Mersin Guide

This coast is inhabited since the 7th Millennium BC. Excavations by John Garstang of the hill of Yümüktepe have shown, 23 levels of the crew, the earliest dating from about 6300 BC. A fortress was up to about 4500 BC, but the site seems to have been abandoned between 3200 BC and 1200 BC.

Then the city was part of many countries and cultures, including the Hittites, Assyrians, Greeks, the Macedonians of Alexander the Great, Seleucids, Lagids. While the ancient Greek time, the city bore the name Zephyrion and was by many ancient authors. Apart from its natural harbour and its strategic position along the trade routes of southern Anatolia, the city profited from the trade in molybdenum (white lead) from the neighbouring mines Coreyra. Ancient sources attributed the best molybdenum in the city, which also marked his own coins.

Then the territory of the Roman province of Cilicia, which had its capital, while in Mersin, Tarsus near the main port. The city, whose name was Latinized to Zephyrium, was renamed Hadrianopolis for Emperor Hadrian.

The Roman Empire divided and this area fell in the second half was of Byzantium (later Constantinople), which became the centre of the trade in this part of the world, drawing investment and trade, and caused Mersin to lose their luster.

The city was soon Christianized, and was to see a bishop. Le Quien (Oriens Christ., II, 883) behalf of four bishops of Zephyrium: Aerius, on the Council of Constantinople in 381; Zenobius, Nestorian, in the Second Council of Constantinople in 432 - 434; Hypatius, to the Council of Chalcedon in 451, and Peter, at the Council meeting in Trullo in the 692nd The city remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church, Zephyriensis, which was shown vacant since 1966. [1]

Then came the Arabs, Egyptian Tulunids, Seljuk Turks, Mongols, Crusaders, Armenians, Mamluks, Anatolian beyliks, and finally the city was conquered by the Ottomans at the 1473rd

During the American Civil War, the region has become an important supplier of cotton to the high demand due to the shortage. Railroads have been extended to 1866 in Mersin, where cotton was exported by sea, and the city developed into an important commercial centre. By 1900 the Catholic Encyclopedia reports from the city of 14000 people, of which 3000 were from the ethnic Greeks, Armenians 1000 and 650 Roman Catholics, and the remaining approximately 10000 inhabitants were probably Muslim. The Roman Catholic parish of Mersin was Capuchin, there were Sisters of St. Joseph of the appearance; schools for boys and girls, and hospitals.

In Mersin 1918 was occupied by the French and British troops in accordance with the Treaty of Sevrès. It was released by the Turkish army in 1920. In 1924, Mersin, a province, and in 1933, İçel provinces of Mersin and were joined to the (larger Mersin) İçel province.

Until the 1970s Mersin had a population of 300000 and a stylish atmosphere, with cars parading under palm trees. The sea was all orchards of oranges and lemons, ideal for a quiet walk, and you could play on the beach. The heart of this tree-lined Bourgois, the establishment of confectioneries along Flamingo Yolu, a name that evokes nostalgia among those who lived through the 60s and 70s.

But the great expansion and migration from other parts of Turkey, especially further east in the 80s and 90s has completely changed. Now the sea is lined with huge concrete buildings there are no beaches, and the orange trees were dug. And further from the city, where there were one or two areas of the coast apartments now there are hundreds and hundreds. No one will ever know what archaeological treasures were drawn away from the bulldozers in the same time. This destruction has gone greedy and are still without effective control by local authorities, also has not succeeded in infrastructure (roads, sewerage, sewage treatment plants, etc.) to cope with the large population who came to the coast.

Mersin today

Today Mersin is a great city spreading out along the coast, with Turkey the second tallest skyscrapers, large hotels, an opera house, expensive real estate near the sea or up in the hills and many other modern urban amenities, although there is still nothing like the long-established culture and night life of Istanbul and Izmir, Mersin is a small and quiet place.

The community is now trying to save the sea with sidewalks, parks and statues, and there are still palms on the streets, where mainly the young generation to stop, as in the cafes and pastry shops of smart districts as Pozcu or Çamlıbel. It is established neighbourhoods, where many well-known shops and restaurants with long experience and reputation to protect. The center is a maze of narrow lanes and arcades of small shops and cafes, with young people around sums in scooters. The old town near the fish market to find the stalls sell tantuni liver and grilled sandwiches.

One of the most striking features of the city as a whole is the solar heating panels, they are everywhere, in every building.

Demography

Mersin experienced immigration from the south-east of the country during the 1980s and 1990s in a period of unrest in these areas. He now has a significant Kurdish community coexist with the Turkish majority. [2] [3] The city was in the centre of inter-ethnic clashes during the 2005 Newroz celebrations in which two Kurdish boys were arrested after a fire on Turkish flag in the streets. This sparked a huge response across the country, flags were on buildings, cars, anywhere culminated in a parade through the streets with a Turkish flag 1 km long. [4]
Kitchen

The local cuisine includes: Kebab course, but especially the hot sandwich of grilled meat wrapped in flat bread called tantuni the bumbar homemade sausage, carrot helva (cezerye); karsambaç (a kind of ice slush); kunefe a baked cheese pastry (known throughout south-east Turkey, including Mersin) and kerebiç, semolina porridge, especially in Ramadan, and many other local soups and stews. The traditional drink of this corner of Turkey, including Mersin, is şalgam suyu (the water used to pickle beets).

Economy

The port is the mainstay of the economy Mersin. There are 23 pillars, total port area of 786000 sq metres (194 hectares), with a capacity of 3800 vessels per year.

In addition to the harbour is Mersin Free Zone founded in 1986, the first free zone in Turkey, with warehouses, shops, assembly-disassembly, maintenance and engineering workshops, banking and insurance, packing packing, marking and exhibition facilities. The zone is a publicly owned center for foreign investors, in the vicinity of major markets in the (Middle East, North Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, Russia and Central Asia. The trade volume of free zone was USD 1.6 billion in 2002 .

Mersin has highway connections to the north and east, and is also on the southern railway. Adana airport is 69 km (43 miles).

60% of the male population and 16% of the female population is employed. Unemployment is at 22.7%

Mersin port is an international hub for many routes to European vessels countries.Its now PSA.

Mersin University

Mersin University was founded in 1992 and started teaching in 1993-1994, with 11 faculties, 6 schools and 9 vocational schools. The University has over 10 thousand graduates, extended his current teaching staff to more than 100 academics, registration and 18000 students.

Culture

Because the city was a crossroads for centuries the local culture is a medley of cultures. Mersin is a State Opera and Ballet, the fourth in Turkey after Istanbul, Izmir and Ankara. Mersin International Music Festival was founded in 2001 and is held every October. The association Mersin photography photographer Derneği (MFD), is one of the most popular and active cultural organizations in the city. It is a small museum in the city centre. The municipal cemetery is interesting how people of all faiths and denominations can be buried here.

To swim in clean water, you must get out of the city, perhaps one hour along the coast. The beach in Kızkalesi is popular with families, while young people prefer Akyar or quieter coves along the coast, some of which are in fact very attractive.