 |
Kizkalesi
is a lovely holiday resort built on the ancient site of Korykos. Fine sandy beaches make it ideal for families, couples and single vacationers. In Turkish, Kizkalesi means Maiden's Castle and the name is derived from an old Turkish folk tale. This castle stands on a tiny island 200 meters offshore while another land castle greets you at the entrance of the town. |
| The
Story of Kizkalesi Legend has it that once there was a king who had a beautiful daughter. At her birth, the palace soothsayer predicted the princess would die from a snake bite on her sixteenth birthday. To shield his daughter from harm, the king built a castle for her on the little island. On her sixteenth birthday, the princess received a basket of fruit in which was hidden a snake. The prophecy was fullfilled when the snake bit the princess and she died. To this day, the castle is called Maiden's Castle or Kizkalesi. |
 |
| The
area abounds with archaeological sites. 5 km from Kizkalesi is the fishing village of Narlikuyu which boasts many fine seafood restaurants as well as a small museum housing a Roman mosaic of the Three Graces. A short distance away are the chasms of Cennet-Cehennem (Heaven and Hell) and the Wishing Cave full of stalagmites and stalactites. In the cave called Heaven, the ruins of a fifth century chapel can be visited. |
 |
 |
7 km up in the hills beyond Kizkalesi is the site of Adamkayalar which can be reached by road or on a climbing tour with guide. Here you will find well preserved tombs with stone relief's as well as a view down Devil's Valley to Kizkalesi and the Mediterranean Sea. |
 |
6 km east of Kizkalesi is Kanlidivane, ancient Kanytelis, which was a Greek priest kingdom that served Zeus Olbius. The site is built arond a deep chasm where in ancient times, criminals were supposed to have been kept. A polygonal watchtower is the only whitness of the greek era, but htere are temples and rock tombs with human relief's from the Roman and a well preserved preserved Byzantine church. |
| Rising
above Silifke is an impressive fortress castle and in the town temple
ruins and a cistern can be found. There is also an underground chapel
where the Holy Thekla lived. Nearby is a bird sanctuary on the delta of the Göksu river and further upstream is a monument to Frederick Barbarossa who drowned at the site during the Third Crusade. |
 |
| 25 km further along this road is the marvellous ruin of the montain monastery of Alahan which contains a well preserverved basilika and affords a beautiful view. |
 |
  |
About
60 km northeast of Silifke will bring you to Uzuncaburc or ancient Diokaisarea.
On the way you can visit the marvellous tempel tombs of Demircili |
design & maintenance Ushi Raeder |