Kızkalesi
| Kızkalesi | ||||
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| Basic data | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Province (il) : | Mersin | |||
| District ( ilçe ) : | Erdemli | |||
| Coordinates : | 36 ° 28 ' N , 34 ° 9' E | |||
| Residents : | 1,663 (2018) | |||
| Telephone code : | (+90) 324 | |||
| Postal code : | 33790 | |||
| License plate : | 33 | |||
| Structure and administration (as of 2019) | ||||
| Mayor : | Murat Kale | |||
| Postal address : | Mavideniz Mah.Belediye Cad.No:12 |
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Kızkalesi is a former municipality on the Turkish south coast in the Erdemli district of the Mersin province . It is located about halfway between the district towns of Silifke and Erdemli on the coastal road from Antalya to Adana , about 80 km southwest of Mersin . Since a regional reform in 2014, the place is no longer a municipality, but a district of the district town of Erdemli.
After Kızkalesi was already well visited by Turkish tourists in the 1970s , it has since developed into a stronghold of international tourism and is now heavily frequented by Germans, British and Russians. This was accompanied by a building boom, during which not only accommodation companies but also high-rise buildings with rental and owner-occupied apartments were built. A large group of Germans has also settled there.
Kızkalesi is located on the site of ancient Korykos . Most of the relics of the place are to the east of the area now inhabited. These include the ruins of numerous churches from the early Byzantine and Armenian times as well as three extensive necropolises with rock tombs and sarcophagi from both the Roman and Christian periods. Above all, the castle, also known as Korykos, and the girls' castle ( Kız Kalesi in Turkish ), the landmark of the place, on an offshore island have been preserved in the village. It takes its name from the legend that a local ruler brought her there after the prophecy that his daughter would die of a snakebite. The snake overtook them anyway over a food basket.
Attractions
In addition to the country castle, the girl's castle and the extensive ruins of Korykos, there are many attractions in the near and far. These include
- the Roman rock tombs Adamkayalar in the Devil's Gorge (Şeytan deresi)
- the ancient city of Kanytelleis (Kanlıdivane)
- Olba and Diokaisareia , today Uzuncaburç
- Elaiussa Sebaste , Akkale and Köşkerli
- Imbriogon , today Demircili
- the Koryk caves (Cennet ve Cehennem) , the church of Hasanaliler , the Roman domain Keşli , the castle of Mancınıkkale and the remains of a Roman manor near Gökburç north of Narlıkuyu
- the mosaic of the three graces in Narlıkuyu
- the relics of Byzantine settlements at Karakabaklı , Işıkkale and at the sinkhole Aşağı Dünya
- the remains of the ancient Korasion in Atakent (formerly Susanoğlu)
- also near Susanoğlu the ruins of Türkmenuşağı , Paslı , Tekkadın , Keşlitürkmenli and the Mezgit Kalesi mausoleum
- scattered necropolis and Byzantine churches in the vicinity as well as at Hıdırlı , Demirciören , Çatıören , Emirzeli , Cambazlı , Batısandal , Öküzlü , Hacıömerli , Yanıkhan and Kızılbağ
- the ancient towers of Sarayın , Gömeç , Akkum , Boyan , Gücük , Yeğenli and Hançerli
- the rock reliefs by Sömek , Efrenk and Sarıveliler
- the ancient fortifications of Meydancıkkale
- the Byzantine monastery complex Alahan Monastırı
- Citadel , cistern , temple , museum and the early Christian sanctuary Ayathekla in Silifke
