Leaving the pier at Alanya, you drive up the hill to the crenellated Fortress, which encloses a citadel within its walls. It was built by the Seljuk Sultan Aladdin Keykubat in the 13 th century. Inside, you'll see all that remains of his palace. A Byzantine chapel, and Adam Atacagi, an invention which very neatly solved the problem of overcrowding in the Seljuk prisons: it's merely the spot from which of - fenders were tossed out into the sea. Your next stop will be the Museum down in Alanya itself, where archaeological finds and treasures of Turkish Islamic art are displayed. You then drive to Damlatas Cave, hung with amazing stalactites. The cave is renowned for its healing properties which result from its humidity, radioactivity and ionisation apparent most beneficial to people suffering from non-allergic asthma. Your last stop will be the Red Tower, a prominent Seljuk monument down by the port. You may walk back to the ship from here.

Leaving from Alanya port, you will then drive on to Side, a seaside village amid the ruins of a great Roman city, before driving to Aspendos. Being the best preserved theatre in the world, Aspendos theatre was built in the 2nd century BC, by the roman emperor Marcus Aurelius and is known one of the three ancient theatres in the world with the best acoustics. The acoustics are so fine that performances are put on here without amplifier or microphones. Turkey's most outstanding acting groups perform ancient Greek plays during Drama Festival in early October. After lunch your last stop will be Perge, a city founded in the period of Greek immigration under the seers Kalchas and Mopsos after the Trojan War. Historically Perge is first mentioned in reports of alexander the Great's campaigns. The popularity of Artemis of Perge made her the dominant motif of coins and in art. Even in the Christian period the people of Perge continued to worship their Artemis, though now as the Virgin Mary, and saw their Apollo in Christ. Perge was one of the first cities to be converted to Christianity, which was certainly not unconnected with its famous cult of Artemis. On their first visit in AD Paul and Barnabas were taken for Hermes and Zeus, and hospitably received as such. well before the coming of Alexander the Great in 333 BC. . Here too the magnificent, 15,000-seat Roman theatre can not fail to impress you. Lunch will be served at a restaurant on the coast.

Leave the littleknown and unspoilt port of Tasucu to the direction of Uzuncaburc, which contains the ruins of of the old Olba Diocaisareia, numbered among the best preserved ancient sites in Turkey and mostly go back to the 2nd BC. It was from here, that the Dynasty of Teucrid Priests ruled Western Cilicia until Vespasians integrated the area into the Roman Province of Cilicia. You will see the Temple of Zeus-Olbius. This large building was probably erected under Seleukos I Nikator in the eraly 3rd century BC. It was converted into a church in Christian times by removing the cella (formerly dedicated to Zeus, the father of the Gods), building walls between the surrounding columns, and addidng an apse. Further you will see the theatre, the Temple of Tyche with Coryntian capitals and the Town Gate. On the way back you will make a short stop to Heaven and Hell, reputed that you can hear the Stream of Paradise flowing by. Return to the little port of Tasucu.

Leave the port of Mersin, the Industry city of Mediterranean and drive to the direction of Uzuncaburc, which contains the ruins of of the old Olba Diocaisareia, numbered among the best preserved ancient sites in Turkey and mostly go back to the 2nd BC. It was from here, that the Dynasty of Teucrid Priests ruled Western Cilicia until Vespasians integrated the area into the Roman Province of Cilicia. You will see the Temple of Zeus-Olbius. This large building was probably erected under Seleukos I Nikator in the eraly 3rd century BC. It was converted into a church in Christian times by removing the cella (formerly dedicated to Zeus, the father of the Gods), building walls between the surrounding columns, and addidng an apse. Further you will see the theatre, the Temple of Tyche with Coryntian capitals and the Town Gate. On the way back you will make a short stop to Heaven and Hell, reputed that you can hear the Stream of Paradise flowing by. Lunch will be taken at a sea side restaurant and then proceed to the ruins of Korykos, which was famous for the cultivation of saffron, and the present name probably comes from the Greek "krokos", the word for saffron. The last visit is Kanlidivane, the ancient Kannytelis, of which ruins of various buildings including two basilicas and a necropolis have survived. Return to the port of Mersin.