When you come to a big city, you start to feel the hustle and bustle, try to keep up with the rhythm, view attractions in a hurry. In small cities, it is vice versa: you want to take a slow walk along narrow streets, look at castle ruins, taste delicious candies and drink strong and aromatic coffee in cafés.

There is such a city not far from Adana. Tarsus is a city full of attractions. The main aim of tourists who come there are not museums, statues, markets and walks across narrow streets, but lokum, which is a traditional Turkish dessert. They say that the lokum from this place is special and extremely delicious. You should taste it. But it is better not to buy it in tourist shops. You should go buy it in the places, where locals have their dinners.

After you try the candy and start to feel energized, you should go for a walk across the city. Tarsus is one of the most ancient cities in Turkey. The first mention of it appeared in 2500 BC. So Tarsus really has the spirit of the past.

The city has passed through many changes since its foundation. It was destroyed, restored, demolished and restored again. So most of its attractions are still buried under residential areas. You better think twice before kicking some stone as it may be a part of an ancient temple.

Another attraction that attracts tourists to Tarsus is the Cleopatra’s Gate. Long ago, it was located on the seashore, the queen of Egypt used to enter the city through it to see Marcus Antonius Antyllus. The gate looked more majestic at that time. Nowadays, the Cleopatra’s Gate is a small arch eight meters high.

Not far from the gate, there is a district that was excavated by archeologists. They found a whole antique street with buildings foundations, columns, a part of a Roman house colonnade, mosaic and black basalt lining the street. These objects were made more than 2000 years ago.