Discover 15 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Mersin (Turkey). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Mersin Museum, Muğdat Mosque, and Atatürk Park. Also, be sure to include Mersin Aquapark in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Mersin (Mersin).
Table of Contents
Mersin Museum
Museum in Mersin, Turkey. Mersin Museum is the main museum of Mersin, Turkey. It is operated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. However after establishing a new museum, i.e. Mersin Archaeological Museum most of the exhibits were moved to the new museum.[1]
Muğdat Mosque
Mosque in Mersin, Turkey. Muğdat Mosque is a large mosque in Mersin, Turkey. It is named after Miqdad ibn Aswad, one of the early Muslims.[2]
Address: Gazi Mahallesi, Aliye Pozcu Cami, 33130 Yenişehir
Atatürk Park
Park in Mersin, Turkey. Atatürk Park is a public park in Mersin, Turkey.[3]
Mersin Aquapark
Mersin Aquapark is a waterpark in Mersin, Turkey[4]
Address: Mersin, Çamlıbel, Mersin
Mersin Atatürk Museum
Museum. The Atatürk Museum in Mersin is a two-storey house in Mersin, which hosted the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and his wife in 1925.[5]
Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua
Also known as: Sent Antuan Latin Katolik Kilisesi
The Co-Cathedral of St. Anthony of Padua also St. Anthony Latin Catholic Church of Mersin is a church in Mersin, Turkey. Is a Co-Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of Anatolia.
It is in the business quarters of the city at 36°48′04″N 34°38′02″E. At the beginning of the 19th century Mersin was a small village and the Christian population of the region was concentrated in nearby Tarsus (birthplace of St Paul). But towards the mid 19th century, Mersin flourished as a port of Çukurova (Cilicia). Meanwhile because of Druze-Christian disturbances in Lebanon, many Christians migrated to Mersin. Also at this time the French consulate moved from Tarsus to Mersin and with it went most of the Catholic population of Tarsus. With every passing day, Mersin became more important and in 1853 it was decided that a church should be built in Mersin. In May 1854 Peder Antonio moved from Tarsus to Mersin.
On 18 September 1855, the Ottoman sultan Abdulmejid I gave the firman (decree) to build a church. The church and an accompanying school under the direction of Capucine friars continued up to the World War I in which both Italy and France were opposers of Turkey. After a temporary halt during the war, the school reopened at the conclusion of the war. But it was closed in 1923 and the buildings were transferred to public authorities. (See Mersin Üçocak İlkokulu) The church is still active.[6]
Address: Uray Caddesi, Mersin
Mersin Urban History Museum
Museum. Mersin Urban History Museum is a private museum in Mersin, Turkey.[7]
Yumuktepe
Historical place in Mersin, Turkey. Yumuktepe is a tell at 36°48′5″N 34°36′14″E within the city borders of Mersin, Turkey. In 1936, the mound was on the outskirts of Mersin, but after a rapid increase of population, the mound was surrounded by the Toroslar municipality of Mersin.[8]
Tırmıl
Tumulus. Tırmıl is a tumulus in Mersin, Turkey.[9]
Port of Mersin
Also known as: Mersin Limanı
The Port of Mersin, is a major seaport located on the north-eastern coast of Mediterranean Sea in Mersin, southern Turkey. As one of the largest harbors in the country, it is Turkey's main gateway to the Mediterranean Sea. It was constructed during the 1950s as a major government project. It is the country's second largest port after Ambarli, near Istanbul. Owned by the Turkish State Railways, its operating right is transferred on May 11, 2007 to PSA – Akfen consortium for a period of 36 years.[10]
Address: Liman kapısı, Mersin
Mersin State Art and Sculpture Museum
Museum. Mersin State Art and Sculpture Museum is a museum in Mersin, Turkey. The museum is in the centrum at 36°47′56″N 34°37′47″E. It is in a neighborhood known for galleries and Art Club of İçel.
The construction date of the building is not known. Probably it was an inn for the villagers in the early days of Mersin. There were stables in the ground floor. Later it was converted to a hotel and was purchased by a family from Gülnar ilçe. They named the hotel Gülnar Oteli. During the age of modern hotels, Hotel Gülnar was closed and was left alone for about twenty years. With the support of İstemihan Talay, the minister of Culture between 1997-1999, the building was acquired by the government. Following a restoration project, in 2002, it was opened as a state art and sculpture museum. The ground floor is the gallery and the upper floor is reserved for the office and the meeting room.
The construction material of the two storey building is cut stone. Corbels were made by lath and plaster method.[11]
Mersin Orthodox Church
Mersin Orthodox Church is a church in Mersin, Turkey.[12]
Mersin Old Mosque
Mosque. Old Mosque is mosque in Mersin, Turkey.[13]
Mersin Marina
Marina in Mersin, Turkey. Mersin Marina is a marina at the eastern Mediterranean Sea coast situated in Mersin, Turkey[14]
Mersin Martyrs' Memorial
Mersin Martyrs' Memorial, also known as the Monument of the Refah Martyrs is a monument in Mersin, Turkey.[15]