Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Adana (Turkey). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Sabancı Central Mosque, Ramazanoglu Mosque, and Merkez Park. Also, be sure to include Adana Sinema Müzesi in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Adana (Adana).
Table of Contents
Sabancı Central Mosque
Also known as: Sabancı Merkez Camii
Grand riverside mosque with 6 minarets. Sabancı Merkez Camii in Adana is the second largest mosque in Turkey. The exterior of the mosque is similar to the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, though it has six minarets, similar to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul.
The mosque, which went into service in 1998, was constructed upon a confiscated Armenian cemetery. It is built on a total of 52,600 square metres (566,000 square feet) of land and has a closed area of 6,600 square metres (71,000 square feet).
Sabancı Central Mosque was built jointly by Turkish Religious Foundation and Sabanci Foundation. The proprietorship of the mosque belongs to Adana Religious Affairs Foundation and its usage rights have been transferred to Adana Provincial Office of Mufti.[1]
Address: Reşatbey Mh. Girne Blv., 01120 Seyhan
Ramazanoglu Mosque
Also known as: Adana Ulu Camii
Mosque in Adana, Turkey. Ulu Cami, is a 16th-century mosque in Adana, Turkey. It forms part of a complex that includes a madrasah and a mausoleum. The buildings are on Kızılay street, next to the Ramazanoğlu Hall.[2]
Address: Ulucami Mh. Kızılay Cd. 25005. Sk, 01010 Seyhan
Merkez Park
Park in Adana, Turkey. Merkez Park is a 33-hectare urban park that is located on both banks of the Seyhan River in Adana. The larger portion of the park, 30 hectares, is on the west bank.
Merkez Park starts just north of Sabancı Mosque and extends north to Galleria Shopping Mall. On the west of the park there is Fuzuli Street. On the east bank, the park starts north of the Sheraton Hotel (under construction) and extends north to the Acqualand Entertainment Center. On the east, the park is bordered with Hacı Sabancı Boulevard. Sinanpaşa and Yavuzlar footbridges connect both sections of the park.[3]
Adana Sinema Müzesi
Museum in Adana, Turkey. Adana Cinema Museum is a museum in Adana, Turkey dedicated to the cinema of Turkey, in particular in relation with directors, actors and producers native to the city. Established in 2011 in a renewed old Adana house, the museum is situated on the west side of Seyhan River.
The ground floor of the museum is reserved for the movie posters. At least one name in each poster belongs to a citizen of Adana.
In the first floor, there is a room exhibiting the photos, movie posters and belongings of the renowned Turkish actor Yılmaz Güney. There are life-size figures of Yılmaz Güney, painter Abidin Dino and author Orhan Kemal. Photos and artifacts on display of other well-known people from Adana associated with cinema are writer Yaşar Kemal, actor Şener Şen and his father actor Ali Şen, Muzaffer İzgü, Ali Özgentürk, Orhan Duru, Aytaç Arman, Bilal İnci, Meral Zeren, Menderes Samancılar, Nurhan Tekerek and Mahmut Hekimoğlu. There is also a library in the museum.[4]
Atatürk Museum
Also known as: Adana Atatürk Evi Müzesi
Museum in Adana, Turkey. Atatürk Museum exhibits War of Independence and the first years of Republic at the mansion, Atatürk stayed during his trips to Adana. Overlooking to the Seyhan River, the museum is located on Seyhan Street and it is open to public every day except Mondays. Atatürk's visit to Adana is officially celebrated in this building every year on 15 March.[5]
Address: Kayalıbağ Mh. Seyhan Cd., 01010 Adana
Yağ Cami
Mosque in Adana, Turkey. Yağ Cami is a historical mosque located in the old town of Adana, Turkey. The mosque is originally built as the St. Jacob Church in around 1250 AD and converted into a mosque in c.1380 by the Ramazanoğlu Bey Şihabeddin Ahmed, just after taking over the city from the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. It is the oldest mosque in the city and later on formed part of the külliye that also includes a madrasah.[6]
Address: Alidede Mh. Ali Münif Yeğenağa Cd. 29006. Sk, 01020 Adana
Taşköprü
Stone bridge built by the Romans. Taşköprü, historically known as Ponte Sarus, is a Roman bridge spanning the Seyhan River in Adana that was probably built in the first half of the second century AD. The bridge was a key link in ancient trade routes from the Mediterranean Sea to Anatolia and Persia. Until its closure in 2007, it was one of the oldest bridges in the world open to motorized vehicles. Since 2007 it has only carried foot traffic, and now hosts social and cultural events.
Among the names used for the bridge during its history are the Saros Bridge, the Bridge of Justinian, the al-Walid Bridge and Taşköprü ("Stone Bridge" in Turkish).[7]
Saint Paul Church
Also known as: Bebekli Kilise
Catholic church in Adana, Turkey. St. Paul Church, alternatively known as the Bebekli Kilise, is a Roman Catholic Church in Adana. The church was built as an Armenian Apostolic Church in 1870, and handed over to the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia in 1915, after the Ottoman deportation of the city's large Armenian community over the course of Armenian genocide. St. Paul Church is located close to the 5 Ocak Square, off the Cemal Gürsel Street. The 2.5 meter high bronze statue of Mary resembled a baby to the people walking by and the church became known as the "Church with Baby".
The church currently serves to the Catholic and the Orthodox Community of Adana. The garden of the church is converted into a car parking to raise income for the church.[8]
Büyük Saat
Historical landmark in Adana, Turkey. Büyük Saat is a historical clock tower in Adana, rising 32 m high. The tower symbolizes the modernization of the city, which lasted from 1863 to the Adana massacre. During this period many Ottoman and European businesses, moved to the city for the exploding cotton trade. The tower was constructed by the mayor Kirkor Bezdikyan on the main street who was credit for starting the first modern municipal governance. Bezdikyan was also the architect of the tower together with another Armenian architect Kasbar Agha Bezdikyan.[9]
Address: Adana, Alimünif Caddesi
Sabancı Cultural Center
Theatre in Adana, Turkey. Hacı Ömer Sabancı Cultural Center is a complex in Adana that is composed of a theatre hall, public library, fine arts gallery and an exhibition hall. It has been established on an area of 1.5 hectare, located at the west end of the Seyhan Bridge across the Sabancı Mosque.[10]
Address: Adana, Fuzuli Caddesi No:2
Adana Archaeology Museum
Also known as: Adana Arkeoloji Müzesi
Museum in Adana, Turkey. Adana Archaeology Museum is a museum in Adana that houses the historical heritage of Cilicia. It is one of the oldest archaeological museums in Turkey.[11]