Silifke Castle is currently under renovation, but the landmark is expected to attract many tourists and highlight the history of the region when it opens for business.
The historic Silifke Castle in the Mersin province district of the same name is undergoing extensive restoration that will boost tourism once completed.
There have been settlements in this province since the Roman period. In the following years, the castle was one of the most important landmarks of the Ottoman Empire after the conquest of Cyprus. In addition to the extensive restorations carried out on the castle, it has also been the site of archaeological excavations since 2011, in which traces of the Roman, Byzantine, Karamanid and Ottoman periods have been discovered.
The excavations in the historical castle are led by Professor Ali Boran from Selcuk University (SU) with a team of 15 people. Previous works revealed the external texture of the castle façade, this year excavations were carried out in areas called "hisarpeçe" between the ditches and the city walls. The findings discovered during the excavations in the castle were taken to the Museum Directorate for registration, where they are to be exhibited after cleaning. In addition to the archaeological excavations, the restoration of Silifke Castle ensures that it will still be standing for future generations. The restoration is carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mersin Governorate, with priority given to the castle walls.
