Kizkalesi, Turkey

Kizkalesi means "Maiden's Castle," the romantic name for the crusader castle floating in the blue water 150 meters offshore from this eastern Mediterranean beach resort town.

On the shore at the eastern end of the fine beach is another castle, Korykos, making Kizkalesi (KUHZ kah-leh-see) a two-castle town.

Why stop here? To take photos of the castles and, if you're intrepid and a strong swimmer, to swim out to the Kiz Kalesi on the island. If you're not intrepid, small cruise boats will take you out there, you can paddle yourself in a paddleboat, or you can even fly over it by parasail.

Dozens of hotels and pensions provide beds, making this a charming place to spend the night if you're traveling along the coast. It's generally cheaper and far more relaxing than the cities (Silifke, Mersin, Tarsus, Adana).

I stayed quite happily at the Rain Hotel (tel +90 (324) 523 2782), a simple but pleasant and clean three-star only a half-block from the beach.

Kizkalesi also makes a good base for visits to the Roman ruins of Elaiussa-Sebaste, the Roman-Byzantine necropolis at Kanytelis, inland from the coastal village of Kumkuyu, the extensive Roman-Byzantine ruins at Kanlidivane, and the impressive caverns of Heaven and Hell (Cennet ve Cehennem).

At Narlikuyu, a few kilometers west of Kizkalesi, are numerous waterfront seafood restaurants just right for a pleasant evenings dining and conversation. Roman mosaics are preserved here in a small museum.

Adana

Anamur

Heaven-Hell Caves

Kanlidivane

Elaiussa-Sebaste

Mersin

Silifke

Tarsus

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Above, the Maiden's Castle (Kizkalesi) and beach on the blue Mediterranean....
Below, Korykos, the other, onshore castle at the eastern end of the beach.