Adana

Few cities can claim a résumé like Tarsus: birthplace of St. Paul, meeting place of Antony and Cleopatra, capital of Roman Cilicia, and a crossroads of civilizations for six millennia. The historic core, layered beneath the modern city’s bustle, offers a concentrated pilgrimage through antiquity and early Christianity. St. Paul’s Church, rebuilt in the 19th century over the traditional site of the apostle’s house, draws pilgrims to its vaulted nave and tranquil courtyard. A few minutes’ walk reveals Cleopatra’s Gate — the sole surviving Roman city gate — where the Egyptian queen is said to have entered in triumphal procession. The ancient Roman road, uncovered during municipal works, still bears the ruts of chariot wheels beneath a glass canopy. Nearby, the Tarsus Museum houses a superb collection of Hellenistic and Roman artifacts, including a striking statue of the god Hermes. Together, these sites distill the essence of a city that shaped both empire and faith.