Silifke is a city (population: about 65,000) in the region of Cilician Mountains, Southern Turkey. Although it appears by the shore on the maps, the city isn’t a coastal one, but it has suburbs by the shore.
- Ruins of the Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter (Roman equivalent of Greek Zeus) is standing right in the centre of the city. Later converted to a church, now there are only five columns standing. No admission fee, as there is no guard or a gate.
- Turquoise Göksu River, name of which means “celestial water” or “azure water” in Turkish, is bisecting the city with its wide, eucalyptus-lined bed. You can also check out still-intact Roman bridge spanning over the river in city centre. In ancient times this river was known as “Saleph River”. This is the river in which crusade leader/German king Frederick Barbarossa drowned in 1190 (the exact site of the event is in an upper location in Göksu valley, though).
- Archaeological Museum, simply named “Silifke Museum” and signed correspondingly (simply “Müze” both on the road signs and also on the facade of the building). Located on the highway to Antalya, not far from city centre.
Ruins of the Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter (Roman equivalent of Greek Zeus) is standing right in the centre of the city. Later converted to a church, now there are only five columns standing. No admission fee, as there is no guard or a gate.
Turquoise Göksu River, name of which means “celestial water” or “azure water” in Turkish, is bisecting the city with its wide, eucalyptus-lined bed. You can also check out still-intact Roman bridge spanning over the river in city centre. In ancient times this river was known as “Saleph River”. This is the river in which crusade leader/German king Frederick Barbarossa drowned in 1190 (the exact site of the event is in an upper location in Göksu valley, though).
Archaeological Museum, simply named “Silifke Museum” and signed correspondingly (simply “Müze” both on the road signs and also on the facade of the building). Located on the highway to Antalya, not far from city centre.
You can go birdwatching in the nearby Göksu Delta, where Göksu River empties into Mediterranean Sea. The delta is home to 106 species of birds of international importance, 12 of which are endangered species.
The telephone code for Silifke is 324.
Anamur, Alanya, and Manavgat on the road west to Antalya; Heaven and Hell caves (Cennet-Cehennem), Maiden’s Castle (Kızkalesi), Mersin, and Tarsus on the road east to Adana; Konya on the road north; Northern Cyprus to the south (via Tasucu harbour).