Being an important commercial town and harbor, Corycus was an ancient city in Cilicia Trachea. Corycus was also a center of minting coinage. Recent excavations still discover coins survived from antiquity.
The Maiden’s Castle
Corycus is best known today for its two castles. On the shore stands the land castle, built by the Byzantines and later strengthened by the Armenian kings of Cilicia, with columns and stones of the ancient city in its walls. About 200 m offshore, on a small island, the Maiden’s Castle (Kızkalesi) seems to float on the sea.
According to the legend, a king was told that his beloved daughter would die from a snake bite, so he built this castle in the sea to protect her. But a snake, hidden in a basket of grapes, reached her all the same. You can swim, take a small boat or, on calm days, rent a canoe to reach the island.
Around Corycus
- The Corycian Caves (Heaven and Hell): two huge sinkholes a few kilometers inland, with a small Byzantine chapel at the bottom of “Heaven”, linked in antiquity to the myth of Zeus and the monster Typhon.
- Kanlıdivane (Kanytelis): an ancient city built around a deep chasm.
- Adamkayalar: Roman reliefs carved into a cliff above a gorge.
Corycus lies on the coast between Silifke and Mersin, and it is a wonderful stop between Anamur and Tarsus; see the Mediterranean region.
What our guests say
We had an absolutely amazing time on our trip and it was mostly thanks to you and all of your advice, coordination, help, etc.
The best decision we made was to entrust Travel Atelier with our travel plans. … Using Travel Atelier made this trip completely stress-free. I give them my very highest recommendation.
Every tour guide, every driver, every transfer arrangement, every itinerary, every hotel… everything was perfect. We couldn't have asked for a better first visit to Turkey.
Travel with a local team
Plan your journey with us
Tell us your dates and what you love. Your advisor replies within 24 hours with a first itinerary and a clear price.