Turkey. Adana: landmarks, hotels, reviews of tourists

Speaking about vacation in Turkey, we most often mean such resorts as Antalya, Alanya, Belek, Marmaris, etc. However, near the southern coast of the country there are many resort towns with a rich historical past and cultural present, for example, Adana (Turkey). In Europe, this city is known for its interesting and diverse cultural life. Every year, international film and theater festivals take place here, for example, the Altın Koza International Film Festival, which has been held since the late 60s of the last century. Also, concert tours of stars of the classical genre and world variety, frequent large-scale events are frequent.

Adana is not a sea resort, so it is often not interesting for beach lovers. However, from here to the coast is only 50 km. And guests of the city, after exploring all the sights of Adana, can go to the coast in Mersin or Tarson and enjoy the sea beauties and magnificent beach rest. And Adana is located on the banks of the river Seyhan, or rather, it is divided into two parts. Most hotels in the city are located in such a way that they open a beautiful view of the river landscapes.

A bit of history

The city of Adana (Turkey), which is the fourth largest city in the Republic of Turkey, was in ancient times under the rule of the Roman, Byzantine Empire, Cilicia, etc. The city has a history of many thousands. According to the legend, it was founded by Adanus - the son of Uranus. Hence the name of the city. Only the last 6-7 centuries Adana entered first into the Ottoman Empire, then - the Republic of Turkey.

Today the city is divided into two parts: the old (with mosques, noisy eastern bazaars, sheds) and modern, which is known in the world as the new Europeanized city of Adana. Turkey (see the photo in the article), although considered a European country, but if you look closely, throughout its territory represents a mix of several cultures: Muslim and Christian, Eastern and Western, European and Asian.

Adana, despite the fact that in the 14th century it was conquered by the Ottomans, until the beginning of the 20th century was considered an Armenian city. Since the time of Tigran the Great, this city was part of the Great Armenia, the second time it passed into the hands of Armenians during the Cilician kingdom. Since then, most of the population of Adana (more than 70%) were Armenians. In 1909, six years before the date of the Genocide, the Young Turks staged pogroms in the city and cut out the Armenian population of Adana. The city was on fire, rivers of blood were pouring, but some indigenous people managed to escape from their pursuers, they soon found shelter in neighboring countries: Syria, Lebanon, Greece, Kuwait.

Today, during excursions around the city, tour guides do not say a word about the fact that Armenians once lived here, that many of the sights of the city were created by the masters of this ancient people. In the vicinity of the city you can see the ruins of the fortresses of the Cilician kings and princes, which are unique monuments of medieval architecture.

How to get there?

You can get to Adana by air, rail and road. Domestic Turkish flights fly from Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya and the capital of the country of Ankara. Sakirpasa Airport is located on the outskirts of the city. From here you can get to the center by taxi or dolmush, which is much cheaper. Adana from the capital and Istanbul can also be reached by train or by comfortable buses. Two city bus stations are located in the city center, in close proximity to the five-star Hotel Hilton and 4 km from the center. By the way, the city has a subway, which is very convenient for exploring attractions and museums.

Climate

A soft and comfortable climate is what attracts Turkey. Adana, although not a seaside resort, but also located in a very favorable climatic zone. It is never cold here, but there is also no exhausting heat. In summer, the temperature of the air warms up to a maximum of 32-33 degrees. Precipitation in the summer falls not so much to spoil the holiday tourists, in the winter there are rains, once or twice a season may fall snow.

Turkey, Adana: hotels

Do you like to travel in comfort? Let's say that Turkey is next in your list of countries. Adana is a city in which there are all conditions for your trip to be interesting and fascinating, and a stop at the Hilton hotel will allow you to relax in comfort.

The Hilton 5 * hotel is the most prestigious hotel and the tallest building in Adana. It is located in a picturesque place, on the banks of the Seyhan River. Naturally, the hotel, which belongs to one of the most authoritative hotel brands, was built in the heart of the city. Here, guests of the city are provided with a premium class service.

In Adana there is another five-star hotel - Surmeli Cukurova. It is located on the outskirts of the city, closer to the airport. It is also convenient to walk to the shopping and historical center. Here, mostly tourists stop shopping, and those who are not indifferent to history and came here for sightseeing tours.

Among the four-star hotels are very popular Mavi Surmeli Hotel, Akkoc Butik Hotel. By the way, many Asian brands of 4 * hotels give preference to such countries as Turkey. "Adana Park", "Adana Plaza", "Adana Saray" - all of them are representatives of well-known hotel chains. In all these hotels tourists will meet the highest-class service. All of them are beautifully decorated and furnished in a modern style, equipped with the necessary for the comfort of visitors home appliances, internet connection, etc. By the way, the cost of living in these hotels is quite acceptable. For example, a single room costs from 20 euros per day.

In Adana, you can also find more budget hotels, for example, Inci Hotel, Sedef, Garajlar and Konya and Garajlar. Unlike hotels 4 * and 5 *, here for all services you need to pay separately.

Kitchen and restaurants

What kind of dishes is Turkey famous for? Adana is famous for Adana-kebab, which is made exclusively from fat mutton meat. The most popular drink here is Şalgam (turnip juice) or crayfish - a traditional alcoholic beverage. The best restaurants in Adana, where you can taste dishes of national cuisine, are Kazancilar, Yüzevler Sercan and Bici Bici. And the best confectioner, where they serve their own ice cream, is Mado.

sights

In Adana, there are many historical monuments of architecture: mosques and minarets of the 15-16th centuries, Turkish baths (16th century), a two-thousand-year-old Roman bridge that still functions today, as well as the ruins of Christian churches and churches. The city also has many historical and ethnographic museums.

Reviews of tourists about this southern city are sometimes enthusiastic, and rarer - more calm. There are tourists who say that the city did not make a proper impression on them, others praise the service in restaurants and cafes. Fans of river landscapes talk about how pleasant it is from the windows of hotels located on the river to observe the peaceful course of the river. In a word, Adana is the place that must be visited!