Honer Nazhat, Trip to Silifke Castle, Mersin - Turkey
Silifke Kalesi (Castle)
Geography
The castle is in Silifke district of Mersin Province. It is situated to
the west of Silifke city center, to the south of Göksu River.
Although its altitude is only 160 m with respect to sea level, it is
dominant over Silifke plains and the southern section of Göksu
valley.
History
Silifke was an important city in antiquity. Few traces of the 3rd-
century-B.C. settlement survive. There are fragments of a late
Roman theater, necropolis, bath, 2nd-century temple, as well as a
5th-century Byzantines cistern. The 1st-century-A.D. stone bridge
built during the reign of Emperor Vespasian was replaced in the
1870s.
In the late 7th century, to counter Arab invasions, the Byzantines
fortified the acropolis, which is situated above the Calycadnus
River. The site had a weapons factory and was the administrative
center for the coastal theme. In the late-1180s the Rubenid Baron
Leo II, who became a decade later Leo I, King of Armenian Cilicia,
captured the town and fortress. On route to the Third
CrusadeFrederick I, Holy Roman Emperor camped here in 1190,
but unfortunately drowned in the river.
In exchange for money and cavalry support King Leo granted the
castle in 1210 to the Knights Hospitaller who were to defend the
western border of his kingdom from the Seljuk Turks. According
to a survey published in 1987, most of the present castle is a
Crusader construction.
On the death of King Leo in 1219 his daughter and designated
heiress Zapēl, (also known as Isabella, Queen of Armenian
Cilicia), was contracted to marry Philip, the son of Bohemond IV of
Antioch. After various disputes with the Armenian barons Philip
died by poison in 1226. Zapēl and her mother took refuge in
Silifke.
When the Armenian army arrived, the Franks surrendered the
castle. A fragmentary Armenian inscription in the castle may
record its repair or enlargement in 1236. In 1248 the castle may
have briefly had a Frankish commander, named Guiscard.
Details
The castle has an oval-shaped plan. The length from west to east
is about 250 m and the width is about 75 m It is surrounded by a
dry moat. According to the 17th-century Turkish traveler, Evliya
Çelebi, there were 23 towers, 60 houses and a mosque in the
castle. Presently, 10 towers survive, many of which have surviving
vaulted ceilings. An equal number of finely crafted under-crofts
are preserved, some with pointed vaults. Most of the exterior
facing stones consist of well-drafted ashlar blocks.
Before the Flood: The Göksu River Valley
What happens when development threatens culture, when progress destroys heritage? Dr Naoíse Mac Sweeney, Associate Professor of Ancient History at the University of Leicester (UK), and Dr Tevfik Emre Şerifoğlu, Assistant Professor of Archaeology at the University of Bitlis (Turkey), are working together to document disappearing cultural heritage in Turkey.
The Göksu River Valley in southern Turkey is rich in archaeological and cultural heritage. The construction of a new hydroelectric dam at Kayraktepe is set to flood the valley, submerging the landscape beneath the waters of the dam lake.
Drs Mac Sweeney and Şerifoğlu are caught in a race against time to document the unique and fascinating heritage of this region before the flood, working to preserve records of it for posterity. This short film explores their work, and the perspectives of local people faced with the loss of traditional lifestyles and intangible heritage.
[Wikipedia] Taşucu Seka Harbor
Taşucu Seka Harbor is a harbor in Turkey. Taşucu is a town in Silifke ilçe (district) of Mersin Province. It is situated to the west of the Göksu River (Calydanus of the antiquity) and it is the main port of the settlements in the Göksu River valley.
Cappadocia Tours - www.travellineturkey.com.wmv
Our outing to the Black Sea starts with a hotel pick up and drive through Europe to Asia by the second Bosphorus Bridge, all the way to Sile.
Sile has been a fishing village here since 700BC and a lighthouse since the Ottoman period. Today, Sile is a beach resort popular with people who want a resort atmosphere without having to go to the expense of travelling to the Mediterranean Sea. The 150 Years old Sile lighthouse is the largest one in Turkey and second largest of the world a definite must seen.
Once we left Sile back and head to Agva, we pass through the traditional Black sea villages where you feel yourself far away from the crowd of Istanbul. The picturesque way alon g these villages reaches soon to agva which means the land between two rivers.
Agva is another important spot of the Black Sea coastline, a world paradise in which nature shows all its talents... Upon arrival we will have a boat ride down the Goksu River while your lunch is going to be prepared on a nice river side restaurant. After the lunch you may either relax along the river or freshen up on one of the most exciting beach of whole Turkey where the pine trees meet crystal clear water of the Black Sea. It's time to forget yourself, it's time to get lost in nature.
You will have a chance to see a real Sile Bezi collection on our way to ıstanbul before the twilight fell.
travellineturley.com
pariseucakbileti.net
Turkey Rafting
Muitos esportes rádicais são praticados no páis, um dels é o rafting que pode ser praticado nos rios Çoruh, Barhal, Berta, Firtina, Çolakli, Kö prüçay, Manavgat, Dragon, Göksu (Silifke), Göksu (Feke), Zamanti, Kizilirmak e Dalaman Çayi.
TAURUS MOUNTAIN HIKE
September 19, 2009
Turkey vultures soaring over the Morro Bay sand spit
A flock of turkey vultures soaring over the Morro Bay sand spit dunes with the Pacific Ocean and Morro Rock in the distance as seen from the Pecho Trail off Pecho Road about half a mile past the end of Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos, CA.. [Video: Abe Perlstein]