Tarsus Travel Guide

Located in Tekke, east of the medieval wall in Tarsus, the Roman temple was initially identified as the tomb of Sardanapalus, an Assyrian who was killed during the siege of Nineveh around 612 BC.

But this is actually a Roman temple dating to the second century AD.

Tarsus was the place where Mark Antony met Cleopatra in order to obtain money from Egypt.

Cleopatra came to Tarsus in a luxury ship and came through this gate in 41 B.C. on her way to meet Mark Antony.

The remains of Tarsus gate of Cleopatra, also called the "Sea Gate", are still standing today and have been significantly restored.

This church located in the center of Tarsus, called St. Paul church, is managed by Italian sisters from a Catholic order.

Unfortunately when I visited Tarsus I didn't know that the church is usually closed for visits, and can be opened for visits and the Mass based on a previous notification.

The picture is taken from a window of the church.

The St. Paul's well is located on the place where stood the house of the saint in the ancient town of Tarsus.

The legends say that St. Paul often drank from this well and it seems that the water has special curative properties.

Still, there is actually no evidence to confirm that the well was related to the saint, or this name was just put by the Byzantines interested to give biblical names to their pilgrimage places.

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During Winter time with in 30 kms you can enjoy sea shore and snow in Mersin. They are half an hour away of each other.

Favorite thing: Tarsus was the birthplace and the early residence of the apostle Paul, known then as Saul of Tarsus.

As a child, Paul was raised in Jerusalem and properly educated under the tutelage of Gamaliel, a member of the Sanhedrin.

Later on, St. Paul took refuge in Tarsus after his conversion.

Possibly this was the beginning of the Christian community of Tarsus, but there is not certain evidence of it.