Kantelleis (Kanlidivane) Ancient City

Kantelleis can be reached by the 3 km. road northbound from Yemiskumu district 17 km. from Erdemli. To the right of this road are mausoleums. To the left a cylindrical epitaph can be seen. The city was built around and to the north of a pit. This pit, one of the biggest depressions resulting from a karstic event common in the Taurus Mountains, has been seen as sacred from the early ages on. This understanding has continued throughout Christianity is evidenced by the four churches dating from the Byzantine era. The inside of the pit is covered with greenery.

Some remains have fallen from above. On the southern side at the end of the road there is a squareshaped tower built in the polygonal masonry style that is dated back to the Hellenistic era. Two stairways carved out of the rock projecting at the north end of the pit can be seen. One of the stairways leads to the cavern on the western side. The other, sometimes inside a tunnel and at other times in the open, leads to church IV, the most significant building of the settlement. On the western side of the pit are the remains of church I and II. The eastern facade of church I to the southwest of the pit remains intact and its columns are in the Corinthian style. Church II is to the north of church I and a cistern is located in the upper part. The southern walls of church III in the northwest corner of the pit are in ruins. The entry and the vault of the cellar in front of the three-arched narthex is visible. The western side opens to the patio through three arches with two columns each. Located around it is an atrium. That there used to be a wooden level over the narthex can be deduced from the row of stone chests lined on the western wall of the church. The epitaph on the lento indicates that a person by the name of Papylos has had the church built as a votive. There are no remains of church V, which is said to be built in this spot.

The necropolis of Kantelleis is divided into three sections. The first one is on both sides of the road coming up. There is a simple mausoleum structure here. The second necropolis area is to the west of the big depression. The third section begins around the great mausoleum on the highest point of the settlement and spreads densely toward the east. Almost all of the tombstones are sarcophagi. Among them is a mausoleum with three columns.

In the western necropolis (also known as the Canakli Rock Tombs) at Kanlidivane, sarcophagi exist side by side with tombs engraved in rocks. There are male and female figures in relief on the headwalls of the tombs with covers. Two of the male figures are in military garb. The female figure is reclining. Additionally there are three small carved niches in the shape of shrine facades.

Mersin Civic Centre

The civic centre institution was inaugurated in 1932 by the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk for the cultural development of the public. At its zenith, there were 383 civic centres across Turkey, and the centre as an institution was a part of the Republican People’s Party, the single party of the era. When Tevfik Sirri Gur was appointed as governor to Mersin, one of his projects was to construct a modern civic centre. The centre is the brainchild of Governor Gur, from its architecture right down to its construction costs.

The Mersin Civic Centre was inaugurated on Republic Day, October 29th, 1946. Each floor covers an area of 4800 square metres. Its mobile stage was the most advanced performng arts venue of Turkey at the time. The large hall hosted balls and wedding parties, while committees occupied small rooms for their work. The Centre’s inaugural performances were Puccini’s Madame Butterfly and La Boheme.

After the abolishment of the civic centre institution in 1951, the building was occupied by the Institute for Girls and the Public Education Directorate. The building was turned over to the Ministry of Culture in 1977.

The building was left in a dilapidated state until 1989, when the will of the denizens of Mersin rescued the structure. Hanri Atat, Irfan Solmazer, Kudret Unal and Semihi Vural pioneered the renovation of the building in 1989, founded the Mersin Civic Centre Association, and reopened the building in 1991 with the assistance of the denizens of Mersin, and the support of the former Secretary of Culture, Fikri Saglar. The inaugural performance was Madame Butterfly, similar to the initial opening. The building is currently a section of the State Opera and Ballet and the Directorate of Culture.

Monument and Museum of St Paul

St Paul was born in Tarsus in the first quarter of the first century. He completed his foundational education in Tarsus, and developed his ideas in Jerusalem. He accepted Christianity in Jerusalem, and travelled through most of the lands of the Roman Empire to help spread the faith. Known as the founder of the church institution, St Paul has many churches named after him from the 5th and 6th centuries onwards. The oldest church built in the name of St Paul is the Church of St Paul in Tarsus.

The Church of St Paul sits on an area of 460 square metres, and is surrounded by stone walls. Entrance to the church garden is from the monumental gate to the north. The iron gate has two wings decorated with various motifs. The well is to the right of the main gate. West of the well is a side gate that opens to the garden. The portico and the garden of the church are covered with limestone. The church has a rectangular structure, and has a vaulted portico to the west. Access to the church is through a two winged, arched door located in the portico. The central nave is vaulted and has a width of 12.60 metres. At the centre of the vault are Jesus in the middle, John and Matthew to the east, and Mark and Luke to the west. There are no decorative motifs. To the west and above the main access door is a wooden mezzanine supported by two wooden columns. The facade of this mezzanine overlooking the central nave has landscape paintings. The mezzanine is accessible by stone stairs outside the church. The bell tower is to the northeast of the church.

Although the initial construction date of the church is not certain, it is evident that the structure has been undergoing repairs since the 12th century AD. The church was abandoned in 1923, and was left unoccupied for a long time. The building was reopened as the Monumental Museum of St Paul in 1996. A renovation project was prepared by the Ministry of Culture in 1997, and work was initiated. Meanwhile, 8 neighbouring plots were expropriated and included in the renovation project. Renovation was completed during the 2000-2001 season.

Uzuncaburc

The first Turkish settlers to arrive at Diokaisareia in the 11th century name this place “Uzuncaburc” (“The Tall Bastion”) after the Hellenistic tower. The city has been the seat of the Olba Dynasty throne during the Hellenistic and Roman eras. However, in the Middle Ages, from the 8th century onwards, the city of Diokaisareia (the modern Uzuncaburc), also known as Olba, and the “real” Olba to its east are different cities. The city’s name is derived from “the land of the Caesar”, and was used in official documents for centuries.
 

The Executive Board of the Mersin International Music Festival reserves the right to make changes to event dates, artists and locations.