Tarsus Guide

In terms of settlement and administrative boundaries, Tarsus is affiliated with Mersin. However, if you ask the people of Tarsus where they are from, you'll often find that they prefer to say they are from Tarsus rather than Mersin. There are certain realities. While the importance of Tarsus has increased in recent years in terms of tourism, its true value is not fully recognized.

With a history spanning more than five thousand years, Tarsus has always been a popular and attractive destination due to its location. Tarsus invites us with its clean and oxygen-rich air from the Taurus Mountains combined with the scorching heat of the Mediterranean and the warmth of its people.

The people of Mersin city, and naturally those of the Tarsus region, treat their guests very warmly. Especially because they make significant contributions to our country's production, they welcome you as people who are aware of the value of labor and human life. When you come to Tarsus, you will encounter a tourism concept that is more intertwined with traces of ancient times and cultural values. We especially recommend visiting the sites belonging to the Cilician Civilization. We can add Tarsus to the many meeting points of different cultures in Anatolia. It emerges as a complete cultural encounter. Because there are traces of both Eastern and Western cultures here. Tarsus also houses many important historical and cultural symbols such as the Prophet Daniel, the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, the shrine and mosque of Bilal al-Habashi, and significant figures like Saint Paul and Cleopatra. Additionally, the Nusret Mine Ship, which is a very important symbol especially in our recent history, is also located within the borders of Tarsus.

The beautiful streets with historical Tarsus Houses, the Hellenistic city gate called Cleopatra's Gate, and the area where Saint Paul's well is located used to be a port city. In 41 BC, Egyptian queen Cleopatra and Roman general Marcus Antonius first met in Tarsus. Cleopatra convinced the Roman to establish an empire in the East and even managed to make him fall in love with her. Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" is related to this event. The queen's entry into the port of Tarsus with her purple sails and golden-hulled ship is also among the unforgettable scenes of English literature.

Saint Paul: According to some sources, he is considered the founder or the first formulator of the Christian religion. He was a wealthy Jew from Tarsus. His spiritual eye was opened thanks to the light from God during his journey to Damascus, and from that moment on, he became a leader to the disciples of Jesus. He traveled extensively to Anatolia and Greece, spreading the new religion. He played a pioneering role in separating Jesus' teachings from Judaism and turning it into a world religion.