While it may not sound like much of a crowd-pleaser, this museum near the landmark Muğdat Mosque has some fine exhibits (both display case and multimedia ones) tracing Turkey's presence on the seas, starting in the 11th century. Much is made of the 15th-century admiral and explorer Piri Reis as well as such familiar battles as Lepanto (1571), when the Spanish-led Holy League defeated the Ottomans, and Çanakkale (1915–16), better known to the rest of the world as the Battle of Gallipoli.
Mersin Naval Museum
Eastern Mediterranean
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
29.28 MILES
About 8.5km northeast of Kızkalesi at Kumkuyu is the 33-54, the road leading 3km to the ruins of Kanlıdivane, the ancient city of Kanytelis.
18.86 MILES
The compact Old City lies between Adana Bulvarı and Hal Caddesi. It includes a wonderful 60m-long stretch of Roman road and a labyrinth of alleyways…
0.09 MILES
This purpose-built museum, which opened in 2017, is one of the best in provincial Turkey and will help you to put much of what you've seen along the coast…
18.89 MILES
This old marketplace, whose name means `40 Spoons Bazaar' in Turkish, was built in 1597 and has also served as a soup kitchen, medrese (religious seminary…
18.91 MILES
In the neighbourhoods of Şehitkerim, Sofular and Kızılmurat you'll come across some lovely examples of historical Tarsus houses, one of which is now the…
18.89 MILES
South of the Old City, what is also called the St Paul Memorial Museum (St Paul Anıt Müzesi) was originally built in 1850 as a Greek Orthodox church to…
18.7 MILES
The Tarsus Museum, which was at the time of research in the process of moving from its former location in the city’s cultural centre to a disused…
18.56 MILES
Walk a kilometre southwest of the Old City along İsmet Paşa Bulvarı to get to the Roman Kancık Kapısı, literally the 'Slut's Gate', but better known as…
Nearby Eastern Mediterranean attractions
1. Mersin Archaeological Museum
0.09 MILES
This purpose-built museum, which opened in 2017, is one of the best in provincial Turkey and will help you to put much of what you've seen along the coast…
1.59 MILES
This walled 1852 church is still in use and has a lovely iconostasis. To gain entry, go to the west side of the church facing 4302 Sokak and ring the bell.
1.75 MILES
Along the pedestrianised section of Atatürk Caddesi is a museum in a beautiful six-room villa where Atatürk spent 11 days in October 1925. It's full of…
2.36 MILES
This functioning Roman Catholic church near the train station was built in 1853. Mass is said at 11am on Sunday year-round. On other days, it is at 6pm …
18.56 MILES
Walk a kilometre southwest of the Old City along İsmet Paşa Bulvarı to get to the Roman Kancık Kapısı, literally the 'Slut's Gate', but better known as…
18.7 MILES
The Tarsus Museum, which was at the time of research in the process of moving from its former location in the city’s cultural centre to a disused…
18.76 MILES
A wonderful 60m-long stretch of Roman road was uncovered in the heart of the Old City in 1993; note the herringbone design and the sewer system directly…
18.84 MILES
Just on the edge of the Old City is St Paul's well, where the holy man did slake his thirst some two millennia ago. In the leafy courtyard the ruins of…