Photos of Silifke Castle
Silifke Castle
Silifke Castle in Mersin, Turkey
Silifke Castle rises on a hill to the west of the center of Silifke in Mersin province. From the upper platform you can see the city quarters and the southern part of the Goksu valley, the river that in antiquity was called the Calycadnus. The ruins are easy to recognize from various points in the city, and paths and stairways that skirt the slope lead up to them.
The hill was fortified in antiquity as the acropolis of Seleucia on the Calycadnus. The principal defensive walls visible today date to the Byzantine period. Later the fortifications were repeatedly rebuilt by the Crusaders and the rulers of Cilician Armenia, and from the 15th century the castle was under Ottoman rule.
The plan of the structure is oval: about 250 m long and about 75 m wide. A dry ditch surrounds the perimeter, and fragments of bastions and towers have survived in the walls. Originally there were 23 of them; about a third have survived to this day. Inside are traces of inner walls, passages, and stone cisterns for collecting rainwater.
Today the site is open to visitors, and archaeological research and restoration work are carried out here periodically. The castle is noteworthy in that it shows the development of fortifications on the site of the ancient acropolis and presents a major defensive strongpoint on the main route along the Goksu valley.
Show More
Show Less
Silifke Castle rises on a hill to the west of the center of Silifke in Mersin province. From the upper platform you can see the city quarters and the southern part of the Goksu valley, the river that in antiquity was called the Calycadnus. The ruins are easy to recognize from various points in the city, and paths and stairways that skirt the slope lead up to them.
The hill was fortified in antiquity as the acropolis of Seleucia on the Calycadnus. The principal defensive walls visible today date to the Byzantine period. Later the fortifications were repeatedly rebuilt by the Crusaders and the rulers of Cilician Armenia, and from the 15th century the castle was under Ottoman rule.
The plan of the structure is oval: about 250 m long and about 75 m wide. A dry ditch surrounds the perimeter, and fragments of bastions and towers have survived in the walls. Originally there were 23 of them; about a third have survived to this day. Inside are traces of inner walls, passages, and stone cisterns for collecting rainwater.
Today the site is open to visitors, and archaeological research and restoration work are carried out here periodically. The castle is noteworthy in that it shows the development of fortifications on the site of the ancient acropolis and presents a major defensive strongpoint on the main route along the Goksu valley.
From the castle's platforms there are views of the city and the Goksu River valley.
Medieval walls and towers above the Goksu valley
The ascent to the ruins begins at the foot of the hill; from there a path and stairways lead to the line of the outer walls. A dry ditch can be traced around the perimeter, and in places the foundations of towers and sections of masonry with different construction techniques are clearly visible, reflecting phases of rebuilding. Through the entrance openings you can go inside and walk around the platform along the surviving passages.
Inside the castle the foundations of rooms and several cisterns where rainwater was collected have been preserved. From natural ledges on the rampart there are viewpoints over the city and the course of the Goksu, making it easy to examine the layout of Silifke and the surrounding gardens in the valley. The surface is uneven in places, so sturdy footwear and an unhurried pace are advisable for a visit.
Not far away at the foot of the hill is a monumental 5th-century Byzantine cistern. In central Silifke you can also see the Roman stone bridge over the Goksu and the ruins of a Roman temple, and at the city museum explore the region's archaeological finds.
The easiest access is from the central districts of Silifke: it is convenient to walk to the start of the path, following the signs to the castle. You can also drive up along the road that climbs the hill on the western slope, then continue the visit on foot.
Popular Tours
Best tours and travel experiences across the continent
Guided tours, popular attractions, and top-rated hotels across the continent
