Mersin
Huge green areas of parkland, modern hotels and the shade of the tree covered promenades. This is the picturesque scene in the centre of Mersin, which is surrounded by fruit and vegetable plantations. As one of the Turkish pearls of the eastern Mediterranean, Mersin offers a pleasant atmosphere. Because of its mild, sunny winters and modern hotels, Mersin has become a famous holiday resort during the last few years.
Mersin still is the most important free-trade area in the Turkish part of the Mediterranean and is developing quickly. Even so it shows a very modern city landscape but with lots of ancient treasures: On Yumuktepe Mountain, about three kilometres to the west of Mersin, they have found remains of settlements dating back to the Neolithic times.
The position of Mersin on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean has led to the development of many routes starting from here and going to Antakia (Antioch) and into the Taurus Mountains. Important trade centres close to Mersin are Tersus and Adana.