Aydıncık, Mersin

Aydıncık is a district of Mersin Province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. It is  from Mersin and  from Antalya.

History
Aydıncık has also been called Celenderis, Gilindire, Kelenderis (Κελενδερίς in ancient Greek). In 1228 Celenderis castle was captured from the Armenians by the Ottomans. The coast was settled by Turkish peoples. The town's name changed to Gilindere. It continued to be an important port between Anatolia and Cyprus until the beginning of the 20th century. It was renamed Aydıncık in 1965.

Geography
Aydıncık is near the Mediterranean Sea. There are a lot of beaches in Aydıncık. There are Yenikaş, Hacıbahattin, Karadere, Karaseki, Teknecik, Yeniyürük, Yeniyürükkaş, Eskiyürük, Pembecik and Duruhan villages in Aydıncık.

Places of interest
The remains of ancient Celenderis are very few. The ruins today are mostly covered over by the expanding modern Aydıncık. Fortifications may still be seen around the modern lighthouse near the harbor. There is a landlocked bay with its famous spring  to the west at Soguksu. Here there are ancient ruins There is a bath at the head of the bay. There are also traces of archaeological debris on the peninsula at its mouth.

The Dortayak Cenotaph
There is a large Roman Cenotaph with four columns from the 2nd century.

Gilindire Cave
The cave of Gilindere is about an hour's ride along the coast by small boat. It is about  and  deep. It has attractive stone and crystal formations.

 References

Category:Districts of Turkey
Category:Mediterranean Region, Turkey