes it possible not only to soak up the beach or swim in the warm sea, in Mersin you can go diving, take yacht trips, admire the beauty of nature. Here you can ride ATVs and motor scooters, or you can leisurely ride horses in the picturesque valleys.
You can taste delicious dishes in one of the restaurants located on the coast, after having made a walk along the palm alleys.
Shopping in Mersin, although slightly inferior to Istanbul, still allows you to pamper yourself in numerous shopping centers and markets. Fruit lovers are advised to visit the "green markets" to taste not only Turkish delicacies, but also fruits and vegetables from Greece or Cyprus.
And finally
One trip to Mersin will leave an unforgettable experience. Having once visited this Turkish city, you will want to return to it again and again to swim, walk, enjoy every minute.
