Silifke

260 km east of Alanya following the Coastal road is the City of Silifke. The Area surrounding Silifke was highly populated and there are plenty of ruined buildings left from different time epochs.
It is recommended that a whole day should be spent in Silifke as the distance to reach the city along the small coastal roads makes high speed impossible. But most of the time during the journey a beautiful view can be enjoyed and other chances to make stops at the historical Places of ANAMUR or ANTİOCHEA AND CRAGUM can be made .
Unfortunately these places are not very well sign posted so it is recommended that you visit these in the hours of sunlight.
Silifke town has easy access into the mountains north of the town. Within the mountains there is an approximately 100 km roundtrip which can be made and sights can be seen. 6km on the road towards Mara ruins of the old roman city ‘Imbriogon’ (todays Demircili) can be seen. Founded around 200 years BC. İt is known because of their hudge Mausolees.
After 10km more in a northern direction is the Antique roman city of Dioacesaria (todays Uzuncaburc), created 72 years after Christ. However before the city was founded there was already a Temple of Zeus so the Olbanic kingdom the Roman city was built around it creating an important city in the Byzantine period.
Beside the City gate and the Temple the Theatre is still in a good condition.Many stone tombs are in the area which have been used in the Roman and in the Byzantine periods. The Archeology department of the University of freiburg/Germany is looking for the restoration of the antique city.
Approximately 3 km in a southeast direction are the ruins of a huge Aquaduct in the antique city of Ura which impresses the passing visitor. The Valley where most probably many people had been living are now just old ruined buildings. On our Tour, about 7 km in the south we reach Cambazli where a church from the 5th century stands.
Leaving the church behind the road leads directly to the coast and the city of Kizkalesi . Where the famous water castle and Antique city of Korykos can be sighted, most probably founded by Prince Koykos of Cyprus.
On the coast road back to Silifke is a turn to ‘Cennet ve Cehennem’ (heaven and hell), 2 huge pits. In the larger pit, of heaven, 426 steps to the bottom of the cave shows the ruins of a 5th century Church which had been built. The ‘hell’ is just to be seen from the upper border. There is a Zeus temple and a beautiful drop stone cave very close to ‘Heaven and Hell’ definitely worth a visit.
Arriving back in Silifke the underground Church of the holy Thekla is interesting to see. The Castle on the mountain overlooking the town is however less interesting but the view from there over the city and the delta of the Göksu river, is superb. The Goksu River is an international well known Bird protecting area.
Not only is Silifke interesting for historians and archeologists but it is very popular with birdwatchers from all over europe to sit and watch birds which can only be seen in this area.
If one day is not enough to explore Silifke and the area there is the possibility to stay over night in Tasucu , a little harbour town 10 km before Silifke. The Harbour Promenade has many fish restaurants where the fish are in big window tanks at the front of the restaurant for all to see.
Not all sights and destinations are listed in this article, but too name a few the church ruins of Tritar , the antik city of Kanlidivane or some other of the historical places in this Area. But for sure Silifke can be counted as a destination to be recommended to a Visitor!

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