East of Mersin, on the edge of fertile Cukurova Plain, is Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. Of ancient origin, the city was invaded and destroyed on several occasions and only a few monuments of particular interest remain: The Cleopatra Gate thru which Mark Anthony and Cleopatra passed when they came to Tarsus to meet, an ancient church, and the Ottoman Ulucami. You can get the feel of bygone days if you walk thru narrow streets past old houses to find St. Pauls well. Little streams, waterfalls and shaded trees at the Tarsus Walls on the outskirts of town create an idyllic afternoon. The Karaburcak Park is perfumed but its groves eucalyptus trees.
Set 
in
the heart of Cukurova (Cilician) Plain, Turkey's fourth largest city, Adana
is at the center of the rich agricultural region and the thriving textile
industry. The Taskopru (Stone Bridge) built by Hadrian and repaired by
Justinian, spends the River Seyhan which bisects the town; only 14 of the
bridge's original 21 arches still stand. Of interest of the city 16th century
Ulu Mosque, the Eski Mosque, the Hasanaga Mosque, the 19th century clock
tower and the old covered bazaar. The city of three museums, The Archaeological
Museum, which displays locally excavated Hittite and Roman Remains, the
charming Ethnography Museum, and the Ataturk Culture Museum should be included
in a tour of the city. After a day of sightseeing you can sample Adana
Kebab, a sensational spicy tube of ground meat. Local beverages include
salgam a drink made from dark turnips and sira, a type of grape juice.
North
of the city the the Seyhan Dam and Lake have shady walks and giant tea
gardens and restaurants creating a cool place to escape the heat. At sunset,
look back toward the city to the peaceful, winding ruby river, lined with
twinkling lights. The nearest beaches with accommodation facilities are
at Yumurtalik, where an ancient harbor castle dominates the picturesque
fisherman's wharf, and at Karatas. 
Fishermen
enjoy the scene, and the catch, it Camlik Park. Off the road from Adana
to Iskenderun, near Yakapinar, lies Misis, a city which derived its wealth
from its position on the Silk Route. There are several Roman ruins at the
site, including a beautiful fourth-century), mosaic depicting Noah's Ark
and the animals. Further along the road are the impressive ruins of the
Yilanlikale Castle, atop a rocky peak that dominates the Ceyhan River.
South of Yilanlikale, in the Sirkeli region, a somewhat weathered Hittite
relief marks Muvattalish's stop here on his way to Egypt. North of Ceyhan
lies the village of Dilekkaya, (the ancient Anavarza), where you can view
the ruins of a Roman-Byzantine city and an impressive castle. The small
museum at the site has two particularly fine mosaics from Roman baths.
Osmaniye, inland from the head of the Gulf of Iskenderun, is the 'turn-off
for two more ancient sites. 
The
road to Karatepe takes you to the ancient Roman city of Castabala, where
a colonnaded street, theater, baths and a fortress on the hill evoke a
bygone era. At the Karatepe National Park, (the neo-Hittite site), the
remains of the summer residence of Kino, Asitawada, tablets bearing Hittite
and Phoenician inscriptions and open air museum with fine bas-reliefs reveal
the importance and astonishing aesthetic of this pre-historic civilization.
This region was much fought over during the Crusades and the impressive
fortress at Toprakkale was for a time held by the Christian armies. Further
back in history, Alexander the Great defeated Darius III and the Persian
army in 333 B.C. at the Plain of Issos (Dortyol). Today this area is covered
with large citrus groves which supply Turkey with oranges, tangerines and
lemons. At Yakacik (Payas), off the highway that outlines the coast of
the Gulf of Iskenderun, the splendid 16th-century Sokollu Mehmet Pasa Complex
includes a mosque, bath, bazaar, caravansary and medrese. Other monuments
include the Cinkulesi (Tower of jinn's) and a castle.
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